About
Emanuel Thomas is a trial and litigation attorney and the founder of The Thomas Firm in Long Beach, California. Over the course of his career he has handled more than 1,000 cases and tried matters across the civil, criminal, family law, and probate courts — from murder prosecutions and multi-defendant felony indictments to contract disputes resolved at bench trial. A lifelong martial artist who holds black belts in Karate and Filipino Martial Arts, he brings the same discipline, composure, and fighting spirit to the courtroom that he has honed on the mat.
Emanuel trained under his mentor, John Schmoker, a litigator with more than forty years of practice, before launching The Thomas Firm in 2018. Today the firm’s practice is increasingly focused on employment law, where Emanuel represents workers in wage-and-hour, wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) actions.
Areas of Practice
- Employment Law (Primary Focus) — wage-and-hour, PAGA representative actions, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on behalf of employees.
- Civil Litigation — contract, business, real estate, quiet title, landlord-tenant, and consumer matters through trial and arbitration.
- Probate & Trust Litigation — trust and estate disputes, contested administrations, conservatorships, and elder financial abuse.
- Personal Injury — motor vehicle collisions, premises liability, and wrongful death.
- Civil Rights — civil rights, Bane Act, and governmental liability claims in state and federal court.
Trial & Litigation Experience
- Over 1,000 cases handled across state and federal courts and private arbitration.
- Lead trial counsel in civil, criminal, family law, and probate trials, including jury trials in murder and serious felony matters and bench trials in contract and business disputes.
- Extensive motion practice, including summary judgment, discovery motions, motions to set aside, and ex parte applications; experienced in written and oral advocacy before trial and appellate courts.
- Skilled negotiator in mediation and settlement, with a track record of resolving complex multi-party disputes on favorable terms.
- Regularly co-counsels with established employment firms on class, representative, and individual actions.
Professional Experience
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The Thomas Firm — Long Beach, California
2018 – Present
Owner and Lead Attorney. Founded and built a full-service trial practice serving clients throughout Southern California in employment, civil litigation, criminal defense, probate, personal injury, family law, and civil rights matters. -
Law Office of John Schmoker
Prior to 2018
Associate under the mentorship of John Schmoker, a litigator with over forty years of practice. Developed the foundation of a trial practice by handling matters from intake through verdict.
Admissions
- State Bar of California (No. 319906)
- United States District Court, Central District of California
Beyond the Courtroom
Emanuel holds black belts in Karate and Filipino Martial Arts. He credits martial arts with teaching him the patience, preparation, and resilience that define his approach to litigation: respect for the opponent, relentless training, and the resolve to stand firm when it matters most.
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