Pavlina Kochankovska Rafter
PEOPLE

Pavlina Kochankovska Rafter

Senior Attorney
rafter.pavlina@dorsey.com

Overview

Pavlina is a trusted advisor, helping clients to quickly resolve complicated labor and employment issues.

Pavlina supports clients by advising on a wide variety of labor and employment issues, including employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful discharge claims. She also helps clients with operations in multiple states comply with employment laws with special emphasis in the areas of wage and hour laws, the ADA, noncompetition agreements and handbooks and policies. She is skilled at dispute resolution, consistently achieving her client’s goals.

Where litigation cannot be avoided, she has successfully represented clients at all phases, from inception of lawsuit through settlement, including trial proceedings, appellate practice and arbitration. Pavlina’s thorough approach has contributed to a history of dismissals at early stages of litigation.

Education & Admissions

Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., 1999), Graduated with Honors; National Trial Advocacy Team Member; Regional Champion, ABA National Trial Competition; National Quarterfinalist, ABA National Trial Competition

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (B.S., Business Administration, 1994)

Admissions

  • California
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (General and Trial Bar)

Experience

Representative Experience

  • Defended employer against claims of discrimination based on race and religion, successfully obtaining dismissal of all claims.
  • Defended employer against allegations of age discrimination, successfully negotiating a favorable settlement for the client and avoiding trial.
  • Represented employer in a disability discrimination case, successfully obtaining a dismissal of all claims against her client.
  • Successfully argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, obtaining not only a ruling in favor of her client, but also helping to set precedent in a disability discrimination case.
  • Represented employer in federal appellate court, obtaining a dismissal by the court of all federal claims.
  • Successfully defended allegations of unfair labor practices before the Illinois Labor Relations Board, obtaining a dismissal of all claims against her client.
  • Defended employer in arbitration addressing various alleged violations of a collective bargaining agreement, obtaining a ruling in favor of the employer on all claims.

News & Resources

Articles

California Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Update to State’s Pay Transparency Law, Setting Out New Pay Disclosure Requirements
Unlimited PTO in California – Is This Actually a Good Idea to Retain Employees?
Missed Meal Period Penalty Must Include Adjustment for Nondiscretionary Payments
Job-Protected Leave Under the California Family Rights Act Expands to Apply to Employers with Five or More Employees Effective January 1, 2021
Five FAQs: Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19-Qualifying Reasons Available to All California Employees Under New Law
California Cities and Counties Issue Orders and Recommendations on Use of Face Coverings in the Workplace
In Remarkable Reversal, California Supreme Court Takes a Broad View of Standing Under PAGA
California Supreme Court Rules that Employees Must be Paid During Mandatory Security Searches
Five FAQs on California’s New Ban on Mandatory Arbitration Agreements
Five FAQs on California’s New Ban on Mandatory Arbitration Agreements
What Do Employers Need to Know Following the Passage of California’s New Law on Independent Contractor Misclassification?
FAQs for Employers Following the Passage of California’s New Law on Independent Contractor Misclassification
California Governor Signs Spate of #MeToo Era Bills Into Law
California High Court Confirms Written Authorization Required For Most Employer Background Checks
When a Disclosure Form Must “Stand Alone”: Recent Cases Hold Companies Liable for Including Too Much on FCRA Disclosures

News & Press Mentions

Dorsey's California Offices Continue to Add Key Talent

Select Presentations

  • Speaker, Staying Ahead: Leaves of Absence and Disability Accommodations – Navigating Sticky Scenarios from Medical Marijuana to “Emotional Support” Animals and More, Costa Mesa, CA, May 22, 2019
  • Speaker, Salary History and Pay Equity, Professionals in Human Resources Association, La Jolla, CA, January 30, 2019
  • Speaker, Salary History and Pay Equity, Professionals in Human Resources Association, Burbank, CA, January 22, 2019
  • Speaker, Salary History and Pay Equity, Professionals in Human Resources Association, Riverside, CA, January 16, 2019
  • Speaker, Salary History and Pay Equity, Professionals in Human Resources Association, Anaheim, CA, January 10, 2019

Industries & Practices

  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Labor & Employment
Pavlina Kochankovska Rafter