R. Craig Scott
California
Scott & Whitehead
2601 Main Street
Suite 510
Irvine, CA 92614
Tel: 949-222-0166
Email:
rcraigscott@employerlaw.com
Web:
www.employerlaw.com
Mr. Scott is the senior partner of the management-side labor and employment law firm of Scott & Whitehead, which received a Tier 1 ranking in the 2024 and prior editions of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.”
Mr. Scott has extensive experience representing employers in administrative proceedings, and in both state and federal courts, including wage and hour class actions. He has been particularly successful in convincing plaintiffs and their attorneys to abandon cases without payment, or to settle for nominal amounts. Mr. Scott has defended hundreds of single plaintiff employment cases, as well as numerous multi-plaintiff cases.
Selected to conduct highly sensitive workplace investigations, Mr. Scott is skilled and experienced in identifying the causes and consequences of personnel misconduct.
Mr. Scott is named in the Best Lawyers in America©, 2024. By vote of his peers, Mr. Scott has been listed in this prestigious publication for 29 consecutive years, 1995-2024. In addition, Martindale-Hubbel, the most recognized lawyer-rating institution in the nation, has given Mr. Scott its most prestigious, AV® Preeminent™ rating for legal ability and professional ethics.
Mr. Scott graduated from the University of Utah’s College of Law, where he received his J.D. Degree in 1978. He was a Member (1976-1977) and Articles Editor (1977-1978) of the Utah Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.
Previously, Mr. Scott was the partner leading the Orange County, California employment law practice of the 260-attorney law firm of Sheppard Mullin and, later, of the 50-attorney law firm of Pettis, Tester, Kruse & Krinsky.
Mr. Scott is author or co-author of a number of books, including:
- Employment Law 101: Documentation, Discipline & Discharge for California Employers (2021, with Stu Lerner and Anita York)
- Employment Law 102: Wage & Hour and Employee Benefits for California Employers (2021, with Stu Lerner and Anita York)
- Employment Law 103: Other Real World Challenges for California Employers (2021, with Stu Lerner and Anita York)
- Severance Agreements: 6 Steps To A Better Deal (2001)
For several years, Mr. Scott also authored a regular column, “Employment Law,” in the Orange County Business Journal. He has published over 75 columns and articles on labor and employment law issues for publications including the Orange County Employer Advisory Council’s Advisor, Business to Business, Long Beach Business Journal, Personnel Administrator, and Small Business Report.
The law firm of Scott and Whitehead specializes in labor and employment law, counseling and litigation. Founded in 1993, the firm is committed to excellence in representing employers.
Our lawyers, who have had distinguished careers with prominent regional and national labor and employment law firms, pride themselves on having exceptional analytical skills and judgment, excellent oral and written expression, and keen business sense.
The firm’s labor and employment law practice covers a broad spectrum of the field. Our lawyers have extensive experience defending employers against wrongful termination and related claims in state and federal courts, as well as counseling management regarding preventive policies and practices. We defend businesses in employment discrimination and sexual harassment claims, as well as before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other state and local fair employment agencies. We advise management on the development and implementation of employee handbooks, personnel policies and safety manuals, and regarding compliance with state and federal wage and hour laws. We also conduct workplace investigations
The firm represents employers in a wide array of private sector industries as well as in the public sector. The firm’s private sector clients range from national and international companies, to medium-sized California businesses, to local proprietorships. The firm’s public sector clients include school districts, sanitation districts, and cities. We understand that each employer faces unique problems, so our attorneys become thoroughly familiar with the business issues facing each of our clients and provide advice that is both practical and responsive.