trainer
Lawyers are helpers. I take a hands-on approach. In order to be an effective helper, you have to get your hands dirty and truly understand the corporate culture of your clients. You can’t bark orders from an ivory tower.
Daniel H. Handman, a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office, could spend hours talking about his impressive roster of litigation victories. These include successfully taking more than a dozen cases to trial, numerous favorable summary judgment rulings, and many arbitration successes. Dan’s areas of expertise include discrimination/harassment cases, wage & hour, and employee theft/trade secret litigation. His many clients range from Fortune 500 employers to sophisticated, complex companies with under 50 employees in the food and beverage, apparel, construction, and entertainment industries, among others.
The topic Dan would rather discuss, however, is his philosophy as a pragmatist: “My passion is finding solutions. Problems exist to be fixed. While sometimes problems are solved through litigation, most of the time, issues are resolved by being proactive and finding creative ways to help clients solve problems long before they rise to the level of litigation.”
Dan relishes taking a personal, laser-focused approach with his clients. “For example, some extroverts at parties will talk to 25 people in an hour. But I focus on fewer people and get to know them really well,” he says. Dan’s credo is to understand his clients’ corporate culture intrinsically and fundamentally, including spending time with clients on site, touring workplaces and educating himself about manufacturing and work processes and procedures: “You have to put yourself into the mindset of the people who work there in order to understand the client’s culture.”
In addition to litigation, Dan spends substantial time in the traditional labor law space, including union elections, unfair labor practices and collective bargaining. He also takes significant time advising and counseling clients, conducting investigations, and leading employee training.
Among Dan’s many pro bono representations is Los Angeles-based Beauty Bus Foundation, whose mission is to deliver at-home beauty and grooming services to chronically and terminally ill men, women, children, and their caregivers to preserve dignity and hope. “Even for a small organization, they have 30 times the number of volunteers as paid employees,” he says. “There are a tremendous number of employment law issues with volunteers, interns, paid employees, as well as liability issues.”
Dan is a prolific writer on developments in employment law. His articles have appeared in Bloomberg Law, The Daily Journal, and Law360. Dan established, and is the editor of, The California Workplace Advisor, Hirschfeld Kraemer’s noteworthy industry blog for California employers. He also is a busy lecturer, and gives numerous webinars and speeches, including at Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA) and National Human Resources Association (NHRA) conferences and meetings.
An enthusiastic Los Angeles transplant from his native Southern New Jersey, Dan still follows his beloved Philadelphia sports teams. When he’s not working, Dan enjoys hiking and outdoor activities with his family. He and one of his two sons are amateur bird watchers.
Named to Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law Management, 2023, 2024
2014 through 2024: Named by fellow members of the State Bar as a Southern California Super Lawyer in Labor & Employment; 2009 through 2012: named a Super Lawyer Rising Star
American Bar Association Los Angeles County Bar Association
Co-presenter, “How California’s Dramatic Changes to PAGA Affect You,” Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP webinar, July 16, 2024
Employee Arbitration Agreements and PAGA Claims in California, Employment Law Alliance podcast, August 21, 2023
Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harassment and Assault Claims Recently Banned in the US, Employment Law Alliance podcast, February 25, 2022
Dan Handman Speaks to KTLA-TV About Federal Mask Mandate, KTLA, September 9, 2021
Dan Handman Speaks to KTLA-TV About Workplace Mask Confusion, KTLA, June 10, 2021
Moderator, Managing Employees in a Time of Chaos: A 2021 Employment Law Overview, Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP webinar, January 29, 2021
Moderator, Reopening The Workplace, Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP webinar, June 2, 2020
Moderator, The ABC’s of A.B. 5: Get Ready For The New Independent Contractor Law, Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP webinar, October 17, 2019
Dan Handman Speaks at NHRA Meeting on the Impact of the Presidential Election Webinar:
The Defend Trade Secrets Act: New Rights and Obligations for U.S. Employers
Webinar: LGBT Issues and U.S. Employment Law: What Employers Need to Know
Webinar: The Biggest Signs Union Activity is Afoot: What Should You Do About It?
