Karl A. Schmidt was a scholarship athlete at U.C. Berkeley, where he graduated with honors in Accounting and Finance. Before returning to Berkeley for law school, he was a U.S. Marine and worked both with a big 4 accounting firm and a major aerospace company. Mr. Schmidt has practiced labor and employment law for over 30 years and currently is the Chairman of the Labor & Employment Department of the law firm, Parker, Milliken, Clark, O'Hara & Samuelian.

Area of specialization: Labor and Employment Law

Mr. Schmidt specializes in the areas of employment, discrimination, wage and hour, labor, executive compensation, unfair competition and ERISA fiduciary and compliance law advising foreign, national and local employers of all sizes, including many small and medium sized banking institutions. He also counsels executives and employers in executive employment, separation and contract issues. Part of his work day is spent responding on behalf of management to plaintiff's counsels, government agencies and disgruntled employees. The rest is in counseling owners and executives on effective business policies, strategies and planning for opportunities and problems as they arise.

Recognitions and Distinctions: Labor and Employment Law

• Los Angeles Magazine's annual "Super Lawyer" Designation
• Inclusion in the publication "The Best Lawyers in America"
• General Counsel to Torrance Chamber of Commerce
• Member of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Southern California
• 20 Year Member of L.A. Rotary Club #5

Education:

Mr. Schmidt received his B.S. degree from University of California, Berkeley in 1969, with a major in Accounting and Finance. He received his J.D. degree from U.C. Berkeley - Boalt Hall Law School in 1974.