Defending Lake County workers — from Clear Lake to Clearlake Oaks — against wrongful termination, discrimination, and wage violations.
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Lake County is one of California’s smaller and more rural counties, situated around Clear Lake — the state’s largest natural freshwater lake — with approximately 68,000 residents. Despite its size, Lake County workers face very real employment law challenges. The county’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, tourism and hospitality, healthcare, retail, and government employment. Many workers in these sectors are employed by small and mid-size businesses where HR departments are minimal or nonexistent, creating fertile ground for employment law violations.
At Liane Ly Law, we believe that every California worker — regardless of whether they live in a major metro or a rural county like Lake County — deserves skilled legal representation when their employer violates the law. Attorney Liane Katzenstein Ly has over 15 years of experience fighting for workers throughout California in both state and federal courts. If you work in Lake County and your employer has wronged you, we are here to help.
Fired for an illegal reason? We fight for reinstatement, back pay, and damages when employers violate California termination law.
Discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, or national origin violates California and federal law. We hold employers accountable.
Hostile work environment and quid pro quo harassment are illegal. We provide compassionate, aggressive representation for harassment victims.
Did your employer punish you for reporting misconduct or filing a complaint? Retaliation is illegal and we aggressively defend your rights.
Unpaid overtime, missed meal breaks, misclassification — California wage law is strict. We recover what you are owed, plus penalties.
General employment matters including contract disputes, non-compete issues, severance negotiation, and WARN Act violations.
Lake County has one of California’s largest legal cannabis cultivation industries, employing many workers in conditions that can involve wage theft, unsafe environments, and retaliation when workers report violations. Cannabis workers have the same rights under California labor law as workers in any other industry. Additionally, Lake County’s tourism and hospitality sector employs many seasonal and tipped workers who face frequent wage violations.
Attorney Liane Katzenstein Ly has over 15 years of experience representing California employees and has appeared in courts across the state. She is licensed in all California state courts and in the Central, Northern, and Eastern Districts of California. When you hire Liane Ly Law, you get an attorney who understands not just the law, but the economic realities facing workers in your region.
Attorney Liane Katzenstein Ly has fought for California workers since 2008, building a record of results in state and federal court.
We handle most employment cases on contingency — you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
We exclusively represent employees, never employers. Your interests are always our only priority.
If you believe your employer has violated your rights in Lake County, don’t wait. Employment law deadlines are strict and evidence disappears quickly.
Liane’s passion extends beyond the courtroom. She dedicates her time to pro bono legal services, empowering low-wage workers and undocumented immigrants seeking asylum. She is also deeply involved with non-profits that advocate for workers’ rights, ensuring that her commitment to justice goes beyond her practice.
With over 15 years of experience, Liane has built a reputation for providing compassionate, results-driven representation. Her work has taken her to state and federal courts, where she has achieved significant victories for workers across a wide range of industries. Whether addressing wage disputes, fighting against wrongful termination, or standing up to discrimination, Liane approaches each case with the belief that every worker’s story matters.
At Liane Ly Law, we’re not just about legal representation—we’re about changing lives.
We understand the courage it takes to speak up against unfair treatment and the impact losing your job can have on every aspect of your life. We’re here to stand by your side every step of the way. Let us help you reclaim your voice and achieve the justice you deserve.
Relentlessly pursuing justice with passion, precision, and unwavering commitment to protect your rights and achieve the results you deserve.
Delivering expert legal representation with integrity, reliability, and a steadfast focus on achieving the best outcomes for our clients.
Bringing years of proven expertise to navigate complex legal challenges and secure justice for our clients.
Yes. Cannabis cultivation and processing workers in Lake County have the full protection of California labor law — including minimum wage, overtime, meal and rest breaks, and anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation protections. The legal status of cannabis under California law does not reduce worker protections. Wage theft and retaliation are common in the cannabis industry, and we represent cannabis workers in asserting their rights just as we would workers in any other industry.
California’s at-will employment doctrine has significant exceptions. Your termination is wrongful if you were fired because of a protected characteristic (race, gender, age, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation), because you reported illegal activity or safety violations, because you filed a wage complaint, because you took protected medical or family leave, or in violation of an employment contract. Contact us for a free evaluation of your termination.
FEHA prohibits discrimination and harassment in all Lake County workplaces with 5 or more employees (for discrimination) and all employers regardless of size (for harassment). Protected characteristics include race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age (40+), marital status, medical condition, pregnancy, and more. FEHA allows recovery of lost wages, emotional distress damages, punitive damages in egregious cases, and attorney fees.
Yes. Sexual harassment is illegal in all California workplaces regardless of size or industry. Lake County’s hospitality and tourism sector has many small employers where harassment can go unchecked. California imposes strict liability on employers for supervisor harassment and requires all employers to take prompt corrective action for harassment complaints. If you experienced harassment and your employer failed to act, you have a strong claim for damages including emotional distress.
Common violations include failure to pay for all hours worked (including pre- and post-shift activities), piece-rate schemes that result in below-minimum-wage earnings, failure to provide required rest and meal breaks, heat illness prevention failures, and misclassification through farm labor contractors. All agricultural workers in Lake County are entitled to California’s minimum wage, and larger agricultural employers must pay overtime. We recover unpaid wages plus substantial penalties.
The closest California Labor Commissioner’s office to Lake County is in Santa Rosa (Sonoma County). Workers can file wage claims there or pursue a civil lawsuit through a private attorney. In most cases, filing through an employment attorney results in faster resolution and larger recoveries, including attorney fees paid by the employer. We serve Lake County clients remotely and handle the entire process on your behalf.
Our office is located in downtown Los Angeles, approximately 3.5 hours from Lakeport by car. We serve all Lake County clients remotely via phone or video — you never need to travel. All consultations, document exchanges, and case management are handled by our team. Court appearances in the Northern District of California or Lake County Superior Court are managed on your behalf.
