Alexandra K. LaFountain
Partner
Alexandra LaFountain advises clients on a wide array of employment matters and helps them promptly resolve disputes with current and former employees.
In her litigation practice, Alex defends employers in wage and hour class actions and lawsuits involving claims for harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, and unfair business practices. Alex has experience in all phases of the litigation process, including pretrial pleading and motion practice, written discovery and depositions, expert discovery, and trial. She has also appeared and prevailed in numerous matters before the California Labor Commissioner.
In her counseling practice, Alex provides guidance to public and private employers on a broad range of wage and hour issues. She also helps them design and implement company-wide policies that comply with California’s complex labor laws.
In addition to her employment practice, Alex represents clients in a diverse array of appellate matters. She has handled appeals involving administrative law, probate, anti-SLAPP, inverse condemnation, and jury selection issues, among others.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Leadership Sacramento, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2022
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
- Sacramento CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), External Relations Committee
- Sacramento Metro EDGE
- The Georgetown Law Journal, Staff Member, 2012-2013
- The Georgetown Law Journal’s Annual Review of Criminal Procedure, Executive Editor, 2013-2014
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2024-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Employment Litigation: Defense, 2021-2024
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2018-2020
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Appellate, Employment & Labor, 2020-2021, 2023
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- Law Fellow, Assistant Instructor for Legal Research and Writing, 2012-2013
- Georgetown University Law Center, Dean’s List
- Georgetown University Law Center, Named Scholar, 2012-2014
Employment Litigation and Counseling
- Represented wine company before the Labor Commissioner and obtained complete dismissal of plaintiff’s claims after proving he was correctly classified as an independent contractor, not an employee.
- Represented real estate company before the Labor Commissioner and obtained complete dismissal of both plaintiffs’ claims after proving they falsified their time entries.
- Represented family-owned orchard before the Labor Commissioner and obtained complete dismissal of plaintiff’s claims prior to evidentiary hearing.
- Successfully opposed class certification in several wage and hour class actions involving hundreds of putative class members.
- Conducted extensive workplace investigation relating to sexual harassment allegations made by former employee.
- Drafted employee handbooks for public and private employers to ensure their compliance with all of California’s wage and hour, sick leave, and harassment prevention laws, among others.
- Drafted employment and confidentiality agreements to prevent employee disclosure of company trade secrets.
- Drafted commission agreements ensuring clients’ compliance with California’s inside salesperson and outside salesperson exemptions.
- Advised and ensured clients’ compliance with California’s Equal Pay Act.
General and Appellate Litigation
- Drafted successful plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment obtaining six figure award for client in breach of contract matter.
- Assisted in the defense of municipal utility district against claims for dangerous condition of public property and breach of contract. Member of three-person team that obtained complete defense verdict after two-week jury trial. Presently representing district on appeal.
- Obtained temporary restraining order to prevent dissipation of trust assets in probate matter.
- Drafted successful motion for reconsideration based upon newly discovered evidence in environmental matter.
- Presently representing local non-profit on appeal involving interpretation of California’s fair and true reporting privilege.
Announcements
16 related items-
October 24, 202442 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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August 15, 2024Best Lawyers® 2025 Recognizes 44 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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June 26, 202441 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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August 17, 2023Best Lawyers® 2024 Recognizes 46 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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August 1, 202338 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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June 30, 202342 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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January 3, 2023Downey Brand Names Three New Partners
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July 7, 202232 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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March 15, 2022Alexandra LaFountain Selected to Leadership Sacramento Class of 2022
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July 7, 202130 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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June 17, 202138 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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July 24, 202045 Downey Brand Attorneys Earn Top Lawyers Distinction from Sacramento Magazine
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July 8, 202025 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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June 26, 201922 Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized as 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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July 16, 201821 Downey Brand Attorneys Selected as 2018 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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December 12, 2014Downey Brand Welcomes Three New Associates
Speaking Engagements / Events
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January 20252025 and Onward – Annual Employment Law BriefingDowney Brand In-Person Employment Seminar
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January 31, 20242024 and Onward – Annual Employment Law WebinarDowney Brand Employment Webinar
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January 24, 20242024 and Onward – Annual Employment Law BriefingDowney Brand In-Person Employment Seminar
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February 2, 20232023 and Onward – Annual Employment Law WebinarDowney Brand Employment Webinar
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January 19, 20232023 and Onward – Annual Employment Law BriefingDowney Brand In-Person Employment Seminar
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February 11, 20222022 and Onward – Annual Employment Law BriefingDowney Brand Employment Webinar
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January 13, 20212021 and Onward – Annual Employment Law BriefingDowney Brand Employment Webinar
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February 24, 2016A New Year Means New Challenges: 2016 Annual Employment Law BriefingCo-presenter, Downey Brand Employment Law Seminar
Legal Alerts
6 related items-
July 12, 2024Key Changes to PAGA and What Employers Should Know
Employment Law -
December 7, 2020Three Important New Employment Laws Taking Effect on January 1, 2021
Employment Law -
June 22, 2020The United States Supreme Court Holds Title VII of the Civil Rights Act Protects Gay and Transgender Workers
Employment Law -
April 6, 2020The Department of Labor Issues New Regulations on the FFCRA
Downey Brand COVID-19 News and UpdatesEmployment Law -
February 18, 2020California Supreme Court Holds Apple Employees Must Be Compensated for Time Spent Undergoing Exit Searches
Employment Law -
February 25, 2016ICE Traffic Stops – Now What?
Food and Agriculture Law
Publications
1 related items-
February 26, 2024Recent California Labor Law Changes and Their Impacts in the Food and Agribusiness Sector
3P Partners Career Resources Blog
Alex is a Sacramento native and proud Christian Brothers alumni.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Leadership Sacramento, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2022
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Litigation Section
- Sacramento CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), External Relations Committee
- Sacramento Metro EDGE
- The Georgetown Law Journal, Staff Member, 2012-2013
- The Georgetown Law Journal’s Annual Review of Criminal Procedure, Executive Editor, 2013-2014
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2024-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Employment Litigation: Defense, 2021-2024
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2018-2020
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Appellate, Employment & Labor, 2020-2021, 2023
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- Law Fellow, Assistant Instructor for Legal Research and Writing, 2012-2013
- Georgetown University Law Center, Dean’s List
- Georgetown University Law Center, Named Scholar, 2012-2014