Lisa I. Carteen

A tireless client advocate, Lisa offers the highest level of strategic counseling paired with finely tuned litigation skills to resolve matters as efficiently and effectively as possible. Leveraging the advantage of her multi-disciplinary perspective, she assists clients in solving problems, creating opportunities, and achieving business objectives. Lisa uses investigations, witness interviews, and depositions to synthesize the client’s story and effectively convey it to judge and jury.

A significant part of Lisa’s practice is focused on employment counseling and litigation. Lisa has substantial experience defending employers in cases involving claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and unpaid commissions. She has litigated a wide range of class action wage and hour disputes, including matters involving independent contractor classification, off-the-clock work, meal and rest break violations, overtime, and claims brought under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Lisa’s litigation practice has provided her with valuable insight into how to avoid disputes from the outset by helping clients navigate risk and stay out of court. Lisa handles matters involving trade secrets, unfair competition, business torts, and real estate litigation. She prioritizes early case assessment and efficient resolution strategies—while remaining a formidable advocate when trial is required. In 2024, she served as lead trial counsel for a Fortune 100 client, securing a complete victory for the client in a jury trial involving the sale of computer software to a multinational corporation.

For many clients, Lisa takes a proactive approach to litigation avoidance by becoming an active part of the client’s human resources team and advising on regulatory and legal matters. Lisa regularly counsels management on hiring, termination, accommodations, and the drafting and enforcement of employment and independent contractor agreements, including confidentiality and separation agreements.

In the intellectual property arena, Lisa has considerable experience advising clients on the development, protection, and enforcement of patents, trademarks, trade dress, and copyrights. She approaches IP litigation with an eye toward innovation, cost-efficiency, and business value, representing clients ranging from early-stage companies to established global brands.

Lisa is a Southern California native who enjoys taking in live music and finding balance and focus on the water through rowing.