Nancy Abell

As former global chair of Paul Hastings' Employment Law Department, Abell's practice has extended from Shanghai to Frankfurt.

Abell, known for taking on particularly difficult cases, has represented a range of clients from major defense contractors to entertainment companies and financial institutions to retailers. She has served as lead counsel in defense of companies in multiple high-profile discrimination, wage, hour class and collective actions. Her clients for which she has secured victories have ranged from Farmers Insurance to Cintas, which makes uniforms and other products.

In a global economy, Abell said one of the great challenges is determining what constitutes a fair wage.

"With companies competing with companies around the world, how do you determine what's fair?" Abell said.

Closer to home, Abell said California is experiencing a significant evolution in employment law.

"Everyone's pay is being examined and employers are trying to reconcile these salaries with statutory realities," Able said.

The inherent problem that legislators don't appear to realize, said Abell, is it isn't possible for every employee in an organization to have the same salary. That means persons with lower wages might have cause to challenge their salary in court.

"There are no simple solutions for compliance. If a person makes a salary demand, and you don't want to lose that person, you raise their wage. Does that mean you have to raise everyone's wage? This is very concerning," Abell said.

Abell has other concerns, too. While Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill in October that would have eliminated mandatory arbitration agreements, she said she fears if similar legislation became law it could create chaos that would reverberate through the legal system.

"Suppose you had a case that was first in arbitration, and then in the court. How would that work? It's a very challenging concept."

In another arena, Abell, who declined to discuss her current cases, said she is very proud of her efforts in co-founding of UCLA Law Women LEAD (Leadership, Empowerment, Advancement and Distinction) with Michelle Banks, The Gap Inc.'s general counsel. LEAD provides women students and alumnae connections and professional knowledge needed to succeed in law.

"It's been fantastic," she said.

- Thor Biberman