First Admitted: 1999, California

Professional Webpage: http://www.andrusanderson.com/about/lori-e-andrus/

Bar/Professional Activity:

Ms. Andrus is also recognized for her long-term commitment to diversifying leadership in complex legal matters. In 2017, Ms. Andrus co-chaired Duke University School of Law’s Symposium titled Increasing the Number of Women and Minority Lawyers Appointed to Leadership Positions in Class Actions and Multidistrict Litigation. Conference attendees will produce a white paper on best practices for judges to apply to improve opportunities for diverse lawyers to lead important litigation. Ms. Andrus has also earned plaudits for her stewardship of Women En Mass, an annual retreat for women practicing in mass torts. In just a few short years, WEM’s pioneering efforts to promote women lawyers in mass tort leadership has paid great dividends., 2017
Ms. Andrus is the Immediate Past Chair of the Women Trial Lawyers’ Caucus of the American Association for Justice and is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, the San Francisco Trial Lawyers' Association, the American Constitution Society, Public Justice, Women Lawyers of Alameda County, California Women Lawyers, and the American Bar Association.
Ms. Andrus is a sought-after speaker, and she regularly presents on cutting edge legal topics. This year, Ms. Andrus will address audiences across the country about how the legal system can help level the playing field in the workplace. In past years, Ms. Andrus was invited to lecture at the Consumer Attorneys of California’s Annual Convention on the latest tactics in fighting forced arbitration, and was a featured speaker at the California Employment Lawyers’ Association Advanced Wage and Hour Seminar. Ms. Andrus regularly speaks at continuing education events for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers’ Association, and the American Association for Justice, and was honored to speak at The Impact Fund’s 10th Annual Class Action Conference., 2017

Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):

ACHIEVING EQUAL TREATMENT FOR WOMEN AT AN INSURANCE GIANT Lynne Coates, an attorney in the claims litigation department at Farmers Insurance, learned that a male colleague made substantially more than she did, even though he was admitted to the bar a year later than she was. She also learned that other male lawyers in her department were paid more than women with more experience. After she informed her supervisor, she was told the company did not believe it had a "gender issue" and would not adjust her salary. She then received modifications to her job duties that were clearly a demotion, and she resigned. That led to a class action under the federal Equal Pay Act and the newly-revised California Fair Pay Act and, ultimately, a groundbreaking nationwide settlement that holds the nation's third-largest insurance company accountable for the millions of dollars improperly taken from its female employees. The settlement guarantees lasting changes to Farmers' behavior towards its female attorneys while providing financial compensation to the victims of its discriminatory pay practices. Farmers is required to audit its payroll for the next three years to ensure equal pay into the future, and the company has promised to increase the representation of women at every level within its claims litigation department each year over the next three years. The plaintiffs in this case, as insurance company attorneys, are normally on the other side of the negotiating table from consumer attorneys, but Lori Andrus said she loved representing them because "our similarities are greater than our differences.", 2016

Pro bono/Community Service:

Ms. Andrus is a Mayoral appointee to the Oakland Budget Advisory Committee.

Honors/Awards:

In 2013, Ms. Andrus was recognized by Consumer Attorneys of California as the Woman Consumer Advocate of the Year. The award is given to a trailblazing female CAOC member who has made significant contributions to the profession by: 1) pioneering leadership roles for women plaintiffs' lawyers; 2) inspiring, supporting, and mentoring other women lawyers; 3) obtaining excellent results for consumers and injured victims; 4) helping elect pro-civil justice candidates; or 5) working to either establish new law or protect favorable law for consumers or injured victims.
Each year, California’s trial lawyer organization, Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), honors a CAOC member or members who significantly advanced the rights or safety of California consumers by achieving a noteworthy result in a case. In 2017, four Andrus Anderson LLP lawyers, including lead attorney Lori Andrus, were finalists for the Consumer Attorney of the Year award for their work in the groundbreaking equal pay litigation against Farmers Insurance. A short video supporting the nomination can be found here., Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2017

Other Outstanding Achievements:

Ms. Andrus’ is regularly featured in the print media. The Los Angeles Times followed the Farmers Insurance equal pay litigation, and the Daily Journal and the Recorder have both written multiple articles about Ms. Andrus’ equal pay cases. Her innovative legal strategies in a medical malpractice case were highlighted in The Daily Journal in 2013 and 2014. She was quoted in The Daily Journal’s “For Some, Preemption Looks Like Tort Reform,” and in Trial Magazine, “Dangers of Birth Control Patch Come to Light.” Ms. Andrus is a regular contributor for the American Association for Justice’s Trial Magazine. In May 2012, The Daily Journal featured Ms. Andrus and her partner, Jennie Lee Anderson, in a profile titled “Stepping It Up.”, 2016

Lori E. Andrus