Ellen Connelly Cohen earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University, where she graduated cum laude.  She received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2006.  Ms. Cohen’s practice focuses on employment litigation and counseling.

Ms. Cohen has litigated a broad array of employment matters in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies such as the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the Department of Fair Employment and Housing.  Ms. Cohen represents corporate employers in single-plaintiff litigation as well as class actions and representative matters under California’s Private Attorneys General Act.  She has successfully defended clients against charges of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, failure to accommodate disabilities, unfair competition, wrongful termination, and misappropriation of trade secrets, as well as a host of wage and hour claims. Super Lawyers has recognized Ms. Cohen as a Southern California “Super Lawyer” for excellence in employment defense litigation.

Ms. Cohen’s practice also includes employment counseling.  She assists clients with questions about leaves of absence, proper classification of employees, reductions in force, and employee discipline.  She prepares and reviews arbitration agreements, separation agreements and releases, and confidentiality agreements.  Ms. Cohen also has extensive experience preparing employee handbooks and other employment-related policies.  She regularly conducts internal workplace investigations, interviews witnesses, and prepares position statements on behalf of employers.

Ms. Cohen enjoys lecturing on current topics in employment law and conducting seminars and anti-harassment training for diverse audiences.

Prior to joining Call & Jensen, Ms. Cohen was a Litigation and Employment Senior Associate in the Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. offices of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.  She also practiced at an employment defense boutique in Irvine.  Ms. Cohen is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in California, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Cohen spent eight years in the field of higher education, serving as a residential adviser at Harvard University and an Undergraduate Admissions Officer at UCLA.

Recent Speaking Engagements

• • • August 12, 2024: “A Deep Dive Into Leave Of Absence Management,” OCBA Labor & Employment Law Section (Irvine, CA)
    • April 20, 2023: “Disability Discrimination Claims: Interplay between FEHA/ADA and Other Claims,” Inland Empire Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) (webinar broadcast)
    • March 14, 2023: “California Wage and Hour Law,” Orange County Paralegal Association (webinar broadcast)
    • Sept. 26, 2022: “Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance: Effective Strategies & Best Practices,” Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Northern California 2022 Annual Conference (Monterey, CA)
    • Nov. 18 & Dec. 2, 2021: “COVID Implications for the Workplace in 2022,” Workplace & Employment Law Update (webinar broadcast)
    • October 22, 2021: “Remote Workforce and Wage and Hour Issues: How to Address Potential Class Action Risk,” The Knowledge Group (national webinar broadcast)
    • October 11, 2021: “Discovery in Employment Arbitration: What You Need to Know Now,” Orange County Bar Association – Labor & Employment Section (webinar broadcast)
    • September 17, 2021: “Legal and Practical Issues Impacting Settlement in Employment Cases,” Orange County Bar Association 2021 Employment Law Symposium (webinar broadcast)
    • Sept. 18, 2020: “Marshalling Evidence When There’s No Smoking Gun: Litigating FEHA Claims Based on Subtle Harassment and Discrimination,” Orange County Bar Association 2020 Labor and Employment Law Symposium (webinar broadcast)
    • April 29, 2020: “COVID-19: Immediate Issues Facing Employers,” The Knowledge Group (national webinar broadcast)
    • December 6, 2019: “Disability Discrimination Claims: Interplay between Workers’ Compensation and Civil Litigation,” The Hartford Financial Services Group (Brea, CA)
    • October 1, 2019: “Wage & Hour Litigation and Compliance: Effective Strategies and Best Practices,” The Knowledge Group (national webinar broadcast)
    • May 24, 2019: “Overview of Intersecting State and Federal Leave Laws,” The Hartford Financial Services Group (Brea, CA)
    • April 8, 2019: “Case Updates – Defense Perspective,” Orange County Bar Association – Labor & Employment Section (Irvine, CA)
    • November 12, 2018: “Workplace & Harassment Investigations: Tips for HR,” Workplace & Employment Law Update (Burbank, CA)
    • November 9, 2018: “Workplace & Harassment Investigations: Tips for HR,” Workplace & Employment Law Update (San Diego, CA)

Recent Publications

• • • Contributing author, CEB Practitioner, Employment Law (2020 ed.)