TONG LAW’s Vincent Tong Honored Among 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Employment Attorneys

TONG LAW proudly announces that founder and principal attorney Vincent Tong has been named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers, a prestigious national guide honoring the country’s most accomplished advocates for workplace justice.

Now in its eighth edition, the Lawdragon 500 highlights attorneys who “stand tall and deliver justice” for workers facing discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage theft, and other violations. This recognition places Tong among the top employment attorneys in the United States, underscoring his track record of holding employers accountable and securing meaningful results for employees across California.

“Being included in the Lawdragon 500 is a tremendous honor,” said Tong. “It’s also a reminder of the responsibility we carry as advocates for working people. Our clients come to us during some of the most difficult periods in their lives. They deserve not only excellent legal representation, but also the reassurance that someone is in their corner, fighting for their dignity and their future.”

A Year of Heightened Workplace Rights Challenges

The honor comes at a time when workers in California and across the nation are confronting unprecedented challenges. The workplace landscape is evolving rapidly—driven by artificial intelligence in hiring, post-pandemic shifts to remote and hybrid work, and an expanding gig economy. These changes have created new opportunities for employers, but also new avenues for abuse.

“Employers are finding new ways to skirt the law,” Tong explained. “From using biased AI screening tools that disadvantage older workers, women, and people of color, to retaliating against employees who question unsafe return-to-office mandates, we’re seeing novel forms of discrimination and retaliation that require creative and aggressive legal strategies.”

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) latest enforcement data reflects these troubling trends. In Fiscal Year 2024, the agency received 88,531 new discrimination charges—a 9.2% increase over the prior year—marking the highest level in more than a decade. California ranked fifth in the nation for total charges filed, reflecting the state’s large and diverse workforce as well as its strong culture of employee rights advocacy.

Retaliation continues to be the most common violation nationwide. According to EEOC retaliation charge data, 47.8% of all charges in FY 2024 included a retaliation claim, despite a decline from 56.8% in FY 2023. These cases often involve employees who are punished for reporting harassment, requesting reasonable accommodations, or asserting wage and hour rights.

Key Areas of Concern for California Workers

Based on the firm’s caseload and recent trends, Tong identifies several critical areas where violations are on the rise:

1. Remote Work Retaliation

With hybrid work arrangements now standard in many industries, employees are increasingly facing retaliation for requesting flexible schedules or raising concerns about workplace safety. California law protects workers who speak up about legitimate health, safety, or legal violations—whether they are on-site or remote.

2. AI-Driven Discrimination

The use of artificial intelligence in hiring and performance evaluations is growing rapidly. While marketed as objective, these systems can perpetuate or worsen existing biases. The EEOC has launched enforcement actions against employers who deploy AI tools that result in discriminatory impacts on protected groups.

3. Wage Theft in the Gig Economy

Misclassification of employees as independent contractors continues to cost California workers millions in lost wages, overtime pay, and benefits. Enforcement under AB5 and subsequent court decisions has strengthened protections, but violations remain widespread in sectors like rideshare, delivery, and freelance contracting.

4. Pregnancy and Family Leave Violations

Despite robust protections under California’s Pregnancy Disability Leave and the California Family Rights Act, violations remain common. Smaller employers sometimes incorrectly assume these laws do not apply to them, leading to unlawful denials of leave or retaliatory terminations.

“Every week, we meet people who didn’t realize they had legal protections or who were afraid to enforce their rights,” said Tong. “Education is critical—but so is swift legal action when those rights are violated.”

For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit TONG LAW’s website at www.tong-law.com or call 855-TONG-LAW.

About the Lawdragon 500 Selection Process

The Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers is compiled through a rigorous process combining independent research, peer nominations, and client feedback. Honorees are recognized for their skill, results, and dedication to advancing justice in the workplace. Profiles of the selected attorneys are published online at Lawdragon.com and will appear in the annual Plaintiff Issue magazine.

According to Lawdragon’s editorial team, the lawyers featured “champion the vulnerable against those whose actions deprive others of their right to work, to exist, to peaceably abide.” Tong’s inclusion reflects not only his courtroom success but also his leadership in shaping better workplace practices and policies.

About Vincent Tong and TONG LAW

Founded in Oakland, California, TONG LAW focuses exclusively on protecting the rights of employees. The firm represents clients in cases involving:

• Workplace discrimination
• Sexual harassment
• Wrongful termination
• Wage and hour violations
• Retaliation and whistleblower protection

Tong is known for combining legal advocacy with a client-centered approach, ensuring that each person he represents understands their rights and the legal process. The firm’s commitment to transparency, accessibility, and results has earned it recognition in multiple legal publications and now, inclusion in the Lawdragon 500.

“We’re proud to serve employees across California, from the Bay Area’s tech hubs to agricultural communities in the Central Valley,” Tong said. “No matter the industry, the right to a fair, safe, and respectful workplace is non-negotiable.”

Media Contact

Vincent Tong, Esq.
Founding Attorney, TONG LAW
Phone: 855-TONG-LAW
Website: www.tong-law.com

Office Locations:
Oakland: 1999 Harrison Street, 18th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Sacramento: 836 57th St, Suite #610, Sacramento, CA 95819

About TONG LAW – Employment and Business Attorney

TONG LAW is a law firm in Oakland and Sacramento, California, dedicated to serving both employees and businesses. The firm represents employees in employment law matters involving workplace discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations.

Additionally, TONG LAW offers comprehensive business law services, assisting companies with contract negotiations, corporate governance, and compliance matters. Led by Vincent Tong, TONG LAW is committed to providing personalized, high-quality legal representation to individuals and businesses throughout Northern California.

Contact Information
TONG LAW, California Employment Law Attorneys
1999 Harrison St 18th floor
Oakland, CA 94612

836 57th St, Suite #610,
Sacramento, CA 95819