McGuireWoods continues its West Coast expansion with the arrival of labor and employment partner Leo Q. Li, who brings more than a decade of wage and hour class action defense experience to the firm’s Los Angeles office.
Li’s experience spans the full spectrum of wage and hour matters and representative actions under the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). He has successfully defended domestic and foreign employers across industries, including industrial manufacturing, distribution and logistics, education, insurance, aerospace, retail, restaurant, hotel, natural resources and professional environmental services. Li comes to McGuireWoods from Seyfarth Shaw.
In a notable victory, Li helped defeat class certification in a series of wage and hour class and PAGA lawsuits brought by more than 25,000 delivery drivers against a California pizza company in a consolidated action. The California Court of Appeal affirmed multiple trial court orders denying class certification, and the California Supreme Court declined review in February 2025, ending the consolidated action after more than a decade of litigation.
“Leo enhances our capabilities in one of the nation's most active venues for employment litigation. His significant experience in wage and hour defense complements the strengths of our California team,” said Elena Marcuss, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Department.
Li's accomplishments have earned widespread recognition. Law360 named him a “Rising Star” for employment law in 2025, the Daily Journal selected him as a “Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer” in 2024, and Best Lawyers in America recognized him as “One to Watch” for management-side labor and employment law for three consecutive years.
“Leo excels at guiding companies through complex wage and hour cases and helping them manage risk,” said Noreen Kelly, McGuireWoods’ deputy managing partner for litigation. “He is an important addition to our West Coast practice at a time when employers need skilled advocates more than ever.”
McGuireWoods has a nationwide team of experienced litigators who defend and resolve wage and hour class and collective actions for employers of all sizes — from small businesses and nonprofits to governmental entities and Fortune 500 companies. The firm earned a nationwide ranking for labor and employment in the 2025 Chambers USA guide and national Tier 1 rankings for labor and employment litigation and management-side employment law in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms.
“McGuireWoods has a national reputation for excellence in wage and hour and class action litigation. I am excited to be part of this thriving practice," Li said. “The firm's collaborative culture and commitment to building a premier West Coast practice make it the ideal platform to serve clients facing today's most challenging employment disputes."
Li’s arrival follows the recent additions of private equity partner Zachary Shub-Essig and securities enforcement partners Gary Leung and Jodi Lopez in the firm’s Los Angeles office. McGuireWoods also recently launched a Seattle office led by a nationally recognized litigation team.
"Leo’s talent and energy make him a perfect fit for our office," said Alice Youngbar, managing partner of the Los Angeles office. "Our clients will benefit from his practical approach to resolving disputes and his commitment to understanding their businesses from the inside out."
