Nora Stilestein

Partner

Nora is a labor and employment practitioner that represents clients within medical, hospitality, retail, and technology industries.

Nora Stilestein Portrait

An experienced trial lawyer, Nora defends employers in federal and California courts, with a particular focus on wage-and-hour class and representative PAGA actions. Nora has repeatedly defeated class certification, has successfully defended class and representative actions through trial, and regularly represents clients in arbitrations. 

Nora also collaborates closely with businesses to help them make informed decisions and achieve compliance through unique strategies and tools tailored to each client’s industry and organizational culture. In addition, Nora regularly conducts workplace investigations, often involving C-Suite executives or leadership teams.   

Client Work

  • Represented a national hospital system in a nine-week PAGA trial involving thousands of employees. The hospital prevailed on all PAGA claims.
  • Represented an agricultural company through Ninth Circuit appeal, successfully avoiding expansion of joint employer liability.
  • Represented a major restaurant chain in a six-week jury trial. No PAGA penalties were awarded.

Previous Work

Prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, Nora was a partner at a large international law firm.

Presentations & Recognitions

Presentations

  • “The New World of Peer Review and Medical Staff Dispute Resolution,” 2024 Medical Staff Leaders and the Law Conference, April 12, 2024
  • “Pregnancy Discrimination In 2022,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, March 29, 2022

Recognitions

  • The Legal 500 U.S. Guide: Key Lawyers, The Legal 500 (2024)
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers (2023)
  • Nora and her team were recognized as “Legal Lions” by Law360 in 2018, featured in Law360’s Weekly Verdict: Legal Lions & Lambs. This recognition was due to their successful representation of Taco Bell in a significant case before the Ninth Circuit.
  • Pasadena Top Attorney, Pasadena Magazine (2013)

Life Beyond the Law

Outside of work, Nora enjoys traveling, reading, and laughing as much as possible.

Insights