Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Tax-Exempt Organizations Practice

Monica Rodriguez is a seasoned advisor and litigator dedicated to addressing her clients' most complex employment challenges, particularly in wage-and-hour and labor matters. Her expertise spans various industries, encompassing wage-oriented issues in higher education, technology, retail, restaurants, hospitality, healthcare, transportation, and manufacturing, and extending to comprehensive strategic planning relevant to employers in all sectors.

With extensive experience in both California and federal courtrooms, Monica stands as an indispensable advocate for her clients in high-stakes disputes. These include class, representative, and single-plaintiff actions involving wage-and-hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims. She also helps her clients navigate the full spectrum of labor relations issues. Monica has successfully defended employers against unfair labor practice charges, union grievances, and other labor-related disputes, while striving to prevent litigation altogether by providing practical advice on collective bargaining contract interpretation issues, among other labor relation matters. When it comes to collective bargaining, clients consistently seek Monica's expertise at the negotiating table.

Monica also runs a robust employment counseling practice. Monica advises employers on their employment policies and practices, including hiring and termination decisions, disability accommodations, mass layoffs and furloughs, and high-level severance negotiations.

Associate, Morrison Foerster LLP, Los Angeles, 2021-2024 Employment Counsel (Secondment), Grammarly Inc., San Francisco, 2023-2024 University Counsel, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 2019-2021 Associate, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Los Angeles, 2014-2019 Judicial Extern, Hon. Harry Pregerson, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, Los Angeles, 2013 Legal Intern, Source Interlink Companies Inc., Los Angeles, 2012-2013 Extern, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, 2012 Judicial Intern, Hon. Michael L. Stern, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2012 Judicial Extern, Hon. Teresa Sanchez-Gordon, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2012 Admitted to Practice California, 2014

Spanish

ICAP Fellow, National Employment Law Council, 2020 Academy Fellow, National Employment Law Council, 2018 Former Co-chair, Webinar Subcommittee, National Employment Law Council Member and Mentor Co-chair, Steering Committee, Just the Beginning − A Pipeline Organization Former Deputy Regional President, Region 18 (Southern California), Hispanic National Bar Association

J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 2014 

Editor: International and Comparative Law Review 

Dean's Honor List 

B.A., Literature & Cultural Studies, University of California, San Diego, 2011, cum laude 

Minor, Spanish Literature 

Provost Honors