Empathy. Tenacity. Experience.
Mission
The attorneys at Advocates for Worker Rights LLP share an enduring commitment to the dignity of workers. Our highest calling is representing workers in their fight for just wages, fair working conditions, and against unlawful acts of discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Our zealous advocacy of employees is shaped by the idea that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and is rooted in our life experiences living and working alongside blue-collar, immigrant, and under-represented communities. The attorneys at AWR put particular emphasis on collaborating with legal and community services organizations to build coalitions for the advancement of rights of employees across California. To that end, our firm strives to offer people of all backgrounds the highest quality legal advice and representation in their fight for just wages and fair working conditions.
Get in touch
Wondering if you have a case? We offer free consultations to discuss your situation and advise on whether or not you may have legal recourse. Call us at (510) 269-4200 to set up an appointment or email us by clicking the link below.
Who We Are.
Contact
marco@advocatesforworkers.com
direct: (510) 269-4078
Marco A. Palau
Marco is admitted to practice law in California and New York and is a founding attorney of the firm. For more than a decade, he has fought for workers to recover wages and enforce labor rights in the workplace. He began as an attorney at California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA), representing individuals in wage and hour disputes, evictions from federally-subsidized housing, and social security disability matters. Marco then joined a prominent Bay Area firm where he managed litigation of numerous class actions, PAGA actions and employment discrimination cases in state and federal courts, including at the trial and appellate levels. Super Lawyers Magazine named Marco a “Rising Star” in Northern California each year from 2011 to 2016. Marco started the Advocates firm with like-minded lawyers whose mission is to provide zealous and effective representation to workers, especially those most vulnerable to workplace exploitation due to language barriers and lack of resources. Marco is a native Spanish speaker from Mexico and is passionate about issues facing immigrants.
Education
Columbia University, NY
Juris Doctor, 2005
California State University
M.B.A.,1999 (Dominguez Hills)
B.A.,1997 (San Diego)
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Activities & Affiliations
California Employment Lawyers Association
National Lawyer’s Guild
East Bay Law Raza Lawyers
Admissions
New York & California State Bars
U.S. Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, and Central District of California
Contact
jds@advocatesforworkers.com
direct: (510) 283-0387
Joseph D. Sutton
Mr. Sutton grew up in a working class family in Kentucky. He has had a life-long commitment to low-income workers to ensure that they are treated fairly and are guaranteed their legal rights. He moved to California in 2000 and earned a master’s degree studying workers’ movements in Latin America. As a lawyer, Mr. Sutton has worked at two widely-respected plaintiff-side employment law firms litigating dozens of wage and hour class actions and individual cases on wage theft, employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Mr. Sutton routinely argues and wins substantive motions in state and federal court and his work has led to favorable judgments and settlements for numerous clients.
Mr. Sutton is admitted to practice law in California and speaks Spanish and Portuguese. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, cooking, jazz, and racing around after his children.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO
Juris Doctor, 2008
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
M.A., Latin American Studies, 2003
HANOVER COLLEGE
B.A., Anthropology/Sociology, 1997
Activities & Affiliations
California Employment Lawyers Association
Alameda County Bar Association
Admissions
California State Bar
U.S. District Court for Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, and Central District of California
Contact
est@advocatesforworkers.com
direct: (510) 269-4080
Eric S. Trabucco
Mr. Trabucco is the son of immigrants and a Bay Area native. His background inspired a commitment to serving under-represented communities, and his practice focuses on people. Workers who have been wronged by employers, consumers who have been harmed by businesses, and people with disabilities who have been discriminated against and denied full and equal access to public accommodations. He started his legal career as a Fellow at Legal Aid at Work in the Wage and Hour Enforcement Litigation Program. Prior to co-founding AWR, Mr. Trabucco litigated complex wage and hour class actions and individual sexual harassment and discrimination cases on behalf of workers throughout the state of California at a prestigious plaintiffs’ firm in Oakland.
Mr. Trabucco is admitted to practice law in California and is a native Spanish speaker. When he isn’t fighting for workers, he enjoys playing basketball, road biking, catching live music with friends, and spending time with his family.
Education
BERKELEY LAW, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
Juris Doctor, 2013
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
B.A., Political Science & Spanish, 2010
Activities & Affiliations
• California Employment Lawyers Association
Admissions
California State Bar
U.S. District Court for Eastern District of California, Northern District of California, and Central District of California