Jason E. Barsanti

Member

Jason Barsanti focuses his practice on complex litigation and labor and employment litigation, as well as labor and employment counseling. Jason has extensive experience defending clients in all types of litigation, with a particular emphasis on multi-plaintiff actions in state and federal courts across the country. His representation of clients in the agricultural, food service, transportation, entertainment, education, health care, retail sales, oil and gas, and insurance industries includes the defense of class actions and collective actions, discrimination claims, workplace harassment, retaliation and wrongful discharge claims, and actions predicated on breach of contracts.

In addition, Jason regularly counsels clients regarding compliance with state and federal laws and regulations including, in particular, the Fair Labor Standards Act and similar state and local wage and hour laws such as the California Labor Code, California Business and Professions Code section 17200, the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, and the Illinois Minimum Wage Law. Jason also assists his clients in developing and implementing policies and procedures and has helped his clients develop strategies, such as arbitration and class waiver programs, designed to avoid costly litigation.

Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, Jason was a partner with Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson, LLP in the firm’s Chicago and San Francisco offices.

Jason graduated from Northern Illinois University with a B.S. in political science and an emphasis in public administration. Jason then graduated magna cum laude from the Pepperdine School of Law where he served as the managing editor of the law review. Following law school, Jason clerked for two Los Angeles Superior Court judges sitting on the Los Angeles County Complex Litigation Panel, where he worked on class and mass tort actions including consumer, securities, and wage and hour class actions.

Jason is a member of the bar in both Illinois and California.

Experience

News

Proposed Overtime Rule Expected Soon

March 21, 2022

Jason Barsanti was quoted in HR Magazine discussing a proposed overtime rule that the U.S. Department of Labor will recommend higher salary level thresholds for the white-collar exemptions to the rule.

What Independent-Contractor Tests Apply in California?

September 27, 2018

Jason Barsanti, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, was quoted in SHRM discussing the new standard for wage orders and different tests for other claims.

Expansive California Workplace Retaliation Law Takes Effect Soon

November 13, 2017

Jason Barsanti, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, was quoted in SHRM on the new workplace retaliation law in California.

California Employers: Are You Complying with Final Pay Rules?

June 28, 2017

Jason Barsanti, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses final pay rules on shrm.com.

Yogis Breathe Deep Sigh of Relief Over $1.65M Unpaid Wage Settlement

December 30, 2016

Jason Barsanti, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Labor & Employment department, discusses the CorePower Yoga unpaid wage settlement in Bloomberg BNA's Daily Labor Report.

Publications

California Time Rounding Policies – The Beginning of the End? [Alert]

October 28, 2022

The California 6th District Court of Appeal recently ruled that where an employer could track the exact time in minutes that an employee worked each shift.

California Supreme Court Targets Meal and Rest Premium Pay Practices [Alert]

July 16, 2021

Brett Greving, Elena Hillman, and Jason Barsanti discuss the California Supreme Court's decision in Ferra v. Loews Hollywood Hotels, LLC.

Eleventh Circuit Goes It Alone by Prohibiting Class Representative Incentive Awards [Alert]

September 21, 2020

Jason Barsanti discusses the Eleventh Circuit's decision in Johnson v. NPAS Solutions, LLC.

AB5: The Gig Is up on Independent Contractors [Alert]

September 25, 2019

Jason Barsanti and Brett Greving discuss AB5, which goes into effect January 1, 2020, and what it mean for employers and businesses, including the specific exceptions and what to expect next.

California Employers Cheer Rare PAGA Victory [Alert]

September 16, 2019

Jason Barsanti discusses the California Supreme Court's decision in Z.B., N.A. and Zions Bancorporation v. Supreme Court (Lawson) holding that private litigants cannot recover unpaid wages pursuant to section 558 of the Labor Code.

Education

  • Pepperdine University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2004
  • Northern Illinois University, B.S., 2001
  • California
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

Los Angeles County Superior Court

  • American Bar Association
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association: Labor and Employment Section
  • State Bar of California Labor and Employment Section