Kathryn T. McGuigan
Kathryn T. McGuigan provides advice and counsel and litigation defense to companies in all aspects of employment law. She represents employers in US state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before federal and state administrative agencies. She focuses on wage and hour class and collective actions as well as single-plaintiff wrongful termination and discrimination claims. Kate’s counseling includes all areas of human resources management. She also speaks regularly on a wide range of employment topics.
Not only does Kate defend employers in employment disputes, clients turn to her for help in avoiding litigation, for counseling and training, and for help in drafting, implementing, and administering policies and procedures.
Kate has a broad background in corporate administration and human resources. Before pursuing her law degree, she enjoyed an extensive career in the food service industry where she was instrumental in the development and startup of a national mall-based, multiconcept restaurant company. Kate also served as vice president of administration for an international restaurant chain. Her experience includes managing all administrative functions, including human resources, employment and customer claims, litigation, customer service and training, crisis management, risk management, and a Bermuda subsidiary.
Kate serves on the Morgan Lewis Los Angeles office’s Pro Bono Committee, volunteers as a guardian ad litem for Public Counsel’s Children’s Rights Project, and works with the Alliance for Children’s Rights.
- Reversal of $8.3 million jury verdict in favor of employee claiming disability and age discrimination and wrongful termination on appeal to the California Court of Appeals.
- Summary judgment for employer and complete dismissal of California wage and hour class action where the former employee claimed misclassification under the inside sales exemption.
- Summary judgment for employer of a single-plaintiff wage and hour action where the plaintiff alleged misclassification as an independent contractor.
- Loyola Marymount University, 2001, B.A.
- Pepperdine University School of Law, 2004, J.D.
- California
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- US District Court for the Northern District of California
- US District Court for the Eastern District of California
- US District Court for the Central District of California
- US District Court for the Southern District of California

Leading Partner, Labor and employment: Workplace and employment counseling, The Legal 500 US (2025)
Next Generation Partner, Labor and employment: Workplace and employment counseling, The Legal 500 US (2021–2024)
Recommended, Labor and employment: Workplace and employment counseling, The Legal 500 US (2020, 2025)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Employment, Law360 (2017, 2019)
Finalist, The Recorder’s Litigation Department of the Year – Labor and Employment (2013)
Recognized, Southern California Super Lawyer (2016–2018)
Recognized, "Rising Star," Southern California Super Lawyers (2012–2014)
Member, Editorial Board for Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
Member, Southern California Irish-American Bar Association
Member, Society for Human Resources Management
Member, Professionals in Human Resources Association