Attorneys

Barry M. Appell has spent most of his fourteen years of practice litigating harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour, and other employment related claims, including class actions.  After several years representing employers, in 2004, Mr. Appell started his own law firm with Mika M. Hilaire, where he primarily represents employees.  Shortly thereafter, Stephen Benardo joined the law firm to form Appell | Hilaire | Benardo LLP. 

Mr. Appell has successfully litigated many cases, including multi-million dollar wage and hour class actions.  He has prevailed many times in the California Courts of Appeal, including in the published decision in the case of Silver v. Boatwright.  Mr. Appell has also been cited as a legal commentator by the court in the appellate decision in Grafton Partners LP v. Superior Court. 

His dedication to his clients and his record of success resulted in Mr. Appell being named among the best lawyers in Southern California when he was named a Rising Star in 2004, and then has been named a Superlawyer every year since 2005. 

Mr. Appell is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, and the California Employment Lawyers Association.  He has also volunteered as a mediator at the Los Angeles County Superior Court.  

Mr. Appell graduated from UC Hastings College of the Law in 1994 and from California State University, Northridge, cum laude, in 1991.