Robert D. Coviello, Esq.
Principal

Profession
Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator

Work History
Principal, Law Office of Robert D. Coviello, 1982-Present.
Associate Attorney, Bradshaw and Andres, 1980-82.

Experience
Licensed attorney in California for the past 23 years. Extensive civil litigation practice that has evolved into almost exclusive representation of individuals and management in employment related matters. Approximately 95% of practice in employment law matters and 5% in business law. Extensive court and jury trial experience. Frequent speaker on employment law issues, including sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination matters and hour and wage claim matters. Conducted several hundred depositions in employment cases. Designated expert by trial counsel in employment litigation matters. Personally responsible for the litigation of several hundred employment related harassment/discrimination civil suits. Jury trial experience in harassment, discrimination, breach of contract, wage claims and other related employment torts.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience
Participated as counsel in over 100 formal employment mediations involving sexual harassment, race discrimination, age discrimination, wrongful termination (contract and violation of public policy), unequal pay issues, Labor Code and 970 claims, disability discrimination, sexual battery, and all forms of Government Code §12940 discrimination. has handled numerous quasi class-action hour and wage claim (Business & Professions Code § 17200)

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training
AAA Employment Arbitrator Training Workshop, San Francisco, 10/00.

Professional License
Admitted to the Bar, California, 1980.

Professional Associations
O.C. Bar, 2002 Chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section; Judiciary Review Committee; California Employment Lawyers; National Employment Lawyers.

Publications and Speaking Engagements
Employment Law Update in California, July 23, 2002, Santa Ana, CA; American Arbitration Association, Nov. 21, 2000, Irvine, CA; Drug and Alcohol Testing Requirements, Oct. 10, 2000, Costa Mesa, CA; Investigating the Sexual Harassment Complaint, July 11, 2000, Costa Mesa, CA; Arbitration and Mediation of Employment Disputes, July 1, 2000, Cosa Mesa, CA; State and Federal Wages and Hour Laws-How Today's Employer Can Avoid Costly Litigation, Feb. 3, 1999, Santa Ana, CA: Investigating the Sexual Harassment Complaint-Arbitration and Mediation of Employment Disputes, Nov. 13, 1998, Costa Mesa, CA; Managing A Successful Employment Law Practice, Employment Law Section, Aug. 10, 1998, Irvine, CA; Winning Methods and Current Issues in Employment Law-Developing A Winning Practice, Orange County Bar Association, Apr. 4, 1998, Irvine, CA; Employment Discharge and Documentation-Preventative Solutions To Difficult Labor and Employment Law Issues, Feb. 26, 1998, Irvine, CA; How to Survive in the Employment Law Jungle-Preventative Solutions to Difficult Labor & Employment Law Issues, Nov. 7, 1997, Santa Ana, CA.. Mediator, American Arbitration Association."Strategies for Resolving Sexual Harassment Claims through Mediation," Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Reporter, Sept.1997. Seminars Conducted: Employment Law Update

Profession
Attorney

Education
University of California, Irvine
Bachelor of Science, Political Science - 1994

Western State University, College of Law
Juris Doctor - December 1997

Experience
Perla J. Duvel is an Associate Attorney with Mr. Coviello's firm. She currently sits as 2004 Vice Chair of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association and is a member of the California Employment Lawyer's Association. She has represented countless employees in wage & hour disputes, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, whistle-blowing and retaliation, breach of employment contract and employment discrimination claims. Ms. Duvel has also represented employers in defending against sexual harassment, wrongful termination and employment discrimination claims and frequently conducts investigations into these matters on behalf of employers in both a pre-litigation and post-litigation setting. She has spoken at seminars on the issues of Investigating Employee Sexual Harassment Claims, Workplace Policies on Harassment & Discrimination, and Conducting Job Interviews without Violating Law.

Memberships
State Bar of California
Orange County Bar Association
Labor & Employment Law Section - OCBA
California Employment Lawyer's Association

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training

Better Business Bureau's (BBB) Arbitrator Training for automotive warranty disputes, 2000 (BBB's Arbitration Panel 2000-2002).

Speaking Engagements
Seminar speaker on the following employment law topics: How to Investigate the Sexual Harassment Complaint, Discrimination and Harassment Claims, the Attorney-Client Privilege During Investigations, Workplace Policies on Harassment & Discrimination.

Additional Languages
Spanish