Qioajing Ella Zheng

Litigation

Palo Alto & San Francisco

Qiaojing Ella Zheng is a distinguished litigator in California with a decade of experience securing significant victories for plaintiffs in both individual and class action employment cases. Her legal prowess extends to claims of discrimination, harassment, breach of contract and representing whistleblowers in qui tam matters.

She is also the managing partner of the Palo Alto and San Francisco offices of Sanford Heisler Sharp, and the chair of the firm's Asian American litigation and finance practice group.

Her journey with Sanford Heisler Sharp began in December 2014, when the firm recognized the need for her unique background, experience, and language skills to represent a class of low-wage immigrant workers against a technology company in Silicon Valley. The case, which settled on the eve of trial, profoundly impacted Zheng and highlighted the scarcity of bilingual employment lawyers in the region.

"I came to the realization that my legal education in China and the States can be of great value to workers of color who are historically underrepresented in this country," Zheng said.

Zheng has been at the forefront of Song, et al. v. Weee! Logistics, Inc., et al., a significant class action case representing more than 1,400 delivery drivers and the State of California against Weee!, a major supplier of Asian and Hispanic grocery products.

The plaintiffs, comprising largely of low-wage immigrant workers with limited language access, allege serious violations of the California Labor Code by Weee!

These include unlawful deductions from drivers' tips, inadequate meal periods, unpaid work during meal breaks, misclassification of drivers as independent contractors, and disregard for laws protecting employee health and safety.

"The impact of the case is significant as a large percentage of the workers employed by Weee! are low wage immigrant workers with limited language access," Zheng said. "This litigation seeks to hold the defendants accountable for their wrongdoings and serves as a reminder for companies to provide fair wages and safe work conditions to their employees."

Through two private mediations, the parties have reached a settlement to resolve the claims and are in the process of preparing the preliminary approval motion, she added.