Need an Employment or Business Lawyer?
Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Lawyer
Top Sexual Harassment Attorney in Los Angeles for Employees
If you are searching for a sexual harassment lawyer in Los Angeles, you are likely dealing with a stressful and confusing situation at work. You may be unsure of your rights, worried about retaliation, or unsure whether what happened qualifies as illegal sexual harassment.
At Gallenberg PC, we help employees across Los Angeles and throughout California pursue claims involving workplace sexual harassment, hostile work environments, and retaliation.
We offer free and confidential case evaluations, and many cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay unless compensation is recovered.
Speak with a Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyer today. Complete our free case evaluation form or call now to have your case reviewed by an attorney.
Sexual Harassment Lawyer Serving Los Angeles and All of California
Gallenberg PC represents employees throughout Los Angeles County and across California.
In Los Angeles, we serve clients in:
- Downtown Los Angeles
- Beverly Hills
- Santa Monica
- West Hollywood
- Burbank
- Glendale
- Pasadena
- San Fernando Valley
- Culver City
- Long Beach
- Torrance
- Inglewood
- Century City
- Sherman Oaks
- Studio City
- Encino
- Woodland Hills
- Koreatown
- Hollywood
- Brentwood
We also handle sexual harassment claims throughout California for employees who need experienced representation.
Local knowledge matters. Courts, judges, and opposing counsel vary by region, and working with a Los Angeles sexual harassment lawyer who understands California employment law and local practice can make a meaningful difference in your case.
Why Hiring a Sexual Harassment Attorney in Los Angeles Matters
Sexual harassment claims are often disputed and aggressively defended. Employers may deny wrongdoing, minimize what happened, or try to shift blame onto the employee.
Working with a sexual harassment attorney in Los Angeles can help you identify whether you have a valid claim, preserve critical evidence, avoid mistakes that weaken your case, navigate agency filings, and maximize settlement or trial value.
California provides strong legal protections, but enforcement requires strategy, timing, and experience.
If you believe you may have a claim, you can submit your case for a confidential review today. Early legal evaluation can help preserve evidence, avoid mistakes, and protect your rights.
What Is Sexual Harassment Under California Law?
Sexual harassment is unlawful under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and federal law. It includes unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment or affects employment decisions.
Sexual harassment can include:
- Sexual comments, jokes, or innuendos
- Unwanted physical contact
- Explicit messages, photos, or images
- Repeated unwanted advances
- Digital harassment through text messages, email, or social media
Types of Sexual Harassment Claims
Quid Pro Quo Harassment
Quid pro quo harassment happens when job benefits or workplace opportunities are conditioned on sexual conduct. Examples can include pressure tied to promotions, raises, preferred assignments, or continued employment.
Hostile Work Environment
A hostile work environment exists when conduct is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with your ability to work or make the workplace intimidating, abusive, or offensive. This can include repeated inappropriate comments, offensive workplace behavior, explicit materials, or persistent sexual advances.
Signs You Should Contact a Sexual Harassment Lawyer
You may have a claim if you experienced any of the following:
- Unwelcome sexual attention or comments
- Repeated advances after rejection or discomfort was made clear
- Inappropriate touching or unwanted physical contact
- A workplace culture that tolerates sexual conduct or sexualized behavior
- Retaliation after reporting harassment or participating in an investigation
If your workplace feels hostile, unsafe, humiliating, or retaliatory, it is worth having your situation evaluated.
What To Do If You Are Sexually Harassed at Work
Document Everything
Keep detailed notes of what happened, including dates, times, locations, who was involved, what was said, and whether anyone may have observed related behavior.
Preserve Evidence
Save emails, text messages, screenshots, photos, direct messages, voicemails, and any other records that may help establish what happened.
Report If Appropriate
If it is safe and appropriate to do so, follow internal reporting procedures and report the misconduct to human resources, management, or another designated channel.
Speak With a Lawyer Early
A Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney can help you evaluate strategy, avoid damaging missteps, and protect your rights before you resign, sign anything, or escalate the matter.
Get Your Case Reviewed
You do not have to figure this out alone. If you are dealing with sexual harassment at work, you can speak with a Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney about your options in a free and confidential case review.
Submit your case online today to have it reviewed by an attorney.
Compensation in Sexual Harassment Cases
Depending on the facts, employees may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Lost wages and benefits
- Emotional distress damages
- Medical or therapy expenses
- Loss of future earnings
- Punitive damages in appropriate cases
Retaliation Is Illegal
Employers cannot lawfully retaliate against you for reporting harassment, participating in an investigation, or pursuing a claim. Retaliation may include termination, demotion, reduced hours, write-ups, exclusion, hostile treatment, or other adverse actions.
Related Employment Law Claims
Sexual harassment often overlaps with other workplace violations. Depending on what happened, you may also have claims for:
- Retaliation after reporting harassment
- Wrongful termination if you were fired, pushed out, or forced to resign
- Workplace discrimination based on sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or another protected characteristic
A Los Angeles employment lawyer can evaluate all potential claims and develop the strongest legal strategy based on the full facts of your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Harassment in Los Angeles
How do I know if I have a sexual harassment case?
