Gouya A. Ranekouhi

Overview

Gouya Ranekouhi provides strategic defenses for employers facing complex employment litigation, including claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act. Her experience spans the resolution of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour class actions, including PAGA representative actions. Gouya’s nuanced understanding of employment law and employer’s needs and objectives equip her to deliver tailored, effective solutions that protect client interests and mitigate risk.

Gouya excels at managing complex employment litigation through a strategic blend of thorough case analysis and proactive client communication. She is adept at navigating both the litigation process and alternative dispute resolution methods, striving to achieve favorable outcomes while minimizing disruption to client operations. Her ability to distill complex or unclear legal issues into precise arguments and actionable advice empowers employers to make informed decisions throughout the dispute lifecycle. Gouya’s commitment to understanding the nuances of each case and her meticulous preparation consistently strengthen her clients’ positions in negotiations and courtroom proceedings. Gouya enjoys devoting her practice to the defense of employers in California that range from small family run businesses to publicly traded companies.

Notably, Gouya began her career litigating consumer protection class actions and individual claims in state and federal courts, focusing on statutes such as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, California’s Invasion of Privacy Act, California’s Unfair Competition Law, the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, California’s Lemon Law, and other consumer financial laws. This extensive litigation experience sharpened her advocacy skills and attention to detail, which she now applies effectively in defending employment claims and employers of varying industries across California.

In addition to her proven skill defending employers through all stages of information negotiations and/or litigation, Gouya is adept at defending claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law statues such as the Unruh Civil Rights Act. She applies this experience when representing business owners accused of violating fair housing regulations, website accessibility requirements, and statutes governing architectural barriers.

Gouya’s background as General Counsel for a pharmaceutical company enhances her ability to advise clients on compliance and risk management, particularly in regulated industries. She also brings valuable insight from her solo practice, where she handled business litigation, employment counseling, wage and hour audits, and human resources training. This diverse experience allows her to approach employment disputes with a comprehensive perspective.

Honors & Publications

Honors

• Super Lawyers, Employment Litigation Defense, 2024-2026

Publications

• Author, “To Leave Or Not To Leave: The Interplay of California’s Leave Laws and the FLSA,” Los Angeles Advertising Human Resources Professionals Magazine, Entertainment Human Resources Network Magazine, February/March 2021
• Author, “California Strikes Again: New Retroactive COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Laws For Employers,” Los Angeles Advertising Human Resources Professionals Magazine, Entertainment Human Resources Network Magazine, April/May 2021
• Author, “At Last, the U.S. Supreme Court Extended Title VII Protections to Sexual Orientation and Transgender Status,” Los Angeles Advertising Human Resources Professionals Magazine, Entertainment Human Resources Network Magazines,  June/July 2021
• Author, “The Alternative Work Week Schedule: How It Works and Calculating Overtime,” Los Angeles Advertising Human Resources Professionals Magazine, Entertainment Human Resources Network Magazines, August/September 2021

News

Professional

• Member, California Bar Association, 2012 to Present
• Member, Former National Board of Directors, 2012-2015; Orange County Chapter Fundraising Director, 2013, Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), 2010 to Present
• Member, Orange County Bar Association, 2012 to Present

Community

Gouya is involved in and passionate about the Iranian-American legal community, having served as the National Board of Directors for the IABA, and fundraising director of the Orange County Chapter. She has been involved with the IABA since 2010 and has played an active role in raising scholarship funding for deserving law students, organizing networking events for lawyers, mentorship programs for law students, and contributing to amicus briefs on behalf of the IABA concerning legal issues directly affecting the Iranian-American community at large.