Case Manager: Haward Cho
Dedicated to the Resolution of Labor and Employment Matters.
With an impeccable track record spanning 36 years, Dave Carothers, Esq. is a trusted and experienced trial lawyer who has successfully litigated cases throughout California. He has expertly litigated claims related to wrongful termination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, ADA, wage and hour claims, and discrimination, in addition to negotiating settlements in many of these cases on behalf of employers and employees alike – deftly avoiding the heavy costs associated with jury trials. Additionally, Mr. Carothers has served as lead trial counsel in large complex actions involving representative actions, class actions and coordinated actions involving hundreds of claimants across various sectors and industries. He is a former Board President and current member of the San Diego Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).
In 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger tapped Mr. Carothers to join the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission – a prestigious position that enabled him to be instrumental in reworking the State’s pregnancy discrimination statutes over his three-year tenure. During this time, Mr. Carothers also used his expertise as a mediator to resolve adjudicated claims submitted by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).
With an impressive background of nearly 100 jury trials, Mr. Carothers is a sought-after advisor to senior management teams on proactively executing preventive strategies and cultivating positive workplace environments. His expertise has spanned industries from educational institutions, national retail chains and hospitality firms to banking technology companies as well as religious organizations. In addition, Mr. Carothers is frequently invited to speak to various groups on issues related to employment, including diversity in the workplace – all underpinned by his expansive knowledge of labor and employment law.
Mr. Carothers has a long history of giving back to the community through his involvement with Mercy Hospital’s Finance Committee, the African-American Managing Partners Network, the San Diego Foundation, San Diego Inner City Games, and the San Diego Citizens Review Board on Police Practices, as well as serving as a board member for organizations such as Neighborhood House Association, CSU Dominguez Hills Philanthropic Board, and United Way of San Diego.
Partner and Senior Trial Counsel, Carothers, Disante & Freudenberger LLP, 2000-2020
Commissioner, Fair Employment and Housing Commission, 2008-2011
Partner, Chapin Shea Fleming & Winet, 1997-2000
Associate and Partner, McInnis Fitzgerald Rees Sharkey & McIntyre, 1985-1997
Law Clerk to the Director, National Labor Relations Board, Region 31, 1984
“He spoke to the client in my presence and in the presence of my co-counsel, and he’s very warm, very human, and he was engaging. Above all, he was an active listener. He asks the right questions as follow-ups … and he treated my client with dignity and respect, and he treated him like he was a human being.”
“I represented a corporate executive … and I was looking for a Black mediator, and I’ll tell you this: It is not easy to find Black mediators in this country. You have to search pretty diligently and very carefully to find a Black mediator. For mediations, you need a person with a really decent personality, who’s obviously insightful and smart, who’s perceptive and who is experienced, and I found all those traits in Dave.”
“He would ask them questions to try and get their view of things, and they found him to be a great listener.”
“Unfortunately, I have encountered neutrals that just skim through things and are not really thorough on the facts, but that is definitely not Dave’s approach, he’s very diligent, very persistent. He is absolutely dedicated to do his absolute best to keep the parties talking and to try to reach a resolution.”
“He truly understood the case. He called, chatted with me prior I’m sure he did with plaintiffs’ counsel, as well, and he got a really good handle on the case. … He understood everybody’s position. He definitely didn’t come in wondering.”
“Mr. Carothers was a pleasure to work with. He went above and beyond to see that this matter settled, and with his help, we have been able to reach a settlement.”
“I found Dave to be great! Excellent listener and he made a genuine effort to try and resolve the matter. Also very thorough and friendly. I would definitely recommend him and will most certainly request his services in the future.”
