About Kevin Chaffin, Esq.

What Makes Attorney About Kevin Chaffin Uniquely Qualified To Represent You?

Kevin Chaffin is a nationally recognized litigator with a track record of success in the courtroom, arbitration and mediation. He has represented clients as Defendants and Plaintiffs in employment and business litigation. As a trial lawyer, Kevin has won every one of his jury trials. As General Counsel for a publicly traded company, he has been a trusted partner to C-level leaders and key stakeholders and recognized for serving as corporate counsel to national nonprofit entities, private organizations, and publicly traded companies. He embraces a strategic and values-centered approach to building lasting client relationships.

Kevin has appeared on numerous T.V. shows including Good Morning America, CNN’s The Nancy Grace Show and CBS Evening News with Katie Couric as well. He has also had several cases covered by numerous newspapers and has made several appearances on radio shows.

For employers and companies with significant risk and liability concerns, he brings over 25 years of experience with him as one of very few attorneys that has served as both a trial lawyer, litigator and as General Counsel for a multi-state and international vehicle manufacturing company with operations in 13 States and over 3,000 employees in the United States and Mexico.

Kevin has trained doctors, nurses, attorneys, paralegals and support staff in California and U.S. litigation, as well as employment law and human resources policies and practices, including employees in India and Mexico. Customers included Amazon, FedEx, UPS, the United States Posts Office and the Canadian Post Office. In additional to excellence in trials and litigation, he has experience in corporate governance, business litigation, employment law matters, human resources management and best practices, both in the United States as well as India and Mexico.

For Employers and Businesses facing significant risk and liability claims in his practice areas, Kevin’s experience in both Plaintiff’s Case and Employer Defendant Cases, as well as handling business matters and claims on both sides of the table, he can and will provide them with excellent and valuable representation. His philosophy includes knowing that the best legal defense is provided by a lawyer who understands his opponents.

In addition to his status as an independent contractor to Vision Law® he maintains his own practice in Ventura, California serving clients throughout the State.

Areas of Practice (Employment & Labor, Business Litigation)

EMPLOYMENT LAW ( Litigation Defense, Advice & Consulting)

• OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Act – Requirements, Penalties, and Defense
• Minimum Wage and Overtime Requirements: State, County and City
• Rest and Meal Period Requirements and Penalties
• Minimum Salary Requirements
• Classification as Exempt or Non-Exempts Status – Requirements and Defense
• Pay Stub Requirements and Violations Defense
• Final Paycheck Waiting Time Penalties
• Class Action and PAGA (Private Attorney General Act) Lawsuit Defense
• Labor Commissioner Claims Defense
• EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity) – Position Statements in Response, Claim Defense
• DFEH (California Department of Fair Employment and Housing) – Response, Hearings and Claim Defense
• FMLA Family Medical Leave Act – Requirements and Defense
• CFRA California Family Rights Act Leave – Requirements and Defense
• PFL Paid Family Leave and Pregnancy Leave – Requirements and Defense
• FLSA (Fair Labor Standards Act) – Requirements and Defense
• ADA ( Americans with Disabilities Act ) – Requirements and Defense
• EPLI ( Employment Practices Liability Insurance )
• Unions – Requirements, Violations and Claims Defense
• Workplace Bullying and Harassment Policies, Employee Training and Defense
• Retaliation and Whistler Blower Claims and Defense
• Wrongful Termination, Discrimination and Harassment Lawsuit Defense
• Independent Contractor Status Advice and Misclassification Lawsuit Defense
• Trade Secrets Protection and Unfair Competition
• Other Protected Employee Leaves Advice and Defense
• At-Will Employment Status
• Employee Handbook Preparation and Review
• Code of Ethics Requirements and Implementation
• NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreements)
• Executive Compensation
• Human Resources – Best Practices, Training and Management

BUSINESS LAW ( Litigation Defense, Advice & Consulting)

