Overview
John Polson is a member of the firm’s COVID-19 Taskforce, a cross-disciplinary team of attorneys dedicated to advising employers on the many workplace law aspects of the global coronavirus pandemic.
John Polson is a partner in the Irvine office and a member of the firm's Management Committee. He represents employers and staffing industry clients in all aspects of labor and employment law, including transactional matters, litigation, compliance advice and audits, executive and management training, and other employment related legal matters.
John handles administrative and civil employment litigation matters, including arbitrations, in California and elsewhere. John has significant experience representing temporary staffing, employee leasing, and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) clients in labor, employment, tax, and transactional matters.
He serves on the Legal Advisory Council of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) and is a frequent lecturer and author regarding multiple employer, joint employer, and human resources outsourcing arrangements.
John has served as a Professional Advisory Director for the Employer Services Assurance Corporation and as an Instructor in the University of California Irvine Human Resources Certificate Program.
John is "AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2008.
Honors & Leadership
Honors & Awards
- Named, Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year", Employment Law - Management (2021)
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2008 – 2021)
- "AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Activities
- Member, National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
- Member, Legal Advisory Committee NAPEO
- Member, American Staffing Association
- Former Director, Employer Services Assurance Corporation
- Founding Sponsor, Alliance for PEO Electronic Compliance
- Member, Society of Human Resources Management
- Member, Orange County Bar Association
Insights
News
- 9.28.20
- More Than A Quarter of the Firm’s Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Edition8.20.20
- 8.15.19
- 4.2.19
- 8.15.18
- 4.6.18
- 8.15.17
- 8.3.17
- 8.15.16
- 8.17.15
- 8.18.14
- 6.2.14
- 8.7.07
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- 6.4.19
- Fisher Phillips 2017 California SeminarsSeptember 7 - 28, 2017
- 1.31.17
- 12.10.14
- 9.17.14
- 4.24.14
- Pay Equity, #metoo: Everything Your PEO Needs to Know
National Association Of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
NAPEO 2019 PEO Capitol Summit, The Ritz-Carlton
Pentagon City, Arlington, VA
5.22.2019 - 2019 Employment Law Updates
Orange County Employment Managers Association (OCEMA)
OCEMA Meeting, Andrei's Conscious Cuisine
Irvine, CA
2.7.2019 - Controlling EPLI Costs
NAPEO 2018 Annual Conference and Marketplace
Phoenix, Arizona
9.6.18 - Happening in the States: A Legal & Legislative Update
National Association Of Professional Employer Organizations 2018 PEO Capitol Summit
Pentagon City, Arlington, VA|
5.24.18 - 2018 Employment Law Updates
Orange County Employment Managers Association Meeting
Irvine, CA
2.7.18 - 2018 Legislative Update
Fisher Phillips Legislative and Benefits Update
Irvine, California
12.5.17 - Legal & Government Affairs Updates: California, Part I
NAPEO 2017 Western States Update
Las Vegas, NV
10.18.17 - Legal & Government Affairs Updates: California, Part II
NAPEO 2017 Western States Update
Las Vegas, NV
10.19.17 - Impact of the Gig Economy on PEOs
NAPEO 2017 Annual Conference and Marketplace
Orlando, FL
9.6.17 - Impact of the Gig Economy on PEOs
Trump Administration’s Impact on PEOs: Top 10 Things to Watch
NAPEO 2017 Annual Conference and Marketplace
Orlando, FL
9.6.17 - Compliance - Playing it Safe
PrismHR LIVE
Nashville, TN
6.14.17 - Employment Law Updates
NAPEO 2017 California Leadership Council Forum
Sacramento, CA
6.6.17 - What’s Happening in the States: State Law & Government Affairs Update
NAPEO 2017 PEO Capitol Summit
Pentagon City, Arlington, VA
5.10.17 - PEO Special Clients
NAPEO 2017 PEO Capitol Summit
Pentagon City, Arlington, VA
5.10.17 - New Employment Laws (Complementary Perspective on Employment and the New Administration)
Burnham Benefits Webinar
3.22.17 - PEO Primer & PEO University: Workers' Compensation Risk Management
NAPEO 2017 Risk Management Workshop
Tampa ,FL
2.22.17 - Industry Panel Session
NAPEO 2017 Risk Management Workshop
Tampa ,FL - 2.23.172017 Employment Law Updates
OCEMA Meeting
Irvine, CA
2.1.17 - Hot Topics Legal Discussion and Q&A
NAPEO 2016 Legal Update & Western States LCF
Phoenix, Arizona
12.7.16 – 12.8.16 - HR/Legal: Mock Trial
NAPEO 2016 Annual Conference & Marketplace
Austin, TX
9.7.16 - Burnham Benefits
Leave Laws or Legislative Updates
Webinar
6.15.16 - Are You Ready for The Next Lawsuit?
