People: Dennis S. Hyun, Associate

Dennis S. Hyun

Associate

Los Angeles - Downtown
Direct: (213) 270-9625
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Mr. Hyun is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  As a member of the Labor & Employment, Complex Discrimination Litigation, and Wage and Hour Litigation Departments, he has extensive experience in defending employers against class action and single-plaintiff claims for alleged wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and violation of public policy, as well as workplace torts, including defamation, emotional distress, and interference with contractual relations.  In addition, Mr. Hyun has experience in commercial litigation, including contractual disputes, consumer class actions, misappropriation of trade secrets, and intellectual property litigation.  Mr. Hyun also has experience in white-collar criminal defense, including defending against charges for Medi-Cal and Medicare fraud and tax fraud.  Mr. Hyun has taken and defended numerous depositions, conducted factual investigations, and frequently appeared and argued on behalf of clients at state and federal courts.   

Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Mr. Hyun was an associate at two global law firms.  Mr. Hyun also served as a judicial law clerk with the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, for the Honorable J. Stephen Czuleger, the Honorable Owen Lee Kwong, the Honorable Joanne B. O’Donnell, and the Honorable Laurie D. Zelon (now a Justice on the California Court of Appeal). 

During law school, Mr. Hyun externed for the Honorable Audrey B. Collins, Judge for the U.S. District Court and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Hyun also served as a Research Assistant for Professor Laurie Levenson and as a summer law clerk at the law firm of Lightfoot, Vandevelde et al. (now the Los Angeles office of Crowell & Moring).

Mr. Hyun is an associate in the Los Angeles office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.  As a member of the Labor & Employment, Complex Discrimination Litigation, and Wage and Hour Litigation Departments, he has extensive experience in defending employers against class action and single-plaintiff claims for alleged wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and violation of public policy, as well as workplace torts, including defamation, emotional distress, and interference with contractual relations.  In addition, Mr. Hyun has experience in commercial litigation, including contractual disputes, consumer class actions, misappropriation of trade secrets, and intellectual property litigation.  Mr. Hyun also has experience in white-collar criminal defense, including defending against charges for Medi-Cal and Medicare fraud and tax fraud.  Mr. Hyun has taken and defended numerous depositions, conducted factual investigations, and frequently appeared and argued on behalf of clients at state and federal courts.   

Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Mr. Hyun was an associate at two global law firms.  Mr. Hyun also served as a judicial law clerk with the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, for the Honorable J. Stephen Czuleger, the Honorable Owen Lee Kwong, the Honorable Joanne B. O’Donnell, and the Honorable Laurie D. Zelon (now a Justice on the California Court of Appeal). 

During law school, Mr. Hyun externed for the Honorable Audrey B. Collins, Judge for the U.S. District Court and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  Mr. Hyun also served as a Research Assistant for Professor Laurie Levenson and as a summer law clerk at the law firm of Lightfoot, Vandevelde et al. (now the Los Angeles office of Crowell & Moring).

Education

  • J.D., Loyola Law School at Los Angeles (2002)
    Dean’s Honor List (2000-2002)
    Loyola International & Comparative Law Review, Senior Research Editor (2001-2002)
    Staff Member (2000-2001)
  • B.A., University of California - Riverside (1999)
    Dean’s Honor List (1997-1999)

Admissions

  • California

Courts

  • U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California

     

Representative Engagements

  • Mr. Hyun obtained a complete defense verdict in a jury trial against claims for retaliation and discrimination.  After prevailing, Mr. Hyun obtained an award of attorneys’ fees and costs against the plaintiff for $110,000. 
  • Mr. Hyun participated in the defense of a global insurance company in a wage and hour class action involving the alleged misclassification of claims adjusters as exempt employees.  In connection with the case, Mr. Hyun took over 15 depositions, researched and drafted summary judgment and class decertification papers.
  • Mr. Hyun participated in the defense of a global gasoline station retailer in a wage and hour class action.  Mr. Hyun took over 15 depositions in the case and assisted with researching and drafting several successful motions for summary adjudication.
  • Mr. Hyun prevailed in the defense of an international cruise liner in a discrimination and retaliation case.  After successfully removing the case to federal court, Mr. Hyun prevailed on a successful motion to dismiss several claims from the complaint.  Mr. Hyun then took the deposition of the plaintiff and drafted a successful motion for summary judgment, resulting in dismissal of the case, with prejudice.
  • Mr. Hyun prevailed on a successful motion to dismiss claims of discrimination and wrongful termination alleged against an airline client.  The court granted the motion and dismissed all of the claims, with prejudice.
  • Mr. Hyun prevailed on a successful motion to dismiss a complaint seeking to vacate a labor arbitrator’s award.  
  • Mr. Hyun prevailed against the plaintiffs’ motion for class certification involving wage and hour issues with respect to a global telecommunications company’s workers.
  • Mr. Hyun obtained injunctive relief against a competitor of a client arising from the misappropriation of trade secrets by the client’s former employee. 
  • Mr. Hyun prevailed on a successful anti-SLAPP motion, which was affirmed on appeal. 

Presentations

  • "Annual Employment Law Update for California Employers" (February 2010)

Publications

  • Contributing Author, "Chapter 16," Wage & Hour Collective and Class Litigation, ALM Law Journal Press (2012).  Definitive treatise on wage and hour litigation.