Katessa Charles Davis

Partner

• kdavis@steptoe.com
• vCard
• Century City Office

Katessa Charles Davis is a partner in the Century City office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP. Her practice focuses on commercial and employment disputes, including unfair competition, trade secrets, breach of contract, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. Ms. Davis has experience in a broad range of industries, from manufacturing to entertainment, and has arbitration as well as jury trial experience in state and federal courts.

Ms Davis counsels companies in all areas of commercial and employment law, including state and federal wage and hour matters, all aspects of employee personnel issues, privacy in the workplace, HIPAA, development of company policies, documentation of employee performance, employment and service agreements, outside salespersons, and independent contractors. Ms. Davis also represents employers in administrative proceedings, including responding to charges filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, California Labor Commissioner, and U.S. Department of Labor. Ms. Davis also litigates on behalf of employers in wage and hour, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, discrimination, breach of employment contract, unlawful business practices, non-solicitation, and trade secret claims.

Ms. Davis assists employers with reducing their workforce, creating personnel handbooks, and training employees on the prevention of sexual harassment.

Ms. Davis also speaks on a multitude of employment and management related topics, including hiring and firing; leaves of absence; disability accommodation; personnel policies; discrimination laws; trade secrets; unfair business practices; and privacy in the workplace.

Ms. Davis is the President of the Los Angeles County Bar Foundation and a member of the Legal Advisory Board of the Jenesse Center, Inc., a domestic violence intervention program. Ms. Davis is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Sections of the State Bar of California and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She is also a past member of the Executive Committee of the Litigation Section of the State Bar of California, a past Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, and past President of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc.

Noteworthy & Success Stories

• Named as one of Southern California Super Lawyers in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 by Los Angeles Magazine. 
• Steptoe Scores Summary Judgment in Favor of Taco Bell

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Katessa Davis on Panel: Raising the Bar: Retention and Promotion of Women and Minorities, June 19, 2008
• Katessa Davis on Panel: My Life as a Lawyer, October 30, 2007
• Katessa Davis on Panel: Diverse Female Partners of Large Law Firms Provide Best Practices for Success, October 26, 2006

Professional Affiliations

• 2007-2008 President, Los Angeles County Bar Foundation
• 2007-2008 Member, Finance Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• 2007-2008 Member, Legal Advisory Board of the Jenessee Center, Inc.
• 2004-2007 Member, ABA Presidential Advisory Council on Diversity in the Profession
• 2003-2005 Trustee, Los Angeles County Bar Association
• 1998-1999 President, Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Inc.
• 1997-2000 Member, Executive Committee, Litigation Section, State Bar of California
• 1999 Editor-in-Chief, California Litigation Review, State Bar of California