California State Council of Society for Human Resource Management (CalSHRM)
CalSHRM 2018 California State Legislative & HR Conference,|
Sacramento, CA
4.20.16 – 4.22.2016 - Top 10 Employee Benefits Mistakes and Misconceptions
SHRM 2015 National Conference
Las Vegas, NV
6.30.15 - What's Happening in the States: State Law & Government Affairs Update
NAPEO 2015 PEO Capitol Summit
Pentagon City, Virginia
5.20.15 - 10 Things You Need to Address in 2015 to Stay Out of Litigation
CalSHRM 2015 California State Legislative Conference,
Sacramento, CA
4.10.152015 Legal Update
Brown & Brown Insurance Services of California
Webinar Series
3.24.15 - PEO Primer
NAPEO 2015 Risk Management Workshop
Tampa, FL
2.24.15 - 2015 Employment Law Updates
Orange County Employment Managers Association (OCEMA) Meeting
Irvine, CA
2.4.15 - Everything You Need to Know About Doing Business in California
California PEO Legal Workshop
NAPEO 2014 California Leadership Council Forum
Pelican Hill Newport Coast, CA
12.10.14 - ACA: Exchange Update
NAPEO 2017 Annual Conference and Marketplace
Miami Beach, FL
9.16.14 - ACA
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
Atlanta, GA
7.8.14 - SHRM 2014 Annual Conference, Orange County Convention Center
Orlando, FL
6.22.14 - 6.24.14 - The Affordable Care Act: Part II
NAPEO 2014 Legal & Legislative Conference
Pentagon City, Arlington, VA
6.13.14 - Executive Next Practices
High Performance, High Compliance: Transforming Regulatory Risks into Increased Company Valuation – A New Approach
Irvine, California
4.4.14 - NLRB Legal Update
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
San Antonio, TX
9.11.13 - 5 Ways To Lawsuit Proof Your PEO
San Antonio, TX
9.10.13 - PEO Primer
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
San Antonio, TX
9.8.13 - Supreme Court Update
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
Webinar
8.27.13 - California Legal Update
San Diego, CA
7.6.13 - PEO’s and the Web
PEO Primer
Arlington, VA
5.20.13 - A Job Without Stress Is A Hobby
CalSHRM
San Diego, CA
4.18.13 - California Legal Update
Santa Ana, CA
3.20.13 - Risk Management Workshop
Tampa, FL
3.1.13 - PEO Primer
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
Tampa, FL
2.27.13 - Regional Update
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
Webinar
2.19.13 - Orange County Employment Managers Association
Santa Ana, CA
2.1.13 - Legal Update
Orange County Employment Managers Association
Santa Ana, CA
2.1.13 - OCCABA Legal Update
Newport Beach, CA
1.26.13 - Top 10 Reasons Employers Get Sued
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
Scottsdale, AZ
10.2.12 - PEO Primer
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
Scottsdale, AZ
9.30.12 - PEO Primer
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
Columbus, FL
7.18.12 - Litigation Is Not Accommodating
Society for Human Resource Management
Atlanta, GA
6.27.12 - ADA On Trial
CAPLAW
Boston, MA
6.20.12 - The Who, What, and How of Workplace Investigations
CAPLAW
San Diego, CA
6.6.12 - NLRB - A Changing Landscape
Arlington, VA
5.22.12 - PEO Primer
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
Arlington, VA
5.20.12 - Avoiding Litigation With Your Employees
ASCRS
4.22.12
Legal Update - Litigation Is Not Accommodating
SDHRM
San Diego, CA
1.18.12
Articles
- "String Theory – How Does it all Fit Together?"
