California Employment Lawyers

CODY LONNING

Of Counsel

Prior to joining Franklin Law, Cody worked at the top law firms of Proskauer Rose LLP and Venable LLP, where he represented and advised some of America’s most successful and well-known companies. Cody's practice included work on a wide range of litigation, including those related to labor & employment, intellectual property, antitrust, contract disputes, consumer products, and real estate. His robust pro-bono practice included victories in debt collection and landlord-tenant disputes.

Cody has been published in a number of legal publications, including as a regular contributor to Employment Relations Today, for which he wrote a quarterly column on Supreme Court decisions relevant to Labor and Employment law. Cody left his corporate law practice because he is passionate about fighting for small businesses and working people.

Cody graduated from the University of California-Berkeley School of Law and received his bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla University, where he graduated magna cum laude. During law school, Cody externed for the Honorable William Alsup in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. After law school, Cody clerked for the Honorable John H. Rich III in the United States District Court for the District of Maine.

Before his legal career, Cody farmed hay and wheat in Eastern Washington. Currently, he enjoys backpacking the Pacific Northwest’s Cascades, skiing the American Rockies, and walking his dog, Zuzu. In addition to his legal practice, Cody teaches history and politics at Eastern Washington University.

JULIANNA ZALINSKI

Associate

Julie is a graduate of UCLA Law School, where she was a member of the Criminal Justice Law Review executive board and a Data Analyst for the UCLA Law COVID Behind Bars Project. During law school, Julie also designed and taught an undergraduate writing seminar on neuroscience and law. Prior to joining Franklin Law P.C., Julie served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Dennis M. Cota in the Eastern District of California.

Julie received her bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, where she graduated cum laude with distinction in all subjects. During her time at Cornell, Julie oversaw over 600 student workers as the Associate Student Director of Cornell Dining and researched the impact of social interaction on song learning in the Australian zebra finch.

In her free time, Julie enjoys collecting rare books, practicing Pilates, and spending time with her cats, Atticus and Matches.

Ruchika Gupta

Of Counsel

Ruchika learned early in her career that that her passion lies in giving voice to the “little guy” and has tailored her legal career accordingly, focusing her practice on representing California workers. Ruchika’s expertise includes disputes related to sexual harassment, discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and unpaid wages.

Prior to joining Franklin Law, Ruchika worked at a consumers’ rights law firm representing clients in matters related to civil rights, employment, and personal injury. In addition to being an aggressive litigator, Ruchika prides herself on mentoring new attorneys and individuals who aspire to become attorneys.

Ruchika received her juris doctorate from Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law, after she obtained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine. During law school, Ruchika worked for the Honorable Jamoa Moberly in the Superior Court of California as well as the Office of the Attorney General for the county of Los Angeles.

In her spare time, Ruchika enjoys international travel, cooking, the beach, playing and watching basketball, and spending time with her golden retriever, Whiskey.

Azin Valafar

Of Counsel

Azin is a litigator and mediator based in Los Angeles, well recognized for her creative and strategic approach to the practice of law. Her compassion, intellect, and determination to do right by her clients make her a formidable advocate. Azin has spent the vast majority of her legal career litigating complex business disputes and employment matters.

Prior to joining Franklin Law, Azin was an attorney at Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl and at Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP. In addition, as a former business owner herself, Azin has a rare personal insight into employment issues and understands firsthand the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable work environment.

Azin graduated from Loyola Law School, having served on the Entertainment Law Review, and received her bachelor’s degree from the university of Southern California.

Kevin Meil

Of Counsel

Kevin is an employment litigator with expertise in disputes involving executive compensation. Kevin has been recognized by Best Lawyers on multiple occasions throughout his career. Prior to joining Franklin Law, Kevin worked at two of the country's most prestigious and selective law firms: Sidley Austin LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw and Pittman LLP. Kevin transitioned from representing corporations to representing employees because he believes in fighting for the rights of employees.

Kevin graduated from the University of California-Berkeley School of Law and received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago, where he graduated with honors. During law school, Kevin represented petitioners in expungement cases at the East Bay Community Law Center. Throughout his legal career, Kevin has represented expungement and asylum petitioners in Illinois and California on a pro bono basis.

Kevin enjoys playing basketball, hiking and spending time with his wife and children.

Danica Li

Of Counsel

Danica is a long-time workers' rights lawyer who has dedicated her career to representing unions and employees in discrimination, retaliation, whistleblowing and wage theft cases. She has practiced in federal and state court, before federal and state labor boards, in arbitrations, and in negotiations and bargaining with employers, litigating both single plaintiff and class and mass actions. She has taken more than a dozen cases to trial as first-chair counsel and lead cases resulting in six, seven, and eight figure recoveries.

A few matters that she is particularly proud to have worked on include an eight figure settlement against a major California employer for withholding employee wages in retaliation for union organizing, the reinstatement of an African American employee persecuted on racial grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic by his public entity employer, the drafting of state legislation aimed at protecting employees’ wages and benefits during strike actions, and a lawsuit challenging Colorado's usage of incarcerated workers as slave labor in its private prison system.

Before joining Franklin Law, Danica worked at Leonard Carder, a union-side labor firm representing some of the most prominent and militant unions on the West Coast, and Outten & Golden, a nation-wide plaintiffs' side employment firm, where she litigated class and single plaintiff cases on behalf of workers.

In her free time, she enjoys reading and writing fiction, and organizing musical and literary events.