Emilio G. Gonzalez

Gonzalez has gone to bat for several Fortune 500 companies including The Walt Disney Company and Merrill Lynch in discrimination cases.

In 2016, he fended off an age discrimination allegation by a 48-year-old man who was terminated from his role as the head of Disney’s story department. Kevin Brady claimed age was a factor when Disney hired a 26-year-old to take his place. Brady v. Walt Disney Pictures, BC548206 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed June 10, 2014).

During the trial, Gonzalez was able to show Brady received the job because he had worked in the department since the 1980s but in the end didn’t have the creative chops to lead it.

“What we really focused on was did anyone say anything to you offensive because of your age?” Gonzalez said. “Prior to the restructure … did you ever feel age was a burden or hindrance? No.”

However, posing the right questions is a separate skill he said he needs for the job — which is also helpful with the “he said, she said” nature of his cases.

“My job is to do it without insulting them, without offending them, to get to the core of what actually happened and what was actually said,” Gonzalez said. “What their role actually was and to do so in a way that allows the truth to come out.”

He won at the superior court level and the ruling was upheld by an appeals court.

As workplaces and social climates continue to evolve, Gonzalez said he tries to keep his clients ahead of the curve. When not defending them, he advises on things they should keep mindful of down the road.

“For example, not all workplace bullying is against the law yet,” Gonzalez said. “But certainly, if the law changes, you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the line.”

— Arin Mikailian