Leech Tishman Welcomes Azin G. Valafar
EL SEGUNDO, CA – September 1, 2020 – Leech Tishman is pleased to announce the addition of a new attorney to the firm, Azin G. Valafar.
Valafar joins Leech Tishman as an Associate in the firm’s Employment & Labor Practice Group. She is based in Leech Tishman’s LAX / El Segundo office where she focuses her practice on labor and employment law, with an emphasis on on business litigation.
Valafar regularly handles complex litigation matters involving business disputes, labor and employment matters, general liability matters, and entertainment litigation. She is highly experienced in all aspects of trial preparation, drafting complaints, answers to complaints, demurrers, and motions in both state and federal court, including Daubert motion, motion for remand, motion to strike, anti-SLAPP motions, motions for summary judgment, motions for fees, motions in limine, and more. Valafar is skilled in analyzing causes of action and potential defenses to claims under both federal and California law, propounding and responding to discovery, developing witness lists and interviewing witnesses, and preparing examination outlines, jury instructions, trial exhibits, case statements, and expert reports.
In the employment & labor area, Valafar is well-versed in advising clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, from hiring through termination, including employment discrimination issues, workplace and sexual harassment, wrongful discharge claims, wage and hour issues, drafting and negotiating employment & independent contractor agreements, and preparation of employee handbooks.
Valafar previously owned and operated her own business law firm, where she assisted clients with entity and business formation, as well as drafting bylaws, corporate policies, purchase agreements, employment agreements, promissory notes, lease agreements, and operating agreements. During this time, Valafar also handled litigation matters on behalf of defense and plaintiff clients in the areas of employment law, general liability, business litigation, and personal injury.
During the course of her career, Valafar has also served as General Counsel to two franchisee holding companies that owned a number of fast-food restaurants and gas stations in California. While employed as a GC, she drafted and negotiated the purchase and transfer of nearly 35 restaurants, reviewed and negotiated a multi-million dollar loan collateralized by franchise restaurants, and drafted and negotiated contracts of all types, including purchase agreements, lease agreements, loan agreements, promissory notes, operating agreements and letters of intent. Valafar also provided general employment advice to management.
“We are pleased to welcome Azin to the firm,” said Philip A. Toomey, national Chair of Leech Tishman’s Employment & Labor Group. “Her background serving as general counsel for two well-known franchise holding companies as well as handling a complex litigation caseload at her previous firm will serve her well in her new role with Leech Tishman. We are looking forward to having her join our nationwide Employment & Labor lawyer team.”
ABOUT LEECH TISHMAN
Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl is a full-service law firm dedicated to assisting individuals, businesses, and institutions. Leech Tishman offers legal services in alternative dispute resolution, aviation & aerospace, bankruptcy & creditors’ rights, cannabis, construction, corporate, data privacy & cybersecurity, employee benefits, employment, energy, environmental, estates & trusts, family law, government relations, immigration, insurance coverage, intellectual property, international legal matters, litigation, real estate, and taxation. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Leech Tishman also has offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Sarasota and Wilmington, DE.