J. Mira Hashmall

Partner

mhashmall@millerbarondess.com 310.552.7560 vCard Print Bio

Education

J.D., University of Southern California, Gould School of Law

B.A., University of California, Berkeley

Admissions

California

Partner

Biography

Mira Hashmall is an accomplished trial lawyer with a record of success in federal and state courts, and in arbitration. She is recognized by the Best Lawyers in America^® in the areas of Appellate Practice and Litigation – Labor and Employment. She has been honored by the Daily Journal on its lists of Top 100 Lawyers in California, Top Women Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40, and Top Labor and Employment Lawyers. Los Angeles Business Journal has recognized Mira on its lists of Top Litigators, Minority Leaders of Influence, Leaders in Law, Women’s Council & Awards, and Most Influential Women Lawyers. Mira was honored by the Century City Bar Association as Employment Lawyer of the Year 2021.

Mira began her practice at a large, international law firm representing clients in complex litigation matters and defending employers in labor and employment disputes. Since joining Miller Barondess, Mira has continued to diversify her practice and has achieved Top Verdict recognition on both the plaintiff and defense sides. She represents clients at every stage of litigation, from pre-litigation counseling to appellate proceedings, and is sought out to handle complex litigation involving business matters that have a broad legal impact.

In addition to her complex business practice, Mira defends private and public employers in high-stakes litigation involving claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour, and wrongful termination. She also defends cases involving disability discrimination and accommodation, and family and medical leave rights.

Mira has a sophisticated appellate practice and is a Certified Specialist in Appellate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Her federal appellate experience includes First Amendment, defamation and libel claims, insurance coverage issues, and employment disputes. She has handled appeals involving real estate developments, contract disputes, whistle-blower actions, and malicious prosecution claims. Mira also has extensive experience in anti-SLAPP litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels.

Mira is admitted to practice before all U.S. District Courts in California. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Notable Representations

Won a published decision from the California Court of Appeal on behalf of Prime Healthcare against a patient alleging that Prime had violated the Unfair Competition Law and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act by failing to disclose Evaluation and Management (EMS) fees charged in the emergency room through signage or other methods. The issue of duty to disclose regarding EMS fees is affecting healthcare providers across California. The Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s order striking the allegations regarding EMS fees because the disclosure obligations were defined by statute. This issue is currently pending before the California Supreme Court.
Won a victory in the California Court of Appeal, holding that an elected public official in the City of Inglewood could not state a claim under Labor Code section 1102.5 for retaliation based on whistleblowing because elected officials are not “employees” under the Labor Code. The Court of Appeal held the anti-SLAPP motion filed by City Councilmembers seeking to strike the official’s claims should have been granted in its entirety.
Won a decision from the California Court of Appeal reversing an $8.1 million judgment awarded to a former LASD Deputy on his FEHA retaliation and harassment claims against the County of Los Angeles. Mira came into the case after the jury trial and obtained a complete reversal on appeal. The case was remanded for a new trial where Mira will be lead trial counsel.
Won a published decision from the California Court of Appeal addressing an employer’s ability to recoup inadvertent overpayments through payroll deductions.
In a ruling recognized as a Daily Journal Top Defense Verdict 2020, won summary judgment on behalf of the County of Los Angeles in an FLSA class action lawsuit relating to the State of California’s IHSS program, in which plaintiffs sought nearly $50 million.
Represented Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc. (ES) in a civil rights lawsuit against Comcast. ES, an African American-owned media company, alleged that Comcast discriminated against it in refusing to contract for channel carriage, and alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, enacted just after the Civil War, to bring African Americans into the American economy by prohibiting racial discrimination in contracting. Following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the case was resolved amicably and ES channels are now distributed by Comcast.
Defended the City of Inglewood and Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. in seven different lawsuits against Madison Square Garden’s attempts to block construction of the new Los Angeles Clippers arena in Inglewood. The LA Clippers broke ground on the new arena—the Intuit Dome—in July 2021.
Won a defense ruling for the County of Los Angeles in a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by a former deputy sheriff alleging retaliation, followed by a favorable judicial ruling that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s attempted reinstatement of the deputy was unlawful.
Represents the named partner of a prominent California labor and employment firm in a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against his former firm.
Secured injunctions to facilitate Los Angeles County’s work on “Project Roomkey,” Governor Gavin Newsom’s $150 million program to house the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Won a reversal of the trial court’s granting of a nonsuit and remanded the case for retrial on all tort claims in a $250 million lawsuit against Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation stemming from its termination of a former automobile dealer/franchisee.
In a ruling recognized as a Daily Journal Top Verdict 2017, obtained a ground-breaking jury verdict against the University of California in a gender discrimination case.
Upheld a $6.3 million jury verdict on behalf of SunCal, one of the largest real estate developers in the United States.

Honors and Awards

Best Lawyers in America^®
Recognized in Appellate Practice and Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024)
Daily Journal
Top 100 Lawyers in California (2021, 2023)
Top Women Lawyers (2018, 2020-2023)
Top Labor & Employment Lawyers (2018-2020, 2022)
Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 (2017)
Los Angeles Business Journal
Top 100 Lawyers in Los Angeles (2022-2023)
Top Labor & Employment Attorneys (2022-2023)
Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys (2020-2021)
Top Women Attorneys (2020)
Top Litigators & Trial Lawyers (2018-2019)
Most Influential Women Lawyers (2019)
LA Times B2B Publishing
Business of Law Magazine: Legal Visionaries (2023)
Century City Bar Association
Employment Lawyer of the Year (2021)

Professional Activities

Certified Specialist in Appellate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Los Angeles Chapter.
Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA), Sections on Litigation, Appellate Courts, and Labor and Employment Law.
Member of the Executive Committee of the LACBA Litigation Section.
Member, Black Women Lawyers, California Women Lawyers, National Association of Women Lawyers, and the John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles.
Member, California Minority Counsel Program, a non-profit mutual benefit corporation dedicated to promoting diversity in the legal profession by providing attorneys of color with access and opportunity for business and professional development.
Board of Directors, Constitutional Rights Foundation (Teach Democracy), a non-profit, non-partisan, community-based organization dedicated to educating America’s young people about the importance of civic participation in a democratic society.
Member, League of Women Voters of Los Angeles, a non-partisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. From 2011 to 2015, Mira served as a Board Member and as the Chair of the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles Education Fund, a non-profit education organization. She was honored at the League’s Celebrating Leadership Awards in 2021.
Board Member, Center Dance Arts at The Music Center of Los Angeles, one of the largest performing arts centers in the country and L.A.’s home to the world’s greatest artistic programs and events.
Co-authored an article on corporate law and the corporate opportunity doctrine presented at the University of Southern California’s 20th Annual Institute for Corporate Counsel.