Kevin Cleveland

Partner

Office: Fresno

Direct: 559-628-4751

kcleveland@nullohaganmeyer.com

  • Professional Overview
    Kevin Cleveland is a Partner of O’Hagan Meyer’s Fresno office. Mr. Cleveland practice is dedicated to defending employers in employment litigation and providing advice and counseling to employers across a broad spectrum of industries on how to be compliant with California employment and labor law without hindering business operations. Mr. Cleveland works with a wide variety of employers throughout the state from small family-owned businesses to major corporations with thousands of employees. Mr. Cleveland has handled matters from Wage and Hour class action and PAGA cases with tens of thousands of employees to single plaintiff wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation cases. Mr. Cleveland has also handled hearings and investigations before most federal and state employment and labor-related agencies. The two years he spent early in his career litigating on behalf of Plaintiffs also gives him the knowledge to be able to quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses in a Plaintiff’s case and find other reasonable solutions when prolonged litigation may not be the best route.

    In previous jobs, Mr. Cleveland also helped direct HR operations for thousands of employees across the United States. As a result, Mr. Cleveland combines his practical HR business experience with his legal skills and knowledge to best advise employers on labor and employment matters as well as aggressively litigate on behalf of clients to achieve their goals. Mr. Cleveland does this through helping companies by providing advice and counseling, reviewing potential employment decisions, assisting in the administration of employee leaves, drafting and reviewing employee handbooks, drafting company policies and HR procedures, providing management trainings, drafting severance agreements, conducting workplace investigations, and timely answering questions which employers need to know to stay compliant with the everchanging federal and California employment and labor laws.

    Though primarily engaged in employment law, Mr. Cleveland also handles general liability and auto matters for select clients including multiple freight carriers and companies in the construction industry. Mr. Cleveland has aggressively and successfully represented his clients in personal injury, premises liability, automotive claims, breach of contract claims, fraud claims, and a myriad of additional matters.

    Mr. Cleveland uniquely claims to be from all over the United States having lived and travelled extensively through much of the United States. While in school he was a top 10 national debater for the American Parliamentary Debate Association and still coaches and judges speech and debate tournaments when time permits. Mr. Cleveland also enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughter.
  • Practice Areas
  • Education and Admissions

    Education

    • B.A. from University of Maryland, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences.
    • B.A. from University of Maryland, College of Arts and Humanities.
    • J.D. from University of San Diego.

    Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
    • United States District Court for the Northern District of California

    States Licensed

    • California
  • Professional Organization Memberships
    • California Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section
  • News, Honors, Publications & Speeches
    • Co-Founder and Chief Articles Editor for the University of San Diego Journal on Climate and Energy Law
    • Recipient of James A. D’Angelo Outstanding Child Advocate Award
    • CALI Excellence for the Future Award winner
    • Guest Lecturer at Caldwell University and UC Davis Grad Programs
    Selected Presentations Include:
    • Cleveland, K. (2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) CA Employment Law: End of Year Review. The Employer’s Council and multiple additional groups.
    • Young, S. & Cleveland, K. (September 2022) Handling Employee Leaves. The Sacramento Regional Builder’s Exchange.
    • Young, S. & Cleveland, K. (May 2022) Setting Yourself Up For Successful Settlement. The Sacramento Regional Builder’s Exchange.
    • Young, S. & Cleveland, K. (February 2022) Workplace Investigations. The Sacramento Regional Builder’s Exchange.
    • Cleveland, K. (January 2018; multiple in 2020-2024) Respectful Workplace/Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace. Multiple sites across United States.
    • Cohen, D.L.& Cleveland, K. (August 2020) There and Back Again: Remote Work in a Pandemic. Video Seminar for The Employers’ Council.
    • Cleveland, K. (June 2018; February 2019; January 2020) Gossip in the Workplace. Site based training. Multiple sites across United States.
    • Cleveland, K. & Blueford, G. (October 2017) Strategies for Effective Management & Supervision. Presented at the Growers Shipper Ass’n & AgSafe FLC Program, Fresno California.
    • Cleveland, K. & Blueford, G. (October 2017) Wage & Hour Requirements. Presented at the Growers Shipper Association & AgSafe Farm Labor Contractor Program, Fresno California.
    • Resnick, J. & Cleveland, K. (September 29, 2016) Establishing Safe Harbor for the New AB 1513 Piece-Rate Law. Presented at the Western Growers Association Town Hall in Oxnard, CA and at the Western Growers Association Town Hall in Santa Maria, CA.