Portrait of Debbie Petito

Deborah H. Petito

Principal, Practice Group Leader - Labor and Employment

Deborah “Debbie” Petito is a principal attorney in the firm’s Labor & Employment, Estates and Trusts and Litigation Practice Groups.

Debbie has practiced in the labor and employment field for over 35 years. Her practice focuses on all types of employment matters, including employment litigation (discrimination, harassment and wage and hour) in federal and state courts, before state and federal agencies regulating wages and hours of employment and in arbitration proceedings and labor matters (dealing with unions and union-related issues). She acts as an outside employment counsel to several companies in various industries providing advice on an ongoing basis. She also conducts investigations, provides general advice and counsel to employers on employee discipline and termination, wage and hour issues as well as other employment topics. Debbie frequently speaks on labor and employment issues.

In her litigation practice, Debbie represents individual clients and corporate entities, including non-profit corporations, in all types of trust litigation, including defending trustees in petitions to have them removed, challenging gifts to caregivers and last-minute amendments to trusts resulting from undue influence. In addition, she handles financial elder abuse matters and claims against an elder, trustee or beneficiary for unpaid wages by a caregiver.

Representative Matters

  • Successfully settled two class action lawsuits against clients in 2022 in the early stages of the litigation saving the clients substantial fees and costs
  • Obtained large settlement in probate matter in 2022
  • Conducted over 12 investigations of employee claims of discrimination and/or harassment during COVID

    Education

    • Pepperdine Caruso School of Law (J.D.)
    • University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., cum laude)

    State Bar Admissions

    • California

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Northern District of California
    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
    • United States District Court for the Central District of California
    • United States District Court for the Southern District of California
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
    • Supreme Court of the United States

Firm Highlights