Meet Our Attorneys

We are trial lawyers fueled by the passion for justice. We understand that when a client turns to us, it’s amidst a challenging situation, and we are dedicated to leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of the optimal outcome.

Founding Partner

Shant Kotchounian, Esq.

Shant Kotchounian is a trial lawyer who has devoted his entire legal career to the area of employment law. As a founding partner of CETL, Mr. Kotchounian is committed to helping workers who have been wronged by their employers. He focuses his practice on all forms of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation, and wage and hour compliance.

He has obtained several favorable jury verdicts and court decisions in his clients’ favor and, over the years, has obtained a reputation as a skilled advocate and a tenacious litigator. He treats his clients like family. He represents them with an unwavering conviction for what is right and works tirelessly to maximize recovery. He has obtained multiple seven figure awards for his clients.

Mr. Kotchounian’s early career was focused on representing both private and public employers in the field of employment law. His unique insight and experience on the employer side gives Mr. Kotchounian a unique perspective so that he can better understand and predict the tactics of his opponents. He is driven by finding solutions that can establish liability against an employer and is well-equipped to deconstruct an employer’s litigation tactics and defenses.

Mr. Kotchounian has received recognition within his field based on peer reviews and professional accomplishments, including being named a “Super Lawyer” and “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, and a “Top Attorney” by Pasadena Magazine. He was also nominated and selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates’ (ABOTA) SideBar program for promising trial lawyers. Mr. Kotchounian also has written numerous articles on labor and employment issues and is frequently requested to lecture at employment law seminars.

Awards & Honors

  • Lead Counsel Verified Attorney
  • Rising Stars 2009 – 2010
  • Super Lawyers 2025 – 2026
  • Top Attorney Pasadena Magazine
  • ABOTA SideBar Program Member

Testimonials

  • I got hurt on the job. and injured my knee. I was diagnosed with a torn meniscus and ACL. Michael Burgers did care and took care of everything. I’m doing fantastic thanks to Michael, and I appreciate him and love them all. They’re great.

    Charles Householder

  • All we had to provide was the medical reports and employment records I had and Mr. Burgis did all of the work. I recommend this law firm to anyone put in this position.

    Dave Swol

  • Michael Burgis and Associates are amazing! They worked so hard for us and kept us updated on our case. Michael is awesome in court. His assistant Jenny kept in touch with us and explained anything.

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    Deborah L.

  • I didn’t really trust anyone because the system had, you know, just really made me question everything. I ended up getting on YouTube and found Michael. I’m like, god answered my prayers. He knows this work completely forwards and backward.

    -Lisa
    Johnson

  • Michael Burgis & Associates really goes the extra mile in fighting for getting their clients the medical attention, benefits and compensation they deserve. Highly recommend this firm for anyone who’s suffered a work injury, feels lost and needs an aggressive attorney in their corner.

    Manny
    Menchaca

  • Working with Matt was awesome He was very professional and honest about my chances of a settlement. I would recommend Matt to any of my friends or family. Very happy with my results

    Michael
    M.

  • My case took 18 months with one attorney and six months with Michael Burgis and it was resolved. The outcome of my case I was very satisfied. I received a great compensatio n something that I really didn’t expect. I would definitely use Michael Burgis.

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    Vivian
    Encinas.

  • MB & Associates are dedicated to protecting people’s right. They have shown utmost care in handling my case from the beginning until it was settled.

    Zouheir
    Masri

  • They are professional and hands-on. I am extremely grateful to Matt Mora for all his support, guidance, patience, and professionalism. He went above and beyond since day one. He is also very knowledgeable and assertive. My case was handled in a prompt manner and smoothness. Thank you.

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    It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here.
    Nancy
    J.

  • This is a little bit late of a review, but it’s better late than never. Michael and his team handled my case with enthusiasm and professionalism. I started this case in 2020 but was delayed by covid and finished a couple of weeks ago with a settlement on trial day. My lawyer Teresa

    Kyle
    J.

Protecting Employee Rights

Our expertise spans all areas of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination. We are fully committed to defending your workplace rights and securing the outcome you deserve.

Call Us Today 855-CETL-LAW

Your Free Consultation

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