Zach P. Hutton

Partner
Zach Hutton

Overview

Zach Hutton represents employers in complex employment disputes, with a practice centered on class, collective and representative actions.

While his practice spans all aspects of employment law, Zach is particularly known for his extensive experience in wage and hour litigation and advice work.

Combining deep subject matter knowledge with a practical, results-oriented approach, Zach defends companies in high-stakes litigation involving overtime claims, employee classification, commission pay disputes, meal and rest break issues and other wage and hour disputes. His experience includes numerous matters that have proceeded through trial and appeal, but he positions cases for efficient, early resolution wherever possible.

Employers rely on Zach to defend large-scale cases, including nationwide collective actions, and state-wide class actions and PAGA representative actions. Recognized for both efficiency and subject matter depth, he frequently resolves complex cases through strategic motion practice, defeating class certification, securing summary judgment and obtaining dismissals at the pleadings stage. His experience includes significant appellate victories in wage and hour matters, including precedent-setting decisions.

Zach has also represented companies in enforcement proceedings before the California Department of Labor and the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, including matters involving worker classification and wage compliance.

In addition to litigation, clients rely on Zach for day-to-day counseling on wage and hour compliance and broader employment law issues. He advises companies across a range of industries, including technology, retail, financial services, staffing, hospitality, health care and insurance, helping employers navigate evolving regulatory requirements while reducing litigation risk.

In his free time, Zach enjoys hiking, birdwatching and spending time with his family.


  • Defeated class certification and PAGA representative status of an overtime misclassification case for a Fortune 500 bio-technology company, and then won on appeal.
  • Defeated class certification of three coordinated wage and hour class actions that alleged meal and rest break violations on behalf of nearly 25,000 employees, and then won on appeal.
  • Defeated a PAGA representative action for a Fortune 100 company by winning summary judgment on all claims.
  • Won a precedent-setting appeal involving California’s pay stub requirements.
  • Prevailed in challenges to classification of workers as independent contractors before the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.
  • Achieved walk-away dismissals of class and PAGA claims for numerous clients.
  • Won motions to dismiss with prejudice putative class actions at the pleadings stage.
  • Successfully represented companies in a variety of industries in enforcement proceedings before the Department of Labor and Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Clerkships

Extern to Justice Marvin R. Baxter of the California Supreme Court

Education

J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the Law, 2004, magna cum laude

B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1998

Admissions

California 

  • Labor & Employment, Chambers USA, 2021-2026
  • Labor and Employment Disputes, The Legal 500, 2021-2024
  • Leading Lawyer: Employment, Best Lawyers, 2022-2026
  • Top Labor and Employment Lawyer, Daily Journal, 2022
Chambers 2026
Zachary Hutton - Chambers 2025

  • Bar Association of San Francisco, former member of the Labor and Employment Law Section Executive Committee
  • Board of Directors, International Bird Rescue

Zach also lectures and writes frequently on wage and hour issues. He co-authored four major wage and hour chapters of the Matthew Bender treatise entitled California Employment Law, serves as a member of the editorial board for the Matthew Bender publication, California Labor and Employment Bulletin and has contributed to the supplement to the ABA's Fair Labor Standards Act treatise.