Serafin H. Tagarao

About Serafin

Serafin Tagarao advises and defends companies with workforces in California in employment-related matters.  In particular, Tagarao has experience with employment litigation involving wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and wage and hour violations.  He also has experience in defending companies of all sizes against class action claims, Fair Labor Standards Act collective actions, and Private Attorneys General Act claims.

In addition, Tagarao has successfully defended employment claims at the Court of Appeals level in claims alleging discrimination and harassment arising under FEHA. 

Tagarao also assists employers to help minimize, avoid and manage employment risks.  He regularly provides day-to-day advice and counsel on matters involving federal and state statutes including Title VII, FEHA, California Labor Code, FLSA, FMLA, and equivalent state statutes, UTSA and AB 1522.  He has also drafted federal state compliant policies, including comprehensive employer handbooks.

Areas of Practice

Education

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, J.D., 2012

• Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review, Chief Production Editor
• Loyola Law School Writing Tutor Program, Writing Tutor

Loyola University of Chicago, B.A., Political Science and Psychology, cum laude, 2008

• Member, Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society)
• Treasurer, Psi Chi (Psychology Honor Society)

Publications

"Filipinos on the Bench – Challenges and Solutions for Today and Tomorrow’s Generations," Co-Author, Inst. for Inclusion Legal Prof. 171 (2017) & 22 Asian Pac. Am. L.J. 57, 2017

"Protection for Employees in 2016,” Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP, 2016  

“California Employer Successful in Arbitration Policy Dispute,” JD Supra, 2015

“House Painter With Vertigo and Restriction to Work “at Ground Level” Loses FEHA Case,” JD Supra, 2015

Presentations

“If You Build It, They Will Come: How Diverse Outside Counsel Can Attract (and Retain) Business from In-House Counsel,” Panel Moderator, Filipino-American Bar Association, December 2018

"Filipinos on the Bench – Challenges and Solutions for Today and Tomorrow’s Generations," Moderator, Southwestern Law School, 2016

“Legal Aspects of Starting a Small Business,” San Fernando Valley Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Small Business Workshop, 2015

Professional Affiliations/Leadership/Awards

Member, Philippine American Bar Association (PABA)

• Chair, Media Committee, March 2013 – Present
• Board of Governors, December 2012 – Present 
• 2012 PABA Rising Star Award

Filipino-American Lawyers of Orange County (FLOC)

• President-Elect, 2019 - 2020
• Chair, Media Committee, March 2016 – Present
• Founding Member/Board of Directors, April 2016 – Present 

Orange County Asian American Bar Association (OCAABA)

• Co-chair, Professional Development Committee, May 2016 – Present
• Board of Directors, November 2016 – Present