Attorney Michael Trust — California Employment Lawyer

California Employment Attorney | Former HR Executive | Legal Tech Innovator

I am Michael Trust, Esq., a California-licensed employment attorney serving clients statewide. Prior to becoming an attorney, I spent over 35 years in executive and management Human Resources roles, giving me a unique perspective on workplace dynamics from both the employer and employee sides. My entrepreneurial background spans HR leadership and business operations across multiple sectors, including higher education, healthcare, and real estate—experience that informs my practical, results-driven approach to employment law.

Clients consistently praise my deep HR background coupled with my legal acumen. I understand workplace dynamics from both perspectives and am passionate about ensuring fair treatment and compliance in every matter I handle.

Legal Background & Advocacy

My legal background spans both plaintiff and defense settings, with hands-on experience in matter evaluation, legal research and writing, data analysis, client and opposing counsel communication, and strategic advocacy. I have successfully handled class actions, PAGA matters, wage and hour disputes, misclassification, expense reimbursement, discrimination and retaliation, whistleblower protection, COBRA and benefits disputes, layoffs and RIF matters, and more—including complex matters involving stock options, bankruptcy, fraud, and “squeeze outs.”

As a California Certified Mediator, my goal is to resolve matters efficiently and without litigation whenever possible. However, when circumstances demand it, I am fully prepared to litigate to protect my clients’ interests.

Zealous client advocacy—with integrity and civility—drives everything I do.

Additional Professional Experience

Inside Experience That Informs Legal Strategy

As a California employment attorney, I leverage a distinct advantage: 35+ years in HR—progressing from managing to leading HR functions (in full or in part)—across entertainment, finance, banking, healthcare, healthcare credentialing and compliance systems, solar energy, higher education (public and private), law, and local government. This experience spans enterprises from $4 million to $100 billion, in union and non-union environments, start-ups to PE-backed growth-stage companies to Fortune 500 and equivalent organizations.

I’ve managed approximately 35,000 disability accommodations and leave of absence cases (FMLA, CFRA, PDL, ADA/FEHA) and maintained zero employment litigation at multiple organizations through proactive compliance and strategic employee relations. I’ve served as strategic HR advisor to C-suite executives across diverse sectors: at 20th Century Fox, splitting studio-wide HR responsibility for TV production, film production, finance, IT, and legal operations; in retail banking and consumer credit (employee relations across approximately 37 branches and offices in a highly regulated environment—including bank robbery response and insider fraud investigations); in a PE-backed solar energy company ($100 million enterprise, formed through the merger of two companies with vastly different cultures, major HR compliance remediation, multi-state operations); in a major healthcare system (growing from $25 billion to $100 billion post-merger); currently serving as HR advisor to a prestigious, top-tier boutique entertainment law firm with A-list clientele; and in higher education, leading staffing operations at UCLA across the Chancellor’s Office, Vice Chancellor of Research, Vice Chancellor of Budget/Finance, the Schools of Nursing/Public Health/Law, and university-wide functions—collectively approximately $1 billion of the enterprise (now $2.3 billion)—and managing HR for UC Irvine’s Department of Medicine (the largest department on campus, a $150 million largely revenue-generating operation).

I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I know what works and what doesn’t—experience that helps me help employers stay compliant and out of trouble, and helps employees and former employees understand exactly what went wrong and why. I bring extensive HR systems and technology experience—complemented by my responsible use of advanced legal AI tools, detailed in the section below—that makes me a cost-conscious, efficient attorney who leverages modern tools to deliver better work product at lower cost. I’ve been on both sides of the table. I know how the game is played.

High-Stakes Operations & Crisis Management

Beyond traditional HR, I’ve successfully managed high-stakes, revenue-generating operations. At a for-profit faculty dental practice within USC (expected to return positive revenue to the School of Dentistry annually), I was hired to resolve significant HR and employee relations challenges and turned the practice revenue-positive within six months, maintaining profitability throughout my tenure while running the entire operation: clinical operations, patient relations, marketing, finance and P&L responsibility, contract negotiation, regulatory compliance, leadership of a large multidisciplinary team of clinical providers and staff, and a major buildout and facility relocation. This practice was also a key component of USC’s integrated healthcare emergency response (alongside the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy), where I developed and led business continuity and emergency planning operations—including large-scale event response.

I completed USC’s enhanced emergency preparedness certification—modeled on Virginia Tech’s response framework and recognized as a gold standard for university emergency planning, business continuity, and crisis response in the United States. This training covered nuclear and radiological hazards, active-shooter and terrorism response, food and water sustainability during extended emergencies, medical triage, firefighting, search and rescue, crowd management, and the unique risks of open university campuses serving students, faculty, staff, visitors, residential populations, research facilities, hotels, restaurants, and the general public. Understanding how organizations plan for, respond to, and recover from crises—and where those plans succeed or fail—gives me a perspective on workplace risk and organizational responsibility that few attorneys bring to the table.

I’ve navigated politically complex environments—both academic and private sector—where stakeholder management and strategic influence matter as much as technical expertise. I’m also a California-licensed real estate broker, having owned and operated a brokerage—experience that strengthened my skills in customer service, marketing, finance, contract negotiation, and managing emotionally charged situations where every transaction carries personal stakes. Important: I do not practice real estate law. My legal practice is focused exclusively on California employment law.

When you hire me, you’re not just hiring a California employment attorney. You’re hiring someone who has sat in the chair across the table from where you’re sitting now—and knows exactly what happened in that room.

A Key Differentiator: Responsible Use of Legal AI

As a leader in legal technology, I have earned multiple certifications in legal-specific AI and legal tech. I use confidential, proprietary AI tools—never public LLMs—to accelerate research, drafting, chronology building, and document review. These tools are fully disclosed to clients at the execution of a fee agreement and are used only under my direct supervision and legal judgment.

How AI Benefits My Clients

Clearer work product for negotiations and litigation

Faster, more thorough matter analysis and document preparation

Broader issue-spotting and internal consistency checks

Cost-conscious solutions that reduce time and fees

Importantly, AI does not replace lawyers or expertise. My decades of HR and legal experience, combined with responsible use of advanced technology, ensure that every client receives the highest standard of advocacy, confidentiality, and integrity.

Licensure

Education

Certifications

Memberships

Teaching

University of Phoenix (2002–2004)
Practitioner Faculty – Taught Employment Law, Supervision, and Human Resources

Legal Administrative Support

Roxanne Trust
Roxanne provides legal administrative support and is on track to become an ABA-Certified Paralegal. She assists with client communication, research and writing, data analysis, systems, marketing, and finance. Originally from the Philippines, Roxanne also speaks Tagalog to better support Filipino clients.

For More Information or free consultation Contact Michael Trust.