Apalla Chopra leads the firm’s Colleges and Universities Industry Group. Apalla also formerly served as co-chair of the Litigation Department, co-chair of the Labor and Employment Practice, and on the firm’s Policy Committee. She specializes in litigating complex multi-plaintiff and class action discrimination and wage and hour cases. Her experience is broad as she has represented clients in cases regarding employee allegations of invasion of privacy, wrongful discharge, and discrimination based on age, race, gender, national origin, physical handicap, and related matters. Apalla also conducts independent investigations into high profile allegations of employee misconduct on behalf of companies, boards and special committees. She has represented clients in traditional labor matters under the National Labor Relations Act and Educational Employment Relations Act, and has experience negotiating collective bargaining agreements and executive employment contracts. In addition, Apalla is among a handful of lawyers colleges and universities turn to for their most complex and high profile legal challenges, including Title IX and Clery Act investigations and follow-on litigation into their handling of sexual assault allegations.
Apalla’s industry experience is likewise broad, as she has represented companies in the biotechnology, manufacturing, utility, health, retail, hospitality, private and public schools, and entertainment sectors.
Apalla has represented both employers and amici in many significant trial court and appellate cases, including Chindarah v. Pick Up Stix, Inc., 171 Cal. App. 4th 796 (2009); Alch v. Superior Court, 122 Cal. App. 4th 339 (2004); Thomas v. Bristol Farms, Inc., 2003 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 11024 (2003); Wynn v. NBC, 234 F. Supp. 2d 1067 (C.D. Cal. 2002); and Fanaka v. Warner Bros., 2000 US Dist. LEXIS 19078 (2000).
Apalla has been lauded a “Rainmaker” by Diversity & the Bar, “Labor & Employment Firm Attorney of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal, and a “Woman Worth Watching” by Diversity Journal. She has repeatedly been recognized by Chambers USA and Legal500 as a leading lawyer and has also been named by the Daily Journal as one of the Top 100 lawyers in California, a top Labor and Employment lawyer, and a top woman lawyer.
Get to Know Apalla
Get to Know Apalla
Wage & Hour
- Defending a global insurance provider in a putative class and collective action (PAGA) alleging misclassification of insurance underwriters. Successfully dismissed central allegation on summary judgement.
Investigations & Strategic Response
- Leading strategic response to a government investigation related to alleged systemic gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation for a technology company
Discrimination
- Representing a multinational technology company in a pay equity class action alleging that the company discriminated against women employees in terms of pay and promotions
Traditional Labor
- Provides legal advice to public and private employers in labor negotiations and election proceedings
Admissions
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- US District Court, Central, Northern, and Southern Districts of California
Education
- University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D., 1992: cum laude; Thurston Society; Senior Note Editor, Hastings Law Review
- University of California at Irvine, B.A., Political Science and Economics, 1988: magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa
Honors & Awards
- Selected by Lawdragon as one of their Lawdragon Legends (2024)
- Ranked by Chambers USA for Labor & Employment (2011-2024)
- Ranked by Chambers Global for Labor & Employment (2022-2023)
- Ranked by The Legal 500 US (2011-2024) and selected to “Hall of Fame” for Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense (2023-2024)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 US for General Commercial Disputes (2023-2024), Labor-Management Relations (2017-2023) and Sport (2023)
- Ranked by Benchmark Litigation as a Top 50 Labor & Employment Litigator (2024-2025), “Labor & Employment Star” (2022-2025), “Litigation Star” (2024-2025), “California - Litigation Star” (2024), and “Local Litigation Star” in Labor & Employment (2020, 2023)
- Selected by Lawdragon to its Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers Guide (2020-2025) and named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2024-2025) and 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2018-2022)
- Recognized by Lawyers of Distinction for Labor & Employment (2023)
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Lawyer of the Year, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment in Los Angeles, CA (2010-2025)
- Selected by the Daily Journal as a Top Woman Lawyer (2012-2013, 2016, 2018, 2022); Top Labor and Employment Lawyer (2010-2021); Top 100 Lawyers (2015-2016, 2018)
- Named to the Southern California Super Lawyers lists via surveys conducted by Law & Politics Media Inc. and published in Los Angeles magazine (2004-2022)
- Chosen by the Los Angeles Business Journal as Labor & Employment Firm Attorney of the Year (2018); “Most Influential Minority Lawyers” (2016); “Most Influential People in Los Angeles” (2021); “LA500” (2019 - 2021)
- Recognized by Who’s Who Legal: Labour & Employment (2016-2019)
- Selected by HR Executive and Lawdragon to its “Most Powerful Employment Lawyers” list (2014-2019)
- Selected to the National Law Journal’s “Trailblazers - Litigation” list (2016)
- Selected by Los Angeles magazine as a Top Woman Lawyer (2016)
Professional Activities
Member
- Employers Group: Legal Committee (Chair, 2016-2020)
Recent Speaking Engagements/Papers
- “Why Is Harassment Still a Problem?,” US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (July 2022)