Karl Schlecht Tressler LLP

Schlecht, Karl P. Partner

Schlecht, Karl P. Partner

Practice Focus

Karl Schlecht is a partner in Tressler's Professional Liability and Employment Group in the Orange County office. He provides management-side labor and employment litigation defense before federal and state courts in class actions, single-plaintiff litigation and administrative agency proceedings involving the Fair Labor Standards Act, the ADA, Title VII, the ADEA and OSHA. His practice also includes a variety of other federal, state and local wage and hour, discrimination, breach of contract, wrongful discharge, labor and workplace tort claims.

In addition to his active employment practice,  Mr. Schlecht’s practice encompasses all forms of general liability defense litigation, including premises liability, workplace accidents, automobile/trucking accidents, personal injury defense and business/contract disputes. Mr. Schlecht has extensive experience defending clients in complex litigation including wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases. 

Besides litigation defense, Mr. Schlecht  counsels employers in connection with a broad array of employee relations issues, including wage and hour, affirmative action and equal employment opportunity matters. He advises management on complex issues arising in employment actions (including, but not limited to, individual or group terminations from employment) and he prepares and reviews, personnel policies, employee handbooks and other employment-related materials to ensure a compliant and effective employment platform.

Mr. Schlecht’s wage and hour practice includes advice and counsel on complex issues of classification of workers as employees or independent contractors, overtime exemptions and compensation practices regarding mobile workforces. He also has significant experience  in protecting and defending businesses in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) litigation matters as well as related state and federal laws regarding accessibility. He has defended businesses of all sizes in ADA accessibility lawsuits. Mr. Schlecht takes a proactive approach to accessibility compliance, counseling clients on the steps to take to become compliant in order to avoid access litigation. 

Professional Background

Prior to joining Tressler, he was a partner at Kimball, Tirey & St. John, where he was Chair of the firm’s Employment Practice Group and the Managing Partner of the Irvine office. While at his previous firm, he was also the lead instructor for the firm’s sexual harassment training program. 

Memberships & Affiliations

American Bar Association
Association of Workplace Investigators - Member 
Baynard Inn of Court
Defense Research Institute

Orange County Bar Association
Special Master in Orange and San Diego Counties


Publications

News

Personal Life

In his spare time, Karl enjoys Cross-Fit, watching his son rock climb, and is a whiskey connoisseur.

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