Carolina Bravo-Karimi

Managing Partner

Overview Memberships Honors and Recognition Representative Matters Speeches & Publications

Overview

Carolina Bravo-Karimi is a member of the firm’s Employment Law group. Her practice is focused on representing employers in a variety of employment disputes, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wage and hour litigation. Representing both public and private entities, Carolina is an expert in handling complex matters and balancing the needs of several high-profile stakeholders.

Carolina also serves as Practice Chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice Group. Recognizing that intentional attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is essential to promote workplace cohesion, attract and retain talent, create business opportunities, and comply with the law, Carolina assists employers of all sizes in the creation, implementation, and management of their DE&I efforts. To this end, Carolina regularly partners with employers to consult on issues such as DEI data transparency, legality of DEI programs and incentives, and formulation of policies to align with organizations’ DEI goals. Carolina is also a sought-after educator on interrupting unconscious bias and microaggressions, achieving intercultural competency, and exercising inclusive communication.

Carolina also conducts workplace investigations, including those requiring Spanish fluency and multicultural understanding. She regularly provides implicit bias, microaggression, equal pay, and anti-harassment training.

Additionally, Carolina has served as the Faculty Advisor for the Executive Moot Court Board and an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law.

Prior to joining Wilson Turner Kosmo, Carolina served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Louisa S. Porter of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California.

Memberships

University of San Diego School of Law – Law Alumni Board of Directors – President (2021-2023)
Just the Beginning – Steering Committee Co-Chair (2022-2024)
Fleet Science Center Board of Trustees – Vice Chair (2023-2024)
Fleet Science Center – Advisory Council Member (2019-2020)
Monarch School Project – Board of Directors (2023)
San Diego Federal Bar Foundation – Director
Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter – President (2018)
Women and Families Resource Fair – Co-chair (2017)
National Employment Law Council – Member
Association of Workplace Investigators – Member
NITA Trial Program, San Diego – Faculty Member
Lawyers Club of San Diego – Member
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Chapter – Member

Honors and Recognition

Included in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law – Management (2023-2026)
Named to the San Diego Super Lawyers list (2021-2025)
Named as one of San Diego Business Journal’s Woman of Influence in Law (2024)
Named as one of San Diego Business Journal’s and San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Latino Leaders of Influence (2023)
Recipient, Federal Bar Association’s Elaine R. “Boots” Fisher Award (2023)
Winner, San Diego Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year – Medium Company, Private (2022)
Finalist, The Recorder California Legal Awards: Mentorship Award (2022)
Recipient, The American Lawyer Trailblazers – West (2022)
Recipient, San Diego County Bar Association’s Service Award for Service to Diversity (2021)
Recipient, Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Latino Leaders Worth Watching Award (2021)
Recipient, Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching® in Leadership Award (2020)
Named to the San Diego Super Lawyers – Rising Stars list (2015-2020)
Finalist, San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders in Law Award (2019)
Named as one of San Diego Magazine’s “Women of the Year – Rising Star” (2019)
Named to SD Metro Magazine’s “Women of Influence” (2019)
Recipient, HNBA Top Lawyers Under 40 Award (2019)
Named to SD Metro Magazine’s “40 Under 40” Honor Roll (2018)
Recipient, University of San Diego School of Law, Rising Star Recent Alumni Award (2017)

Representative Matters

First-chaired a two-week trial in LA Superior Court in a retaliation lawsuit filed by a physician against a university employer pursuant to the hospital whistleblower statute (Health and Safety Code 1278.5) that involved novel legal issues. Given Plaintiff was unable to beat the university’s CCP 998 offer of judgment, our client was deemed the prevailing party and was able to recover significant expert and trial-related costs from Plaintiff who was awarded a small fraction of the university’s offer of judgment.
Successfully obtained summary judgment a FEHA disability discrimination case filed by a former nurse. The case was dismissed.
Secured an extremely favorable settlement in a gender discrimination and harassment case brought against a University and its highest ranking officer by a former executive who alleged they were wrongfully fired and mistreated.
Resolved a multifaceted lawsuit filed by a former assistant coach of a University women’s basketball team involving Title IX, Title VII and Fair Employment and Housing Act retaliation and harassment days after filing a motion for summary judgment.
Obtained a favorable resolution for 2% of opening demand in a wrongful termination lawsuit in which a former neurosurgery resident sued for race discrimination.

Speeches & Publications

Speaking Engagements:

Facebook: “Managing On Duty and Off Duty Conduct in Politically Divisive Times”
MANA Latina Success Conference: “Speaking Up: Finding Your Voice in the #MeToo Era”
The San Diego Union Tribune: Sexual Harassment Community Forum
Association of Corporate Counsel: “Is Your Pay Equal?”
Employment Law Update, Various Clients and WTK Annual Seminar -Saddleback College: “Implicit Bias: Making the Unconscious Conscious”
Association of Corporate Counsel: “Implicit Bias in the Workplace”
Federal Bar Association All-Day CLE: “The Effects of Implicit Bias in the Workplace”
USD School of Law, Women’s Law Caucus: “Gender and the Pay Gap”
USD School of Law, Women’s Law Caucus: “Workplace Bullying and Harassment Panel”
San Diego Employers Association: “Roundtable Discussion Regarding New Pregnancy Discrimination Regulations”
Association of Corporate Counsel: “Thorny Religious and Disability Accommodation Issues (and Other Developments) That May Leave You Praying for Help”
East County Personnel Association Semi-Annual Legal Update
Saddleback College: “LGBT Issues in the Workplace”
Guest Speaker at Human Resources Course: “Employment Issues for Small Businesses”
Mary Alexander Presentation: “The Do’s and Don’ts of Practicing in Federal Court”

Articles:

NAMWOLF Newsletter: “California’s Departure from Federal Law on Religious Accommodation Rules Will Have Employers Praying for Help.
DRI Newsletter: “Navigating the Federal Courts: Getting in, Getting out, and Playing by the Rules”
ABTL Report: “Brown Bag Luncheon with Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel”
Federal Bar Association Newsletter: “Brown Bag with Judge Marilyn L. Huff”