Overview
Hector Emilio Corea is a trial attorney with a passion for helping his clients resolve all manner of business, labor, and employment issues.
Whether he’s representing an international manufacturing client to secure its trade secrets or advising a global brand on workplace disputes, Hector finds the most cost-effective avenues to obtain the best results for his clients.
Hector handles litigation for employers across all areas of labor and employment law, including complex class actions, single-plaintiff cases, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) matters. His experience spans disputes involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, trade secret misappropriation, and traditional labor claims, among others.
In addition, Hector represents clients in consumer class actions, breach of contract disputes, and breach of fiduciary duty cases. Clients appreciate his ability to devise litigation strategies that align with their business goals, conduct thorough case evaluations, and skillfully navigate all stages of litigation. Having tried several cases to verdict, including as a first-chair attorney, Hector is a formidable advocate in court.
As a first-generation immigrant, Hector is also very passionate about advocating on behalf of immigrant communities. He has helped a half-dozen minor children obtain special immigrant juvenile status visas. A native Spanish speaker, Hector also represented several clients on a pro-bono basis before the Los Angeles Immigration Court.
Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Hector was a Deputy City Attorney in the Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney, focusing on employment disputes in federal and state courts in California. While attending law school, he was a Policy & Litigation Intern at a Latino legal civil rights organization and a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Holly J. Fujie of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Hector also served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Staff Sergeant, Public Affairs Specialist, where he received various awards for his service, including the 2013 Brumfield Public Affairs Award in the photojournalism category, the Army Air Assault Badge, and the 451st ESC: Best Non-Commissioned Officer Award in 2014. Additionally, Hector was a contributor to the 2021 LSC Veterans Task Force Report, designed to raise awareness of and provide solutions to the myriad of legal issues facing the veteran population in America.
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Focus Areas
Services
Experience
- Secured a complete defense verdict as a first-chair attorney in a three-week jury trial on Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) disability and race discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.
- Obtained summary dismissal of a $2.9 million FEHA disability discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by a former Los Angeles City employee.
- Obtained a complete arbitral defense verdict for a global dating services provider in a FEHA sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former employee and secured a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upholding the verdict on appeal.
- Obtained summary dismissal of a $50 million trade secret and breach of contract action brought by a former contractor against a national health care provider.
- Assisted in the defense of a PAGA and wage and hour suit against a regional transportation provider, resulting in a favorable settlement and dismissal of all claims.
- Conducted employee witness interviews in Spanish and drafted supporting declarations for national freight carriers and fast-casual restaurant chains in wage and labor class actions.
- Represented a global energy corporation in an intellectual property and fiduciary breach action against a former employee concerning trade secret theft and obtained multiple discovery and spoliation sanctions, leading to a favorable monetary and injunctive settlement.
Credentials
Education
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (J.D., 2017)
- Member, California Law Review
- Member, Board of Advocates (Appellate Advocacy)
- Wichita State University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2014)
Bar Admissions
- California
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Languages
- Spanish