Rimon

Robert H. Pepple

Partner

Employment Law, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Wage and Hour
Los Angeles

EDUCATION

University of California, Los Angeles

J.D. Research Assistant to Torts, Civil Procedure, and Arbitration Law Professors

Pomona College

B.A., Politics

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

  • Nixon Peabody LLP, Partner & Co-Leader, Wage & Hour Compliance and Litigation Team, Los Angeles’ office liaison for pro bono matters and projects.
  • Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., Associate
  • Venable, Associate
  • Paul Hastings, Associate

    ADMISSIONS

  • State of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

    Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Robert Pepple is a partner in the Employment Law practice group, trusted by employers of all sizes for practical, business-aligned solutions to California’s complex labor challenges. He represents a range of clients—from large corporations to family-run businesses—on matters spanning litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and comprehensive daily counsel. Known for his depth of experience and steady guidance, Robert helps employers navigate the state’s stringent regulatory landscape with confidence.

A core focus of Robert’s practice is wage and hour compliance and litigation. He has developed proprietary tools that enable fast, accurate assessments of compliance, giving clients a clear view of potential exposure early on—a critical advantage in shaping legal strategy. This early insight helps employers evaluate risks realistically, make informed decisions, and manage both reputation and costs. Robert has represented clients across industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, retail, staffing, and telecommunications.

Beyond wage and hour matters, Robert’s practice extends to employment litigation and compliance across a wide range of issues: discrimination, whistleblower claims, harassment, retaliation, family leave, and more. He regularly advises and defends clients in cases involving federal and California-specific regulations, including the ADA, FMLA, FLSA, WARN Act, NLRA, and others.

Robert also conducts workplace investigations for allegations of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and trade secret misappropriation, using tailored processes to ensure thorough and defensible reporting. In labor relations, he supports clients through collective bargaining, union elections, and ULP defenses, aligning each step with his clients’ broader business goals.

KEY AREAS OF EXPERTISE AND SERVICES PROVIDED

  • Wage and Hour Compliance: Minimum wage, overtime, regular rate true-ups, meal and rest breaks, paystub accuracy, and PAGA exposure assessment.
  • Wage and Hour Litigation: Defense against wage and hour class actions, PAGA representative actions, and individual claims.
  • Litigation and Compliance Strategy: Business-centered strategies for reputation protection, risk reduction, and cost management.
  • Employment Litigation: Defense in cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower claims; compliance with ADA, FMLA, FLSA, WARN Act, NLRA, and California-specific standards.
  • Workplace Investigations: Customized investigations for discrimination, harassment, and unfair labor practices.

SELECTED EXPERIENCE

  • Represented employers in landmark case CABIA v. Becerra (California Court of Appeal, Case No. 30-2018-0103518), challenging the constitutionality of the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) under California and federal constitutional protections. Result: Dismissed on rational basis grounds.
  • Guided numerous clients through low-transaction-cost mediations in wage and hour disputes where the exposure threatened the financial stability of the business. For example, represented a manufacturing client facing potential multi-million dollar liability for alleged overtime and meal break violations, securing a favorable settlement early in the mediation process that aligned with their financial capacity.
  • Achieved competitive, below-market settlements for numerous clients dealing with high-stakes wage and hour claims, even under tough facts. For instance, in a case involving a healthcare provider with exposure from PAGA and class action claims, guided the client through a streamlined mediation that resolved the matter well below market rates—avoiding extended litigation costs.
  • Structured efficient mediation strategies that enabled numerous clients to address significant wage and hour exposure. In one case, represented a retail company facing multiple overlapping wage and hour claims, consolidating the issues into a focused mediation process that minimized transaction costs and achieved a highly favorable settlement within a single session.
  • Developed cost-effective, results-driven mediation approaches for clients facing challenging allegations, securing swift resolutions. Represented a hospitality client with exposure due to alleged missed meal and rest breaks, facilitating a settlement that reflected the client’s operational goals while avoiding prolonged and costly legal proceedings.
  • Created tailored mediation frameworks that prioritized minimal transaction costs for clients facing potential PAGA claims. For example, assisted a staffing agency with significant wage and hour exposure due to alleged payroll discrepancies, securing a settlement well within their acceptable range by navigating the complexities early and effectively.
  • Routinely consulted by wage and hour practitioners across Southern California, including both attorneys and mediators, who seek guidance on complex compliance issues, effective mediation strategies, and practical approaches to wage and hour claims.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Robert H. Pepple, Jonathan Assia, Brock J. Seraphin, Alejandro Castro, and Gabriel A. Mendoza, “Key Decisions on Federal Arbitration Act Section 1: Impact on Arbitration Agreements,” Dispute Resolution Journal, vol. 78, no. 3, Sept.-Oct. 2024, p. 243.
  • Robert H. Pepple and Christopher Stevens, “Navigating Title VII Compliance and Litigation Post-Muldrow,” Law360, May 20, 2024.
  • Robert H. Pepple, “California Court of Appeal Concludes that Individuals Can Be Personally Liable for Civil Penalties for Wage-Hour Violations,” National Law Review, October 2, 2018.
  • Robert H. Pepple and Judith M. Kline, “The Expert Series: California Business Law Deskbook, Chapter 12: Hiring, Training, Discipline, and Discharge,” 2014-2015 edition.

 

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star”, Employment & Labor: Employer, 2024—2022
  • Alliance for Housing and Healing “Vanguard Award”, 2020 – Recognized for outstanding commitment to public service and advocacy, specifically for contributions to improving the quality of life for low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County.

EDUCATION

University of California, Los Angeles

J.D. Research Assistant to Torts, Civil Procedure, and Arbitration Law Professors

Pomona College

B.A., Politics

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

  • Nixon Peabody LLP, Partner & Co-Leader, Wage & Hour Compliance and Litigation Team, Los Angeles’ office liaison for pro bono matters and projects.
  • Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., Associate
  • Venable, Associate
  • Paul Hastings, Associate

    ADMISSIONS

  • State of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

    Languages

  • English
  • Spanish