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J. Mira Hashmall

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 and appellate lawyer with a proven record of success. She is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® in Appellate Practice and Labor and Employment Litigation. 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. She was honored by the Century City Bar Association as Employment Lawyer of the Year 2021.

Mira began her legal career at a large international law firm, where she represented clients in complex litigation and defended employers in labor and employment disputes. Since joining Miller Barondess, she has expanded her practice and earned Top Verdict recognition for her work on both the plaintiff and defense sides. Mira focuses on complex business litigation with broad legal and industry-wide implications.

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

Mira is a Certified Appellate Specialist, as designated by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She has handled cases before the California Courts of Appeal, the Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits, the California Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Her federal appellate experience encompasses First Amendment, defamation, and libel claims, as well as insurance coverage issues and employment disputes. She has handled appeals involving real estate developments, contract disputes, whistleblower actions, and malicious prosecution claims. Mira also has extensive experience in anti-SLAPP litigation at 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
  • Prevailed in a high-profile whistleblower retaliation case on behalf of the City of Inglewood, resulting in a landmark decision from the California Supreme Court. The case stemmed from a lawsuit by the City’s longtime elected Treasurer, who alleged whistleblower retaliation under Labor Code section 1102.5(b). Mira first secured a favorable, partially published decision from the California Court of Appeal, which held that elected public officials are not considered “employees” under the state’s whistleblower protection laws. The California Supreme Court granted review to address this unsettled legal question. Mira presented oral argument before the Court in April 2025, and on July 7, 2025, the Court issued its opinion affirming the appellate decision. This significant victory brings valuable clarity to an unsettled area of law, ensuring that political disputes among elected officials do not give rise to employment retaliation claims. The decision has broad implications for public entities across California.
  • Reversed an $8.1 million judgment awarded to former Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Deputy Andrew Rodriguez on his FEHA retaliation and harassment claims against the County of Los Angeles. Upon retrial in February 2025, Rodriguez voluntarily dismissed his entire lawsuit with prejudice on the fourth day of trial, after the court instructed the jury that a key aspect of his testimony was untrue. This successfully concluded nearly 10 years of litigation and resulted in a decisive victory for the County.
  • Won a published decision from the California Court of Appeal on behalf of Prime Healthcare against a patient alleging 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. These disclosure issues affect healthcare providers across California.
  • Made new law on behalf of the County of Los Angeles in a case addressing an employer’s ability to recoup inadvertent overpayments through payroll deductions. The win resolved a long-standing issue that has impacted payroll administrators in public entities statewide.
  • 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 In-Home Supportive Services (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 by refusing to contract for channel carriage and by allegedly violating the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, which was enacted immediately 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 Comcast now distributes ES channels.
  • Successfully defended the City of Inglewood and Mayor James T. Butts, Jr. in seven different lawsuits against Madison Square Garden’s attempts to block the construction of the Intuit Dome, home of the NBA’s LA Clippers.
  • Successfully represented the County of Los Angeles in a high-profile civil rights lawsuit brought by former deputy sheriff Carl Mandoyan, who alleged retaliation after his termination following assault allegations. Secured a defense ruling in federal court, obtained an injunction, and won a California Court of Appeal decision affirming former Sheriff Alex Villanueva lacked authority to rehire Mandoyan without approval from the Board of Supervisors or County Counsel.
  • 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.
  • Obtained a groundbreaking jury verdict against the University of California in a gender discrimination case (Daily Journal Top Verdict 2017).
  • 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
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    Recognized in Appellate Practice and Labor and Employment Litigation (2024-2025)
  • Daily Journal
    Top Women Lawyers (2018, 2020-2025)
    Top 100 Lawyers in California (2021, 2023-2024)
    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, 2025)
    Top Labor & Employment Attorneys (2022-2024)
    Minority Leaders of Influence: Attorneys (2020-2021)
    Top Women Attorneys (2020)
    Top Litigators & Trial Lawyers (2018-2019)
    Most Influential Women Lawyers (2019)
  • LA Times Studios
    Business of Law Magazine: Legal Visionaries (2023-2025)
  • Century City Bar Association
    Employment Lawyer of the Year (2021)
Professional Activities
  • Certified Appellate Specialist, 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, 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, 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. 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.