Zachary M. Schwartz is a partner at Scott & Whitehead. He brings a wealth and variety of experience to serve the needs of his clients in all aspects of employment law.
Prior to joining Scott & Whitehead, Mr. Schwartz spent 13 years defending the County of Orange (the sixth largest county in the country) in employment litigation, including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation, while also cutting his teeth as a trial attorney in civil rights litigation. Mr. Schwartz regularly worked with and advised different departments and agencies within the County of Orange, achieving ongoing positive results for a large organization with varying needs. Mr. Schwartz has also served as conflict counsel and represented countless individual employees in civil actions.
In his career, Mr. Schwartz has achieved success as a litigator through his work ethic, kindness, communication, and excellent comprehension of difficult legal issues. Mr. Schwartz builds strong and lasting relationships with his clients to make the threat of litigation, and litigation itself, an easier and more comfortable experience. While a great litigator, Mr. Schwartz also values his role as an advisor to his clients. He effectively guides them through difficult and complex workplace problems and litigation.
Mr. Schwartz has extensive experience resolving matters with claimants and plaintiffs’ attorneys through informal and formal settlement negotiations. As necessary, he also litigates and takes cases to trial. He has handled appeals in California and the Ninth Circuit, and has written briefs to the United States Supreme Court.
Through Mr. Schwartz’s litigation and trial experience in different legal areas he has become an astute investigator. He is available to serve as a neutral third-party investigator for employers faced with allegations of workplace misconduct. Mr. Schwartz’s familiarity with trial, juries, and plaintiffs’ attorneys allows him to bring an important perspective to workplace investigations.
Mr. Schwartz is also available to train employees and supervisors on employment issues such as harassment prevention.
Mr. Schwartz attended and graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration. In his senior year, he received the award for Outstanding Undergraduate Marketing Student. After a brief stint in sales, Mr. Schwarz began his legal career and attended Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law. While in law school, he became a Senior Articles Editor on Law Review, competed in Mock Trial and Moot Court competitions, and served as a mediator for the Riverside County Superior Court as part of Chapman’s Mediation Clinic. Mr. Schwartz graduated magna cum laude and ranked second in his class. He later worked as an adjunct faculty member at his alma mater, Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law. He taught a civil procedure lab course to first year law students providing practical legal training.
Admitted to Practice
- California, 2012
- United States Supreme Court, 2016
- Ninth Circuit, 2013
- California Central District, 2013
- California Southern District, 2013
Awards
- Claims Litigation Management (CLM), Phenom Under 40, 2024
Education
- Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law, 2012
- University of Southern California, 2008
Professional Memberships
- Orange County Bar Association