Photo of Jennifer McDermott

Jennifer McDermott

Subscribe to Jennifer McDermott's Posts

Jennifer McDermott is an associate in the Labor & Employment Law Department and a member of the Employment Litigation & Arbitration Practice Group and Counseling, Training & Pay Equity Practice Group.  Jennifer defends employers in a variety of labor and employment matters in both state and federal courts, including wage and hour single-plaintiff lawsuits and class, collective, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) representative actions.

Jennifer received her B.A. from UCLA, where she graduated summa cum laude and was elected Phi Beta Kappa, and she earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law. While in law school, Jennifer completed a judicial externship for the Honorable Richard A. Paez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. She also served as a legal writing advisor to first-year students and worked as a legal advocate at the Lanterman Special Education Law Clinic. Jennifer received a Dean’s Merit Scholarship, the B. Epstein and C. Kim Tax Law Scholarship, and two Masin Family Academic Excellence Gold Awards for the highest grade in Legal Research & Writing and Disability Law.

Contact:Read more about Jennifer McDermott

On September 1, 2023, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 699, which amends California Business & Professions Code Section 16600 to prohibit an employer from entering into or attempting to enforce a non-compete agreement regardless of whether the contract was signed outside of California.  The law goes into effect on January 1, 2024.

Previously, California law banned non-compete agreements, subject to limited exceptions.  Section 16600 of the California Business and Profession Code states that “every contract by which anyone is restrained from engaging in a lawful profession, trade, or business of any kind is to that extent void.”  By adding Section 16600.5 to the Business & Professions Code, SB 699 expands the restrictions on non-compete agreements to contracts entered outside of California.