Damon Ott

Damon M. Ott represents and counsels companies in connection with all types of employment and labor law matters. Damon focuses on defending clients in class, collective, representative and other large-scale civil and government actions involving wage and hour claims, independent contractor status and payroll tax issues.

He has served as trial counsel in three wage and hour class actions, all resulting in complete defense verdicts, with one being upheld in a published appellate court decision clarifying the legal standard for independent contractor cases brought under California law. (Cristler v. Express Messenger Systems, Inc., 171 Cal. App. 4th 72 (2009).)

Damon has negotiated favorable class and collective action settlements, and routinely assists clients with tax audits and government investigations. In particular, he has successfully litigated multiple tax cases against the California Employment Development Department in court and before the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board resulting in decisions finding thousands of workers to be properly classified independent contractors and canceling millions of dollars in tax assessments.

Damon represents clients in a wide range of industries and has considerable experience assisting companies in the transportation, energy generation, technology, and “sharing economy” sectors. He also provides advice to multiple industry associations and their members, including the California Delivery Association and the California Trucking Association.

Education :

• J.D., University of California, Davis School of Law, 2001
• B.A., The College of Idaho, 1997

Courts : U.S. District Court, Northern District of California

Professional & Community Affiliations :

• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of California
• Member, Bar Association of San Francisco