J. Andrew “Drew” Schaffer is a senior associate in the firm’s Employment and Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution practices. He specializes in employment law, including litigation and arbitration, counseling, and employment-related transactional support. Drew also maintains an active pro bono practice, largely centered around supporting veterans and their families.
Experience
Drew focuses his practice on counseling and litigating on behalf of companies across industries in general and complex labor and employment matters. He litigates actions in federal and state courts involving a wide range of employment issues, including misclassification of independent contractors, wage and hour violations, retaliation, harassment, and discrimination. He also represents clients in matters before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, and other administrative agencies charged with enforcement of labor and employment laws.
As part of his counseling practice, Drew routinely advises companies on difficult employee relations and compliance issues, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, workplace investigations, large scale reductions-in-force, employee classification, and personnel policy development and administration. He also routinely litigates high-exposure Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) and Class Action matters. Drew assists clients in the drafting and negotiation of critical agreements needed during the employee hiring and termination process, including executive employment agreements, separation agreements and restrictive covenants. In addition to his litigation and counseling practice, Drew provides employment law expertise in connection with mergers and acquisitions, financings and asset deals.
Drew’s recent representative experience includes:
- Marlin Equity Partners in its acquisition of Meltwater
- Cruz Foam in its $18 million Series A funding round
Professional Activities
Drew is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, American Bar Association, California Lawyers Association, and Society for Human Resource Management.
PROFESSIONAL Experience
Prior to joining Goodwin, Drew was a senior associate at Jackson Lewis, PC, where he focused on employment advice and counseling and litigation matters.
Drew is also a Commander in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps (Reserve) where he routinely advises servicemembers and military commands on a variety of issues. Prior to leaving Active Duty service in 2018 and affiliating with the Reserves, Drew served as a federal prosecutor and defense counsel, litigating a variety of criminal matters and trying a number of cases to verdict. In his capacity as a JAG, and his prior service as an infantry officer with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, Drew has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and East Africa. He has earned the Army’s Ranger Tab and Parachutist Badge, and has been awarded two Bronze Star Medals for actions in combat and other decorations for his service to the United States.
Credentials
Education
JD2011
University of Connecticut School of Law
MA2015
Naval War College
BS2004
Boston College
Admissions
Bars
- California
- Connecticut
Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
Recognition & Awards
Drew has been recognized by Best Lawyers as “One to Watch” in Labor and Employment Litigation since 2021.