Marissa L. Lyftogt is a partner in Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP’s Employment Law group. She represents employers in all aspects of employment law, including defending against claims of harassment, retaliation, discrimination, failure to accommodate, wrongful termination and wage and hour class actions. She also has experience litigating matters in state and federal courts, in arbitration and representing employers before state and federal administrative agencies.

In addition to defending employers through litigation, Marissa devotes her time assisting employers with compliance as she believes that proactive compliance is the best defense. In this capacity, she prepares training materials, provides advice on hiring, discipline, leaves of absences and termination, and drafts employee handbooks, policies, pay plans, and employment agreements.

Marissa has published several articles on litigation techniques and preventive advice for employers. In 2013, Marissa co-authored an article for the California State Bar, Labor & Employment Law Review, The Best Defense Is a Good Offense: Defending Yourself Through a Comprehensive Wage and Hour Audit. She has also been featured as a speaker at the California State Bar’s Annual Conference. In 2014, she presented on Social Media Evidence: How to Obtain, Use and Present Evidence Ethically.

Prior to joining the firm, Marissa worked at a national labor and employment law firm representing employers. During law school, she worked as a legal assistant at an HR and employment law consulting firm where she conducted wage and hour audits, assisted with workplace investigations and developed training programs on fair employment practices.

Marissa received her J.D., from the University of San Diego School of Law (2008) and her B.B.A. magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Business Administration (2004).