Paul Knothe is an associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's Los Angeles office where he advises and represents public agency and private school clients in employment law, with an emphasis on public safety matters. Paul has extensive experience in handling employment litigation, grievance arbitrations, administrative hearings, and providing day-to-day legal counsel to the firm’s clients.
As a seasoned litigator, Paul has defended clients in state and federal courts, including appellate courts. He litigates the full range of employment and labor matters including alleged discrimination and retaliation, wage-hour issues, and issues surrounding collectively bargained Memoranda of Understanding. Paul has defended class-action and single- and multi-plaintiff employment matters. He manages all aspects of litigation, from case assessment and pre-trial motion practice, through all forms of discovery proceedings, and settlement, to trial.
As a member of LCW’s Public Safety practice group, Paul is well versed in the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act and works on sensitive disciplinary issues and high-profile civil litigation cases regarding claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, off-duty misconduct, and excessive force issues. Paul advises public safety agencies on complex issues ranging from compliance with their obligations to disclose certain types of peace officer personnel records under SB 1421 and AB 748 to balancing their departmental policies with individual employees’ Constitutional and statutory rights where they come in conflict.
Additionally, Paul regularly conducts thorough workplace investigations, with a focus on high-profile incidents or allegations against senior management personnel.
Paul regularly writes for LCW’s blog on how current legal trends affect LCW’s clients. He has also published several articles in leading legal publications in the areas of his expertise.
Prior to joining LCW, Paul practiced labor and employment law in both the private employment sectors, including for the California Department of Industrial Relations and U.S. Department of Labor. Paul graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center.
Paul is admitted to the California, New York, and District of Columbia bars.
