Sylvia Torres-Guillén

Torres-Guillén's experience in sexual harassment and employment discrimination litigation is being tested on a very public stage. She's representing a former marketing employee of Oscar De La Hoya's Casa Mexico Enterprises LLC, who alleges the retired professional boxer sexually assaulted her on at least two occasions in 2020. Ruccione v. Casa Mexico Enterprises LLC, et al., 21STCP04124 (L.A. Sup. Ct., filed April 19, 2022).

The case includes 11 complaints alleging the tequila company and its executives perpetuated a "toxic, sexist, and hostile work environment." An earlier contract-business governance lawsuit by Casa Mexico against Torres-Guillén's client "was nothing more than a further attempt to silence her and prevent her from seeking justice," she said.

The countersuit requests a jury trial and damages.

Torres-Guillén joined Los Angeles-based Andrade Gonzalez LLP as a partner in November 2021. Beyond sexual harassment and employment discrimination, her practice areas include complex commercial litigation, white-collar crimes, regulatory and corporate investigation matters, and catastrophic personal injury cases.

A graduate of Harvard University and UC Berkeley School of Law, she spent two decades as a deputy federal public defender in Los Angeles before serving as general counsel to the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board and as the California director of education equity for ACLU of Southern California.

Torres-Guillén said her career experience gives her the breadth to represent clients ranging from major corporations to individuals from marginalized communities.

"The trial skills that I've developed over the decades are critical to my ability to seek justice for my clients," Torres-Guillén said.

She serves on boards and committees for private schools Cate School and Oakwood School and has had key leadership roles with the Latina Lawyers Bar Association, the Mexican American Bar Foundation and the Hispanic National Bar Association. She's taught oral advocacy trial skills at San Diego's California Western School of Law and trial advocacy at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

Torres-Guillén said her career and volunteer work often emphasize social justice issues, especially in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

"It's important as a woman of color that that lens is evident in all aspects of what I do," she said.

- JenniferMcEntee