Evelyn Wang 

Evelyn F. Wang joined Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in 2012 as an associate in the firm's employment services group. She was named counsel in 2020 and elevated to partner in January 2023.

Earlier, she worked at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and served as a judicial extern for the late Stephen R. Reinhardt at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "Working for Judge Reinhardt was a highlight of law school for me," Wang said. "I got to Dewey as a very junior associate just before it imploded, and I was lucky that Davis Wright took me on. I was able to hone my litigation skills here and refine them into the complex and fascinating employment field."

Wang's parents emigrated from Taiwan to pursue graduate studies, and she was born and raised in Bellflower at first, speaking only Mandarin. "My father is a small-business owner, and I saw him navigate the challenges of owning a small business. That got me interested in employment law."

She is lead counsel defending fast-casual dining chain Mendocino Farms in four overlapping wage and hour class action and PAGA representative matters. As the first pair of cases neared resolution following informal discovery and mediation, separate plaintiffs brought two late-filed copycat suits, seeking to insert themselves into the litigation. Mendocino Farms Wage and Hour Cases, JCCP 5153 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed March 18, 2020).

Wang secured an order sustaining her client's special demurrer to the duplicative PAGA action and an order staying the duplicative class action. The late-filing plaintiff then became an objector to the $1.5 million settlement.

"Now, he is appealing the court's approval of the settlement," Wang said. "So far, the court has ruled in our favor at every turn."

She added that while it's not typical to have new plaintiffs attempt to join a case in progress, "we're seeing it more and more." The objector's appeal is based on the theory that the trial court failed to weigh the settlement against the full value of all claims without accounting for any defenses or risks of litigation. "But that's not required," Wang said. The appeal is in progress. Mendocino Farms Wage and Hour Cases, C096869 (3d DCA, filed Aug. 17, 2022).

In Wang's first case for a nonprofit, she represents a developmental disabilities services provider that faced claims for unpaid minimum wages and overtime wages, meal and rest break violations, wage statement penalties, pay stub violations and waiting time penalties. Singer v. Desert Area Resources and Training, BCV21101093 (Kern Co. Super. Ct., filed May 18, 2021).

Wang helped resolve the case with a $250,000 settlement. "This is a place with very limited resources that was unused to litigation. We helped them navigate the system while continuing to provide services," she said.

-- John Roemer