EEOC v. Morgan Stanley
My Legal Practice
I've devoted my career to helping working people stand up against discrimination, wage theft, and exploitation by employers.
In every case I bring, the men and women I represent are unique. Sometimes they’re seasoned professionals suffering from a widespread injustice at a large employer. Other times they’re hourly workers struggling to make ends meet, and the injustices they face add to the weight they already carry.
What unites my clients is that they want to be treated fairly, paid fairly, and heard fairly by the American system of justice. It’s a simple goal, but the road to get there is often complex.
Sometimes I partner with state and city governments or with justice-focused nonprofits to boldly fight for the rights of workers. Other times I’ll team up with other law firms in coalition, or Outten & Golden will handle it alone.
Regardless, I approach each case with passion, integrity, and an eye toward creating a better world for workers everywhere. This holds true whether I’m involved in a negotiation, a jury trial, or an appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.
I’ve helped clients take on many giant corporations like Uber, Google, Activision, IBM, and Wells Fargo, securing hundreds of millions of dollars for workers from all walks of life. This is the most meaningful work I can imagine.
Notable Matters
- Represented The California Civil Rights Department in reaching a historic $54.8 million settlement with Activision Blizzard, resolving allegations of gender discrimination in compensation, promotions and other practices.
- Won a unanimous jury verdict, and a subsequent $18.7 million settlement against Computer Sciences Corporation for misclassifying 1,000 system administrators as exempt from overtime laws.
- Represented Latino, Black, Asian American, and female employees of Abercrombie & Fitch in a discrimination class action that settled for $50 million, plus a six-year consent decree during which the court oversaw systemic changes to the company’s hiring and employment practices.
- Representing misclassified drivers for Uber and Lyft who are seeking full compensation for their work.
Credentials
- B.A., Harvard College, magna cum laude
- J.D., Harvard Law School
- Attorney Representative for the Northern District of California to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council (2019, 2020-2022)
- Northern District of California: Civil Local Rules Attorney Advisory Committee (2020-2022)
- Legal Aid at Work: Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Development Committee (2019-present)
- Board Member, American Constitution Society
- Board Member, Alliance for Justice
- Board of Governors, Public Advocates, Inc.
- Board Member, ACLU of Northern California
- Co-Chair, American Association for Justice, Wage and Hour Section
- Member, ABA Labor & Employment Law Section
- Executive Committee Member, State Bar of California Litigation Section
- Judicial Evaluations Committee & Volunteer Attorney Fee Dispute Arbitrator, Bar Association of San Francisco
My Story
My father grew up in a tiny village in Iran, where he met my mother, a Texan who was serving in the Peace Corps. Together they built a life in the U.S., working as a college professor and an employment rights lawyer.
As I grew up, straddling two worlds and cultures, I learned to look past the limits of my individual experience and appreciate other people’s perspectives, challenges, and strengths.
My parents taught me to practice kindness, just action, and truthfulness in all contexts. Central to these values are the duty to fight discrimination and exploitation. And, when engaging in that battle, I treat everyone with respect – even the lawyers on the other side, whom I disagree with vehemently.
By holding myself accountable to these values, I strive to be a more effective advocate, and a more complete human being.
