Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP has quickly grown in the San Diego market with the addition of a group of four attorneys. Joining as a partner is Guillermo Escobedo, who will serve as the office managing partner of the firm’s new San Diego location, along with associates Arcelia Magaña, Daniel Galván and Ariel Valerio-Meek.
"We are thrilled to significantly expand our presence in San Diego with the addition of this group of exceptional attorneys," said Ken Sulzer, office managing partner for Constangy’s Los Angeles and Orange County offices and head of the California practice. “Guillermo and his team bring diverse expertise and stellar reputations in labor and employment law that align perfectly with our commitment to providing top-tier legal services, especially in our focus on defending employers against class action and PAGA claims as well as single-plaintiff litigation. This strategic growth positions us to better serve our clients nationwide and further solidifies Constangy's footprint in the California legal community.”
Escobedo, Magaña, Galván and Valerio-Meek practiced together in their most recent positions at a global labor and employment firm before joining Constangy.
"We chose this amazing opportunity for the value and strategic impact Constangy can bring to our clients and community. Its robust national presence focused on workplace law, unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion, and its deep-rooted dedication to community service make Constangy a great fit,” said Escobedo. “The firm’s well-known culture of collegiality and service combined with its commitment to growing our San Diego team have made us confident that this move will further elevate our service in the region. We look forward to contributing to a team that shares our passion for collaboration, empowerment of team members, and forward-thinking growth tailored to our clients.”
These additions in San Diego are the latest in a series of announced hires across the firm’s footprint, including 19 attorneys added across 12 markets in 2024 to date.
“We have been fortunate to have a significant increase in our headcount over the last few years as we continue to attract experienced attorneys across the country to serve clients’ evolving legal needs,” said Neil Wasser, chair of Constangy’s executive committee. “With constant changes in the legal landscape for our employment and data privacy clients, we remain focused on meeting those challenges by attracting and developing quality attorneys across our growing footprint.”
More information on each attorney joining and their practice is included below, and more information on Constangy’s San Diego office is available at https://www.constangy.com/offices-san-diego.
About the Attorneys
Guillermo Escobedo joins as a partner and San Diego office managing partner. He focuses his practice on labor and employment, providing expert guidance to employers on preemptive measures to avoid employment-law claims, delivering practical advice and strategic counsel. Escobedo’s practice includes defending employers against claims brought under the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA), as well as in single and multi-plaintiff lawsuits that include class action matters. He also conducts training programs for clients on harassment prevention, anti-bullying initiatives, and effective management practices. His expertise extends to conducting thorough workplace investigations, essential for maintaining a fair and compliant work environment. Escobedo represents employers before various forums at the state and federal level, including California state courts, federal courts, arbitrations, mediation, and administrative hearings before the EEOC, California Civil Rights Department, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and the Employment Development Department.
Arcelia Magaña is a highly skilled litigator and trial attorney with a robust track record of defending employers in more than 20 wage and hour class and representative actions within the past seven years, including several brought under PAGA. She specializes in advising clients on best practices aimed at cultivating stable and efficient workforces, thus minimizing the risks and costs associated with disruptive litigation. Magaña's legal career began as an advocate for plaintiffs, an experience that enriches her ability to craft effective case strategies for her clients from a variety of perspectives. Fluent in Spanish, she is committed to contributing her free time to advancing educational and professional opportunities for Latinos/as/xs through active involvement in various organizations.
Daniel Galván provides businesses with preventive advice and counseling on a wide array of employment-related issues. Galván's legal career began with clerkships for the Honorable Barbara L. Major and the Honorable Gonzalo P. Curiel in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, where he gained valuable insight into federal judicial processes. During law school, he held an externship with the Honorable Patricia Guerrero in the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division One. Prior to beginning his legal career and while at the California Western School of Law, Galván served as the executive lead articles editor of the California Western Law Review, membership in CWSL’s Trial Team, and roles as a legal research and writing honors instructor and Criminal Procedure teaching fellow.
Ariel Valerio-Meek focuses her practice on representing employers in all aspects of employment litigation, including wage and hour actions, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. After her legal career began at an insurance defense firm, where she gained valuable experience defending businesses and individuals against personal injury claims, Valerio-Meek was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Barbara L. Major in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. During law school, she served in externships with the Honorable Anthony J. Battaglia in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California and the California Office of Legislative Counsel. Valerio-Meek's academic achievements during law school include serving as the editor-in-chief of the California Western Law Review, membership in the Moot Court Honors Board, and holding positions as secretary of the Black Law Student Association and teaching fellow for Property I and II.