John M. Polson

John Polson is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Fisher Phillips and leads the firm’s Management Committee which serves as the firm’s board of directors. He is Co-Chair of the firm’s PEO and Staffing Industry Team, and Co-leads the firm’s Gig Economy Industry Team as well.

John has a diverse practice that includes compliance, litigation, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, and startup representation. He is a trusted advisor to Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) as well as clients in the staffing and human resources outsourcing industries. He also represents gig economy and related businesses with respect to independent contractor status and issues unique to freelancing platforms.

John has represented PEO and staffing clients in a broad range of litigation and appellate matters. In addition to a wide array of labor and employment related litigation, he has handled cases involving unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, contractual disputes, and third-party claims related to employment. He has extensive experience providing advice and counsel on joint employer, co-employer, and other employer status issues.

John is a member and past Chair of the Legal Advisory Council of the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO). He has served as a Professional Advisory Director for the Employer Services Assurance Corporation and as an Instructor in the University of California Irvine Human Resources Certificate Program.

John is "AV" Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. The Best Lawyers in America publication has included John since 2008 and named him 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in Employment Law – Management for Orange County, CA.