Stacie is one of the most hardworking attorneys I’ve met, but what sets her apart is that no matter what problem or issue you throw at her, you can be sure it will be solved promptly, efficiently and effectively—a peace of mind that's priceless.
—Adriana Dulic, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Epoch Payment Solutions

Pillsbury partner and firm General Counsel Stacie Yee handles employment litigation, arbitration and counseling, and complex commercial litigation for a global clientele.

Stacie litigates wage and hour, California Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act, discrimination, and retaliation/whistleblower, including qui tam, actions. She also resolves trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition and false advertising claims. Stacie provides preventative counseling to help clients avoid litigation and advises on contracts, policies, disability accommodations, terminations and other issues. She regularly helps Asia-based clients enter the U.S. market including to navigate employment laws. Over the years, she has worked particularly close with foreign airlines on employment-related and litigation matters, as well as with clients in the restaurant, food and beverage industry.

Representative Experience

  • As lead counsel, defended government contractor against wage and hour class/collective action, successfully transferring venue of the case outside of California and settling the case favorably on an individual plaintiff, non-class basis.
  • Served as lead counsel to a home health care company, successfully consolidated three separately filed wage and hour class actions and obtained court approval for joint settlement of all actions.
  • Prevailed at California Court of Appeals, after oral argument, in an action relating to plaintiff’s claims of whistleblowing and retaliation based on alleged employer-employee relationship between plaintiff and client.

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  • Obtained an arbitration award in favor of an employer on all claims brought against it by an employee alleging disability discrimination, retaliation and harassment.
  • As lead counsel, represented manufacturing company in a wage and hour PAGA-only representative action brought by employees. Assisted in negotiating a settlement of the action, which was approved by the Court.
  • As lead counsel, represented lending company in a wage and hour class action, narrowing the case by compelling all class claims to arbitration on an individual employee basis. Case settled favorably.
  • Obtained summary judgment on all claims alleging disability discrimination, retaliation and CFRA violations brought by an employee against her health care industry employer.
  • Obtained summary judgment on all claims for national origin discrimination brought by a job applicant against a temporary help agency.
  • Obtained judgment in favor of employer in a bench trial on employee’s wage and hour claims regarding allegedly unpaid commissions.
  • Represented an employer at jury trial in a workers’ compensation insurance premium dispute involving issues regarding classification of employees.
  • Representative Complex Commercial Litigation Matters
    • Obtained temporary restraining order against financial industry client’s prior employee who set up a competing business. Negotiated settlement, which included a permanent injunction component.
    • Obtained arbitration award in favor of company, with arbitrator awarding client all sums sought against a third party contractor, based on the contractor’s breach of the indemnification provision in the parties’ underlying contract.
    • Represented a Japan-based manufacturer of fine polymer materials and its U.S. subsidiary in qui tam action brought under the federal FCA alleging whistleblower claims, and breach of contract action relating to same relationship.
    • Represented leading maker of probiotic drinks, in a putative federal class action that alleges false advertising of the potential health benefits of consuming these beverages.
    • Represented America’s sugar cane growers, sugar beet farmers, and refiners of natural sugar in a federal false advertising lawsuit against Archer-Daniels-Midland, Cargill, other processors of high fructose corn syrup, and their trade group.
    • Represented city and public entities in a breach of contract suit against the largest real estate developer in West Covina, including assisting in successfully disposing of a cross-complaint against clients on demurrer.

Professional Highlights

  • Chairs Pillsbury’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee
  • Member, Advisory Board for the Berger Institute at Claremont McKenna College
  • Executive Council Officer. LCLD Fellows Alumni Executive Council for Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity

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  • Fellow, 2015 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity program
  • Former Co-chair of Pillsbury's Women Attorneys Network
  • Speaks and writes on wage and hour, trade secret misappropriation, disability discrimination and family leave topics. Provides training to employers and executives on anti-harassment, discrimination and California employment law compliance.
  • Speaking Engagements
    • Moderator, “Diversity is Innovation Series: Virtual Fireside Chat with Rinse Founders Ajay Prakash and James Joun,” March 1, 2021
    • Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman MCLE Marathon webinar, “Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession and Society,” January 28, 2021
    • Panelist, “Diversity on Boards: Examining Recent Legislation, Private Initiatives, and Impact on Board Bias Issues,” Pillsbury webinar, January 28, 2021
    • Panelist, “Business NOT as Usual,” Community Foundation for Northern Virginia and the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce webinar, December 3, 2020
    • Moderator, “David Byrne’s American Utopia: A Discussion with Performer Angie Swan and Harlem School of the Arts President Eric Pryor,” Pillsbury webinar, November 19, 2020
    • Panelist, “Saving Corporate Diversity: Why Women’s Sports Matter Now More Than Ever,” Pillsbury webinar, October 15, 2020
    • Moderator, “Is VC for Me? Pros and Cons of Seeking Venture Capital for Your Startup,” Pillsbury webinar, August 19, 2020
    • Panelist, “Introducing BOSS Lab: Black Owned Startup Support,” Pillsbury webinar, August 12, 2020
    • California Employment Law Outlook 2019 Presentation, Los Angeles, December 2018
    • Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman MCLE Marathon, Los Angeles, “Sexual Harassment Scandal: Managing a Crisis," January 2018
    • California Employment Law Outlook 2018 Presentation, Los Angeles, December 2017
    • California Employment Law Outlook 2017 Presentation, Los Angeles, February 2017
    • Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman MCLE Marathon, Los Angeles, “When is a Secret a Trade Secret?” and “New Year's Resolution: Evaluate How Big-Ticket Employment Issues May Impact Your Company in 2017,” January 2017.
    • “The Watch List: Pending US and California Supreme Court Employment Law Cases” State Bar of California 89th Annual Meeting, San Diego, September 30, 2016.
    • “Attention California Employers: 2015 is Already Off and Running…Are You Keeping Up?” 2015 California Employment Law Updates Webinar, Los Angeles, March 11, 2015.
    • Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Los Angeles, April 30, 2014.
    • 2014 California Employment Law Updates Webinar, Los Angeles, March 26, 2014.
    • Labor and Employment Seminar, Los Angeles, March 13, 2014.
    • Labor and Employment Seminar, Los Angeles, October 30, 2012.
    • “Drafting Restrictive Covenants in a Multistate Business,” Labor and Employment Webinar, Los Angeles, October 24, 2012.
  • Honors & Awards

    • Named a 2021 Minority Leader of Influence, Los Angeles Business Journal, January 26, 2021
    • Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers Guide (2020-2022)
    • Lawyers of Color’s Inaugural “Nation’s Best” List, 2019
    • Named one of the “Most Influential Minority Attorneys” by the Los Angeles Business Journal, 2019
    • Recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Southern California Rising Star” (2009 – 2017).

Education

  • J.D., University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 2002

    B.A., Claremont McKenna College, 1999
    cum laude

Admissions

  • California

    Washington State

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Clerkships

  • Extern to Associate Justice Earl Johnson Jr., California Court of Appeals