California and Nevada: Labor and Employment Law Roundup
Dan Handman and Glen Kraemer present “Social Media in the Workplace: Harnessing the Power While Avoiding the Pitfalls”
Dan Handman presents “The Workplace Social Media Policy” at GLA ALA
“Major Pro-Employer Changes To PAGA Expected To Become Law This Week,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP blog), June 26, 2024
“California Supreme Court Makes Defense of PAGA Claims More Difficult For Employers,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP blog), January 22, 2024
“Employee Arbitration Agreements and PAGA Claims: Yes We Can (With Qualifiers),” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP blog), July 24, 2023
“NLRB Rules Non-Disparagement Provisions Are Unlawful in Severance Agreements,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), February 23, 2023
“Million-Dollar PAGA Cases Can Be Avoided Under U.S. Supreme Court Viking River Decision,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), June 16, 2022
“White House Mandates Vaccines for Millions of Americans,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), September 10, 2021
“The Future of Timeclock Rounding: Dead on Arrival,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), March 2, 2021
“Special Report: Major Changes For California Employers in 2021,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), December 23, 2020
“EEOC Issues Employer Vaccination Guidance,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), December 21, 2020
Quoted in “NLRB General Counsel Highlights Anti-Employer Cases After House Supboena,” Daily Journal, September 21, 2020
“California Judge Orders Uber And Lyft To Reclassify Drivers As Employees,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), August 12, 2020
“U.S. Supreme Court Shields Religious Employers From Anti-Discrimination Laws,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), July 9, 2020
“NLRB Declines Jurisdiction Over Religious Schools,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), June 11, 2020
“Planning For The Rebound: COVID-19 Blog Series” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), May 22, 2020
“Planning For The Rebound: Step 20 – When You Least Expect It, Expect It,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), May 22, 2020
“Employer’s Checklist For Returning Employees To Work,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), May 15, 2020
“Planning For The Rebound: Step 13 – Is Work Travel A Thing Of The Past?” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), May 13, 2020
“Planning For The Rebound: Step 1 – Requirements For Returning To The Workplace,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), April 27, 2020
“California Employer’s Guide To The Basics Of Unemployment Law,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), April 16, 2020
“San Francisco & San Jose Emergency Sick Pay Ordinances Cover FFCRA Gaps,” The California Workplace Advisor (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), April 14, 2020
“Los Angeles Alters COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Ordinance,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), April 9, 2020
“Los Angeles Employers of 500+ Ordered To Provide Paid Sick Leave,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), April 1, 2020
“DOL Issues FFCRA Poster & FAQs,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), March 27, 2020
“DFEH Issues Guidance On COVID-19 In The Workplace,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), March 25, 2020
“Reducing Employee Hours: What You Need To Know,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), March 18, 2020
“Managing Remote-Working Employees During the Coronavirus Pandemic,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), March 16, 2020
“Guidance For Employers To Protect Against Coronavirus (COVID-19),” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), February 19, 2020
“Time Spent By Employees For Bag and Product Searches Is Compensable,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP blog), February 16, 2020
Dan Handman Weighs In on Uber to Wall Street Journal, Wall Street Journal, January 21, 2020
Handman Quoted in Bloomberg Law on A.B. 5 Challenges by Trucking Industry, Bloomberg Law Daily Labor Report, January 13, 2020
Dan Handman Quoted in Daily Journal on Anti-A.B. 25 Ballot Measure, January 7, 2020
Dan Handman Quoted in Daily Journal re: New Arbitration Laws, October 24, 2019
“California’s A.B. 5 Poised to Change Independent Contractor Law Permanently,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), September 12, 2019
Dan Handman Comments to Daily Journal on Uber, Lyft Seeking Union Input, July 3, 2019
“Top 10 Employment Law Developments of 2018: #1 – Dynamex Turns The World Of Independent Contractor Law Upside Down,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), January 2, 2019
“Sweeping Changes to Sexual Harassment and Corporate Laws in California,” The California Workplace Advisor, (Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP Blog), October 1, 2018
Daniel Handman Quoted in San Francisco Chronicle on Uber’s Recent Win on Driver Status, September 26, 2018
Daniel Handman Comments to Daily Journal on Novel Approach of New Uber Lawsuit, September 13, 2018
Daniel Handman Speaks to the Los Angeles Times About Uber’s Recent Rough Ride
Dan Handman Considers Possible Labor and Employment Changes Under Trump
Dan Handman Speaks to TechRepublic on the Need For a Company Social Media Policy
Dan Handman Comments to Law360 on Five Uber-Taxi Turf Wars to Watch
Steve Hirschfeld and Dan Handman Quoted in San Francisco Business Times Regarding Uber Settlement
Dan Handman Speaks to the Daily Journal About Uber Settlement and Arbitration Contract
Dan Handman Tells The Recorder That the Uber Settlement is Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Dan Handman Tells Law360 That Uber Settlement is Not The Last Word On the Matter
HK’s Dan Handman Explores the McDonald’s NLRB “Joint-Employer” Case on QSRweb.com
Dan Handman Speaks to the Daily Journal on the Subject of “What Is An Employee?”
Dan Handman Tells Law360 That the Sharing Economy Should Fear California’s Ruling on Uber Driver
“Welcome To The “Wild West” Of California Class Actions Uber”
Dan Handman Speaks to the Daily Journal About Minimum Wage Increases on the Horizon
Workplace Law Has Come a Long Way, Baby!
Social Media Policies in the Workplace: It’s All About Respect
Guns On Campus: Navigating the Legal Maze
Will Obama Tackle Guns in the Workplace?
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Fortune 500 employer in disability discrimination case and also an order of sanctions against the plaintiff and his counsel for attorney’s fees and costs
Successfully enforced arbitration agreements in trial and appellate courts for several clients in employment discrimination cases
Tried cases involving allegations of wrongful termination, wage-hour violations, race, gender and disability discrimination to defense verdicts
Education
J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 1997
B.A., Cornell University, 1994
Admissions
California
Maryland
Washington, D.C.
New Jersey
U.S. District Courts for the Central and Eastern Districts of California
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
