CJ Pearl

Founder and Managing Partner

CJ Pearl is the founder and managing partner of Pearl Legal, APC a nationally recognized California based boutique law firm with offices in Orange County and San Francisco. With almost 25 years of high-level legal experience, CJ has built a reputation as a skilled problem solver and go-to counselor and litigator resolving complex and critical matters for companies, educational institutions, nonprofits, executives, and entrepreneurs throughout California and across the United States. Under CJ’s leadership, Pearl Legal has quickly grown to serve various clients navigating all levels of business and risk issues.

A strategic thinker and proactive legal advisor, CJ approaches each engagement with a preventative mindset, aiming to resolve or avoid costly litigation through aggressive yet efficient, business driven solutions, always asking the initial question: How can we resolve this problem to the best benefit of the client?

Prior to founding Pearl Legal, CJ honed his expertise at a Big Law international labor and employment firm, representing a diverse range of clients from startups and nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies, and at other high-profile boutique firms, working and training with some of the top lawyers and legal leaders in California. His legal skill, leadership, and case results have earned consistent recognition across the industry, including selection as a Southern California Super Lawyer “Rising Star” (2012–2016) and “Employment Litigation – Defense” (2019–present) honors awarded to only the top tier of attorneys in the region.

CJ is also a sought-after speaker and trusted advisor to in-house legal departments, boards of directors, and business leaders, regularly presenting on legal best practices, workplace compliance, and emerging issues in employment law. He also serves as a faculty instructor at the University of California, Irvine’s Department of Continuing Education, where he teaches the popular “HR and the Law” course to future HR professionals.

CJ earned a B.A. in History from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo, the NY Public Honors College, graduating as a member of the National History Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta.  While in college, CJ served as a legislative intern for U.S. Congressman and House leadership member William “Bill” Paxon, studied Humanities and English Literature at Oxford University (New College), and was a sportswriter for the school newspaper in addition to having leadership positions in the school’s Greek system.  CJ later earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law. His matriculation included serving as a certified clinical legal intern with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, serving as an elected member of the law school’s Student Bar Association (including as Vice President), and, most importantly, meeting his wife, Jenifer, a fellow law student.

CJ was born and raised in Buffalo, NY where he attended high school at the historic all-boys St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute. His birth and formative years in Buffalo made him a life-long Buffalo Bills fan, of which he is a current Season Ticket Holder.  Despite historical let downs, he remains eternally hopeful for a Super Bowl victory (with Josh Allen’s help!). In his free time, CJ loves watching his children play sports, including his son who is a current college lacrosse player, spending time playing with his three Golden Doodles (Phoebe, Archie, and Ellie), watching and traveling to sporting events (including those of his beloved Bills), and traveling with his wife to see their favorites bands.