• OSHA ( Occupational Safety and Health Act ) – Requirements, Penalties, and Defense
• ESG ( Environmental, Social and Governance ) – Policies, Compliance
• CSLB ( California Contractors State Licensing Board ) – Requirements and Violation Defense
• Breach of Contract
• Breach of Licensing and Distribution Agreements
• Supply Chain Interruptions and Breach of Supply Agreements
• Trade Secrets, Unfair Competition and Unfair Business Practice
• Intellectual Property ( Portfolio Management, Outside Counsel and Panel Counsel Management )
• Patent Infringement Actions, Trademark and Copyright Violations
• Regulatory Compliance – EPA ( Environmental Protection Act ) Requirements and Violations
• CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) Requirements, Violations and Defense
• Board of Directors Requirements
•  C-Suite Executive Matters
• Warranty Language and Breach of Warranty Claims Defense
• Corporate Responsibility – Policies and Best Practices
• ISO ( International Organization for Standardization ) – Standards, Best Practices and Polices
• Privacy Rights – CPRA ( California Privacy Rights Act ) and GDPR ( General Data Protection Regulation ) –

Requirements, Compliance, Policies and Implementation and Best Practices

Bar Admissions:

• California, 1997
• The Supreme Court of The United States
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court Central District of California
• U.S. District Court Southern District of California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan

Education:

• Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California, 1997; J.D.
  • Graduated Cum Laude
  • Pepperdine Law Review, 1995-1996, 1996-1997
  • American Jurisprudence Award in Civil Procedure (Highest Grade in Class)·
• Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, 1994; B.A.
  • Coordinator: San Felipe, Mexico Home Building Missions
  • Founder: Native American Student Association

Public Speaking, Training and Seminars:

• Harassment and Bullying in the Workplace, 2019-2022
• Effective HR Management and Leadership, 2019-2022
• Understanding California Wage & Hour Law and Employee Rights, 2014, 2019-2022
• NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement), 2020-2021
• Defending Motor Vehicle Warranty Claims, 2020
• Understanding and Following a Code of Ethics, 2019-2022
• American Civil Litigation, Trials, Arbitrations, Mediations and Discovery, Bangalore, India, 2016
• Physical and Financial Elder Abuse, 2012-2013

Employment Positions:

• Southern California Edison Company, Senior Trial Attorney, 2022-2023
• The Shyft Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHYF), formerly Spartan Motors, Inc., ( NASDAQ: SPAR )
  General Counsel, 2019-2021
• Hoplite Legal & Consulting Group, PLLC, Managing Attorney, 2019-2023
• Soltman, Levitt, Flaherty & Wattles LLP, Senior Employment and Business Attorney, 2017-2018
• Chaffin Law Office, Managing Attorney, 2005-2017
• Ball & Yorke, Associate Attorney, 1998-1999, 2002-2005
• Brayton Purcell, Trial Team and Associate Attorney, 1999-2002
• Nordman, Cormany, Hair & Compton, Associate Attorney, 1997-1998
• Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Internship: Major Crimes and Misdemeanors, 1996

Professional Associations:

• Member (Former) – Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles ( CAALA )
• Member – National Native American Bar Association
• Member (Former) – RVIA ( Recreational Vehicle Industry Association )
• Member – California Cattlemen’s Association
• Member – CIPA ( California Independent Petroleum Association) – BOD Legal Committee Member

Board of Directors:

• Board of Directors, Treasurer (Current) – California Oil Museum Foundation
• Board of Directors (previous) – Step Up Ventura ( Non-Profit entity dedicate to providing education to young children of at risk or homeless parents. )
• Board of Directors (previous) – Project Understanding ( Non-Profit entity formed to aid the homeless and indigent with food, clothing, showers and job seeking abilities.
• Board of Directors (previous) – Ruben Navarro Foundation ( Non-Profit formed to aid family members of severely injured or ill people with room and board near their hospitals.)