“Successful outcomes are achieved through combining a deep understanding of my client’s concerns with a thorough knowledge of the legal issues presented and innovative thinking to resolve those issues.”

Carol A. Gefis
Special Counsel

Attorneys Focused on California

Carol A. Gefis, Special Counsel

4695 MacArthur Court, Suite 350
Newport Beach, CA 92660

T: 949.975.8200
F: 949.975.8210

A business and employment litigator for more than 20 years, Carol A. Gefis represents both defendants and plaintiffs in trials, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals involving all major commercial and workplace disputes confronting California’s businesses.

Working through Workplace Conflicts and Focus on Best Practices

Carol counsels employers on all aspects of employment law, from drafting pre-hire job descriptions and employment manuals, throughout the life of the employment relationship including termination or retirement, and everything in between. Her background includes management of discrimination claims based on race, gender and disability issues, sexual harassment, wage and hour matters, wrongful termination, retaliation and noncompete issues.

Carol has valuable and far reaching experience assisting employers to retain the confidentiality of their business model, including the protection of trade secrets, through the use of in house practices and guidelines, and the use confidentiality agreements. 

Focused on Compliance

Employers can avoid many common problems and enhance their workplace by ensuring that their policies and practices comply with State and Federal regulations. Carol has provided hundreds of evaluations for companies of all sizes to make sure they are in compliance with the complex requirements of California and Federal law.

Carol also provides required sexual harassment training programs that are compliant with California AB 1825. Carol uses real examples from her years of experience to make the training educational, practical, and entertaining.

Focused on Resolving Business Disputes

Carol has extensive experience in business litigation, including contract disputes, unfair business practices, purchase and sale transactions, trade secret cases, shareholder and partnership disputes, and intellectual property infringement.

Vigorous Representation in Litigated Matters

When unavoidable claims do occur in either the business or employment arena, Carol vigorously represents her clients to secure the most favorable outcome possible.

Carol Gefis’s representative matters include:

  • Race, gender and disability discrimination
  • Sexual harassment
  • Wage and hour claims
  • Wrongful termination
  • Retaliation
  • Non-compete issues
  • Employment policies
  • Terminations
  • Wage issues
  • Drafting employment agreements and handbooks
  • Contract disputes
  • Unfair business practices
  • Purchase and sale transactions
  • Shareholder and Partnership disputes
  • Intellectual property infringement
  • Trade Secrets

Education

Education

  • Hamline University School of Law, J.D. 1988
  • University of Wisconsin, B.A., 1983
    • Graduated with Honors


Admission

Admissions

  • State Bar of California, 1990
  • Minnesota Bar, 1989
  • U.S. District Court, Southern and Central Districts of California
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado


Memberships

Memberships

  • California Bar Association, Employment Section
  • Early Neutral Evaluator for the Orange County Superior Court