Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has added Richard H. Rahm as a shareholder in its San Francisco office. Rahm, who was a Littler shareholder from 2006 to 2021, rejoins the firm from DLA Piper. He previously co-chaired Littler’s Appellate Practice Group and was a core member of its Transportation and Class Action Practice Groups.
Rahm has more than 30 years’ experience representing employers in complex wage-and-hour class action litigation and jury trials, state and federal appeals, and arbitrations. He has extensive experience in the transportation sector, including representing trucking companies, airlines and aircraft manufacturers. Rahm’s clients have also included companies in the retail, franchising and financial services industries, as well as staffing agencies and state governmental agencies.
“As new employment and labor laws come into effect in California, Richard’s decades-long experience with high-profile wage-and-hour litigation and his deep knowledge of key industry sectors, especially retail and transportation, will be invaluable to our clients,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president. “Having also welcomed back shareholder Laurent Badoux in Phoenix this month, it’s exciting to see familiar faces return ‘home’ to Littler – it’s truly a testament to our firm culture and strong global platform.”
Rahm’s practice covers a wide range of wage-and-hour disputes, including claims related to employee misclassification, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and wage statement requirements. He has in-depth experience in defending claims arising under the Fair Labor Standards Act, California Labor Code, California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Rahm also advises employers in connection with claims involving public labor issues, defamation and other employment-related torts, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract and wrongful termination.
“Given California’s outsized economic and regulatory influence, Richard’s grasp of the state’s employment laws and track record with the region’s major industries make him an important part of our office,” said Constance Norton, office managing shareholder of Littler’s San Francisco office. “Our clients will once again benefit immensely from his skills and insights, and we are excited to have him back on the team.”
Rahm is a frequent speaker and author on issues related to class action disputes. He has written a number of articles on the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act, FAA, PAGA and other wage and hour issues arising under the California Labor Code. Rahm is also a regular speaker at conferences and webinars held by the American Trucking Association (ATA) and the California Trucking Association. He has been a principal organizer for several years of the ATA’s annual Motor Carrier Class Action Roundtable.
“Having spent 15 years at Littler, it’s a pleasure to return and once again work alongside my superb colleagues in San Francisco and across Littler’s global offices,” said Rahm. “I look forward to drawing on the firm’s vast resources and labor and employment law knowledge to deliver superior employment counsel to my clients.”
In addition to his legal practice, Rahm is a past Chair and current Board Member of the Special Olympics of Northern California and Nevada and is the Immediate Past President of the California Supreme Court Historical Society. He received his J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley – School of Law, his M.Litt. in Legal Philosophy from the University of Oxford, and his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