You may have a case if you were subjected to unwelcome sexual comments, sexual advances, touching, explicit messages, or other conduct that created a hostile work environment or affected your job. Sexual harassment can be committed by a supervisor, coworker, client, customer, or another person in the workplace.
What if I am worried about confidentiality?
Many employees worry about privacy, professional reputation, and workplace fallout. Speaking with a lawyer about a potential sexual harassment claim is generally confidential. Filing a lawsuit is different because court cases are generally public unless the court permits sealing or another protective measure.
Can I file a sexual harassment lawsuit anonymously?
Not automatically. Court cases are generally public, and filing under a pseudonym or asking the court to seal records usually requires a legal basis and court approval. That is one reason it is important to speak with a sexual harassment attorney before filing suit.
What if I do not have any witnesses?
You may still have a strong case. Sexual harassment often happens in private. Cases can be supported by texts, emails, screenshots, contemporaneous notes, HR complaints, timeline evidence, and changes in how you were treated at work after the misconduct or after you reported it.
How do I gather evidence for a sexual harassment case?
Start preserving anything that may show what happened and when it happened. Helpful evidence may include text messages, emails, screenshots, photos, notes documenting dates and exact statements, HR complaints and responses, and employment records such as write-ups, schedule changes, or termination records.
What if my employer has fewer than 5 employees?
That does not necessarily bar a harassment claim. In California, harassment is prohibited in all workplaces, including smaller workplaces with fewer than five employees.
Can I settle a sexual harassment claim out of court?
Yes. Many sexual harassment claims are resolved outside of court through pre-litigation negotiation, agency resolution, mediation, or settlement during litigation. Resolving a case before a lawsuit is filed is often faster and may provide more privacy. Whether settlement makes sense depends on the facts, the strength of the evidence, the damages, and the employer’s position.
How long does a sexual harassment case take?
It depends on how the case is resolved. Cases that settle outside of court, especially in pre-litigation, are often faster because there is no formal court process. Cases in court usually take longer because of written discovery, depositions, motion practice, scheduling, and trial preparation.
Do I have to go to arbitration if I signed an arbitration agreement?
Not always. Under the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021, signed into law on March 3, 2022, employees can choose to pursue sexual harassment claims in court rather than being forced into arbitration under a pre-dispute arbitration agreement for disputes arising on or after that date. Whether arbitration still applies depends in part on when the conduct occurred and the wording of the agreement.
What is arbitration and how does it affect a sexual harassment case?
Arbitration is a private dispute-resolution process where a neutral arbitrator decides the case instead of a judge or jury. Arbitration is usually more private than court, but it may limit certain procedures and there is generally no jury. For sexual harassment claims arising on or after March 3, 2022, federal law gives many employees the option to proceed in court instead of being forced into arbitration.
Does seeing a therapist help with emotional distress damages in a sexual harassment case?
It can. Emotional distress is often an important part of damages in sexual harassment cases, and therapy records may help document how the harassment affected your mental and emotional well-being. Therapy is not required to bring a claim, but treatment can help support damages.
What kind of emotional distress damages can I recover?
Depending on the facts, damages may include compensation for anxiety, stress, humiliation, embarrassment, sleep problems, depression, and other emotional harm caused by the harassment or retaliation.
Can I be fired for reporting sexual harassment?
Retaliation for reporting harassment or participating in an investigation is unlawful. If an employer fires you, demotes you, cuts your hours, or otherwise punishes you for reporting sexual harassment, you may have a separate retaliation claim in addition to the harassment claim.
Will my employer find out if I contact a lawyer?
No. Simply contacting a lawyer for a case review does not automatically notify your employer. This allows you to learn about your rights privately before deciding what steps to take.
Can I still file a claim if I quit my job?
Yes. Leaving the job does not automatically eliminate your claim. In some situations, resignation after serious harassment may strengthen the case depending on the facts and timing.
Do I need physical touching for sexual harassment to be illegal?
No. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature. Physical contact is not required.
Do I need proof before I talk to a lawyer?
No. Many employees contact a lawyer before they have gathered all available evidence. A lawyer can help identify what evidence exists, what should be preserved, and what next steps make sense.
Can I still bring a claim if the harassment happened outside the office?
Possibly. Harassment over text, social media, work events, business travel, after-hours work functions, or other off-site settings may still matter if it affects the work environment or employment relationship.
If you still have questions about your situation, you can speak directly with a sexual harassment lawyer in Los Angeles. Every case is different, and a confidential case review can help you understand your options quickly.
Speak With a Los Angeles Sexual Harassment Lawyer Today
If you are dealing with workplace sexual harassment, taking action early can protect your rights and strengthen your case.
You can speak directly with an attorney and have your case evaluated confidentially.
Call now or submit your case online:
- Los Angeles: (213) 986-8432
- Beverly Hills: (310) 295-1654
- San Fernando Valley: (818) 237-5267
Submit your case today to be contacted by a Los Angeles sexual harassment attorney.