Tanja L. Darrow

The ability to enjoy even the toughest challenges epitomizes Darrow’s tenure at Littler Mendelson PC. Since she joined the country’s largest labor and employment firm in 2010, Darrow has found the constant complexity of her work fulfilling.

“None of my cases are alike. Nothing’s cookie cutter,” she said. “I work with brilliant people, even my adversaries. It’s something new and different. You learn so much every day.”

But few cases have been as challenging than the 11-year employment case against limo company CLS Transportation LLC that included a landmark state Supreme Court decision and departure of its lead plaintiff in the class action, Arshavir Iskanian.

The state Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that Iskanian was subject to an arbitration contract he signed before the dispute, but could also file a representative Private Attorneys General Act claim and collect penalties from labor-code violations on the state’s behalf. Iskanian v. CLS Transportation, BC35621 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed Aug. 4, 2006).

As the parties prepared for a PAGA trial, Iskanian withdrew from the case and sought a dismissal against his lawyers’ wishes. Then in November 2017, as a state appellate panel reviewed whether to allow a new lead plaintiff, both parties reached a settlement.

“My client walked away happy,” Darrow said of the matter. “At the end of the day, you want to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and be comfortable with the decisions you’ve made.”

Since then, Darrow has focused on pro-bono work. Most recently, she won a judgment on behalf of an estate that lost a deceased family member’s property and savings to his lawyer. In re the Estate of Arnway Edwards, BP134573 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed June 1, 2012); Arnway Edwards v Edwards, B265573 (2nd Cal. App. Dist., filed July 23 2015).

“I knew nothing about probate law, but it infuriated me that someone would do that to this family,” Darrow said. “I try to always be on the right side of justice.”

But Littler’s support goes beyond financing the pro bono work, Darrow said. They’ve also organized large-scale “affinity group” meetings for the firm’s minority attorneys and provided flexible work hours so she can be active in her children’s lives.

“I’ve never missed any of my children’s games,” she said. “And the fact that the firm has always been so supportive, it makes me want to be the best attorney I can be.”

— Glenn Jeffers