Why Work With Me?
One of California’s top trial lawyers, Jonathon Kaplan is always willing to go the distance for his clients. Well experienced in the courtroom, he has tried dozens of cases, achieving maximum recoveries for his clients. Jon’s expertise is employment law and civil rights cases. Some of the types of matters he handles in these areas are unpaid wage and overtime claims, discrimination and harassment cases, equal pay issues and wrongful termination. He draws on close to 30 years of legal experience, having worked throughout his career on other cases involving personal injury, product liability, highway accidents, consumer warranty, franchising, fraud claims, and business disputes.
Jon wins an overwhelming number of trial verdicts for his clients. He also handles appeals, some resulting in published opinions that create law in his areas of practice. Based on his winning track record, opposing lawyers know Jon and his firm will take a case to trial to get the absolute best results for their clients.
After graduating from a top-ten law school at Duke University, Jon started his legal career with the prominent Los Angeles law firm of Lewis, D’Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard in 1990. There, he quickly distinguished himself, rising to the level of equity partner. In 2002, he founded Kaplan Lee LLP. In 2014, the firm changed to its current name, Fair Employment Lawyers at Kaplan Weiss LLP, where Jon works alongside his partner, Yitz Weiss.
Jon was awarded an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the preeminent peer review rating for attorneys’ legal skills and ethics. In recognition of his professional accomplishments, Jon was named one of the State’s top 20 lawyers under the age of 40 by California’s leading legal newspaper, The Daily Journal. He has also been consistently named one of Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” an honor bestowed upon a select group of elite lawyers who have achieved the highest degree of peer recognition and achievement.
Jon frequently speaks publicly on a wide variety of legal subjects. He has spoken on employment law matters at various professional conferences and lectured in forensic psychiatry at a leading Los Angeles medical school. He also has served as a court-appointed arbitrator and mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Jon is committed to his community and has devoted countless hours to civic and charitable causes. He has sat on the boards of many prominent civic, charitable and educational organizations, as well as steering committees for national political candidates.
Professional Activities
- Volunteer Mediator, Arbitrator and Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles County Superior Court
- Mediator and Arbitrator, Alternative Resolution Centers
Representative Civic and Charitable Organizations
- Board of Directors, Aids Healthcare Foundation
- Future Forum, Board of Visitors, Duke University Law School
- Board of Governors, Emory University
- Board Member and Vice President, Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council
Education
- Duke University of Law School - LL.M. - 1990
- Duke University Law School - J.D. - 1990
- Emory University - B.A. - 1987
Bar Associations
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State Bar of California
Member Since: 1990
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U.S. District Court, all districts of California
Member Since: 1990
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District of Columbia Bar
Member Since: 1990