Hot HR Topics – Sexual Harassment, Pay Equality
May 2019 - "California’s new Sweeping Data Privacy Law"
PEO Insider March 2019 - "The Ever-Changing Legal and Regulatory Environment"
Report From California – More Pain
May 2018 - "New Frontiers – Business and Workforce Transformations Create New Opportunities for PEOs"
The Gig Economy and Your PEO – Opportunities and Risks
February 2017 - "Start-Up Guide"
A Lawyer’s Letter to the new PEO Salesperson
February 2017 - “California PEO Survival Guide” PEO Insider - Legal Currents
June/July 2012 - “Navigating the Labyrinth”
PEO Insider - Special PEO Legal and Regulatory Issue
May 2012 - “NLRB Issues New Rules About Union Elections”
Co-authored with Steve Bernstein
PEO Insider - Special PEO Legal and Regulatory Issue
May 2012 - "Employee Handbooks 2011"
PEO Insider
June/July 2011 - "Litigating with a Purpose"
PEO Insider
February 2011 - "The Privacy Police Here!"
PEO Insider
May 2010 - "Responding to Demand letter"
NAPEO Legal Insights
February 2009 - "Employee Handbooks"
NAPEO Legal Review
July 2009 - "Offer Letters and Termination Notices"
PEO Insider
August 2008 - “Top Five Ways to Stay Out of Court”
Employment Market Place
July 2008 - "Professional Employer Organizations and the National Labor Relations Act"
NAPEO Legal Review
2007 - "When is a New Worker Covered Under the CSA?"
PEO Insider
November 2007 - “Eliminate Vacation Policies for Attorneys”
Orange County Lawyer
January 10, 2007 - "Employee Status Under the ADA"
PEO Insider
December 2006/January 2007 - "Employment Contracts"
NAPEO Legal Review
2005 - "Best Performance Practices: What Do You Need in the CSA?"
PEO Insider
August 2004 - "One Lawyer, Two Clients, One Big Headache"
PEO Insider
October 2003 - "PEOs and the FLSA"
NAPEO Legal Review
August 2003 - "The Salary Basis Trap"
PEO Insider
June/July 2003 - “Professional Employer Organizations and the National Labor Relations Act”
NAPEO Legal Review
March 1, 2003 - "PEOs and the NLRB"
NAPEO Legal Review
March 2003 - "The PEO Phenomenon: Co-Employment at Work"
Employee Relations Law Journal
March 2002 - "Navigating the Joint Liability Matrix: Using the Contract to Protect the PEO"
PEO Insider
October 2001 - "Employment Agreements for Worksite Employees"
PEO Insider
August 2001 - "The Virtual Realities of Going Paperless"
PEO Insider
April 2001 - "Protecting Your Assets: Keeping the Business When Key Employees Leave"
PEO Insider
October 2000
Legal Alerts
- 1.11.21
- 1.7.21
- 9.22.20
- 9.9.20
- 2.25.20
- 1.13.20
- 11.21.19
- 7.22.19
- 7.15.19
- 4.1.19
- 9.14.18
- 5.11.2018
- 12.6.17
- 11.7.17
- 8.1.17
- 7.27.17
- 7.5.17
- 6.7.17
- 4.28.16
- 11.3.08
Practices
- Professional Employer Organizations
- Automotive Dealership
- Staffing and Employee Leasing
- Wage and Hour Law
- California Employment Law
- Labor and Employment Litigation
- Employment Practices Liability Insurance
- Employment Contracts
- Independent Contractor Issues
- Supervisor Training
- Gig Economy
- Litigation of Employment Disputes
Education
- Loyola Law SchoolJ.D. 1991
- University of South FloridaB.S. 1987
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California