Position	Areas of Practice	Education
Published Works	Affiliations	Representative Clients

COLLEEN M. McCARTHY is an associate at the law firm of Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo, LLP. She graduated with honors from the University of Southern California in 1993, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Ms. McCarthy received her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California, in May 2000, just after joining the Firm.

Ms. McCarthy is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association, and has been admitted to practice before all California state courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and several U.S. District Courts.

Ms. McCarthy's practice is concentrated in the areas of employment law, corporate law, and real estate transactions. Her employment practice has a particular emphasis on preventative counseling and problem solving strategies, with the objective of helping employers comply with state and federal legal requirements to prevent exposure to potential claims. She counsels clients on all aspects of employment law, including interviewing and hiring, employee discipline, leaves of absences under state and federal law, as well as terminations, layoffs, and WARN compliance. Ms. McCarthy has represented employers in disputes with the United States Department of Labor, California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, and has represented employers before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board in defense of Labor Code section 132a actions and serious and willful charges. Ms. McCarthy has also defended employers in civil litigation involving claims of discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, unfair business practices, and violations of Title VII, FEHA, FMLA, ADA, and ADEA.

Ms. McCarthy's real estate practice includes all forms of real estate ownership, land use and entitlements, and the acquisition and disposition of commercial and residential real estate properties. Her corporate practice includes the formation and representation of a variety of business entities, including corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies. She represents corporate clients and individuals in mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and dispositions.

Current Employment Position(s):
      Associate

Year Joined Organization:
      2000

Areas of Practice:
      Employment Law - Employer
      Business & Commercial Law       Real Estate Transactions
      Construction
      Contracts
      Debtor/Creditor
      Gaming Law
      Labor Law - Employer
      Landlord/Tenant
      Litigation & Appeals

Bar Admissions:
      California, 2000
      U.S. District Court Central District of California
      U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
      U.S. District Court Northern District of California
      U.S. District Court Southern District of California
      U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Education:
     Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California, 2000
     Juris Doctorate

     University of Southern California, 1993
     B.A. in English
     Honors: With Honors

Published Works:
      Evolving Workplace Issues Dominate Employer and Employee Concerns,
      Orange County Business Journal, March 18, 2002

Representative Clients
      Aviation Parts Importers
      Boat Manufacturers
      Racing Teams
      Non-Profit Organizations
      Escrow Companies
      Personnel Agencies
      Computer Peripheral Manufacturers and Retailers
      Pharmaceutical Companies
      Food Manufacturers
      Janitorial Service Companies
      Ambulance Companies
      Law Firms

Professional Associations and Memberships:
      Orange County Bar Association, 2000 - Present
      Member

      California Bar Association, 2000 - Present
      Member

Past Employment Positions:
      Petersen Publishing Company; Los Angeles, California, Circulation Marketing Department