Sam Setyan
Founder and Principal Employment Attorney, Setyan Law APC – Wrongful Termination & Sexual Harassment Lawyer
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About Sam Setyan
Samvel "Sam" Setyan is the founder and principal attorney of Setyan Law APC – Wrongful Termination & Sexual Harassment Lawyer, a Los Angeles firm that represents employees, never employers. He handles wrongful termination, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, whistleblower, and wage and hour cases across California. When advocating for his clients, Sam is willing to go up against anything from local businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Clients work with Sam directly from their first call through settlement or trial.
Sam's drive comes from his own family, who emigrated to the U.S. when he was eight. His father worked 16-hour days, six days a week, for $300 a week without even knowing he was entitled to overtime. His mother cleaned cards on the graveyard shift at a casino and was fired when carpal tunnel syndrome made it too painful for her to work. Watching his parents struggle with unfair employment conditions is what led him to start an employment law firm.
Sam earned his B.A. in History from UCLA and his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, in 2018. At Loyola, he was selected for the Hobbs/Poels District Attorney Practicum, where he worked as a certified law clerk in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. He was also chosen for the American Board of Trial Advocates fellowship program. After he was admitted to the State Bar in 2019, he practiced at one of Southern California's largest employment litigation firms. He founded Setyan Law APC – Wrongful Termination & Sexual Harassment Lawyer in 2021.
Sam prepares every case for trial. In 2026, he won a unanimous federal jury verdict against Costco Wholesale in the Northern District of California on behalf of an employee who had been denied disability accommodations. That same year, he was selected for the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2027. He has handled more than 500 employment cases, and he prioritizes keeping clients informed and heard at every stage.
Sam has also held a California real estate broker license since 2012. He reviews leases and real estate transactions, including pro bono reviews for people who need help. Outside the office, Sam lives in Glendale with his wife, their two children, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. In his free time, he enjoys going to the gym, playing chess, and spending time with his family. Among friends and family, he's known as the grill master. Sam and his wife love hosting big dinners for the people closest to them.
Case highlights
Talamantes v. Costco Wholesale Corporation (U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., No. 24-cv-00789, 2026). This was a unanimous jury verdict for a former Costco employee who disclosed PTSD and a prior ankle injury, asked for reasonable accommodations, and was thereafter terminated. The jury awarded $200,000 in damages, and an additional $600,000 in attorneys' fees.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Current cases
Sam is currently representing employees against some of the country's largest companies:
- Tad Montgomery v. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc. et al. [U.S. District Court, E.D. Cal., No. 2:26-cv-2963-DJC-CKD]: An employee terminated from employment soon after returning from medical leave.
- Martin v. HubSpot Inc. et al. [U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., case no. 4:26-cv-03699-HSG]: An employee terminated while on medical leave.
- Mata v. In-N-Out Burgers et al., LASC No. 25STCV07470. The employee alleges prolonged sexual harassment by a team lead who later became her supervisor.
These cases are pending, and no outcome has been determined. Descriptions reflect the allegations in public filings.
Education
- J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 2018
- Hobbs/Poels District Attorney Practicum: certified law clerk, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
- American Board of Trial Advocates fellowship program
- B.A., History, University of California, Los Angeles
Bar and court admissions
- State Bar of California, 2019 (No. 325831)
- U.S. District Court, Central District of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
Professional associations
- California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA)
- Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA)
- Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA)
Honors and recognitions
- Super Lawyers Rising Stars, Southern California, 2027
- Expertise.com Best Employment Lawyers in Los Angeles, 2026
- Justia Lawyer Rating
- "Very Good" Avvo Rating
Other licenses
- California Department of Real Estate, Real Estate Broker, 2012 to present
Community involvement
- Mentor and year-round internship host, Glendale Youth Alliance, across all of its youth training, mentoring and paid work-experience programs (ages 14–24)
- Supporter, Armenian Relief Society of Western USA
- Supporter, Lark Musical Society
- Donor, school enrichment programs, The Learning Castle & La Cañada Preparatory
- Pro bono lease and purchase-agreement reviews
In the news
- "Federal jury hits Costco with disability discrimination verdict" (May 14, 2026): coverage of Sam's unanimous federal jury verdict for a former Costco employee.
- "Brewer used workers' images without permission, suit says" (Sept. 13, 2022): Sam's lawsuit for a former employee of Paperback Brewing in Glendale. The claims were harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, misappropriation of likeness, and Labor Code violations.
Practice areas
- Wrongful Termination
- Disability Discrimination
- Workplace Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment
- Retaliation
- Whistleblowing
- Leaves of Absence
- Wage and Hour
- Misclassification
Contact Sam to discuss your case
Talk to Sam about your case. Your consultation is free and confidential, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover money for you. We have offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Burbank, and San Diego.