Top Franchise Lawyers: Ambika Sapra of Sapra & Navarra, LLP

About Ambika Sapra:

Ambika Sapra is the senior partner at Sapra & Navarra, LLP. Both Sapra and her partner are board-certified workers' compensation specialists. They have received several awards based on their trademarked litigation strategy.

Sapra is proud to be part of an all-women firm, with the exception of one man, her partner, Mr. Albert Navarra. Sapra describes her firm as being full of strong, intelligent, passionate women with the sole goal of protecting their clients’ legal and financial interests. “It’s a joy to see so many women empowered and unblocked by sclerotic corporate structure,” Sapra said.

To explain the process, Sapra said the following about her firm’s proceedings. “When our employers are sued, there is a force majeure of events that occur to their detriment. We stand like warriors to protect them,” Sapra said. “At times, even our clients are taken aback with our aggressive representation, but our loyal and long-term clients understand how costly California workers’ compensation can be, and the Herculean effort required to protect their legal and financial interests.”

Sapra’s passion for her work is evident to anyone who speaks with her, and her firm remains at the forefront of legal innovation. “For years we did traditional discovery, and we did it well. We devised discovery strategies that to date are being used by industry professionals, yet we noticed that despite spending a lot of money on discovery, our employers ended up paying to resolve cases. It was seriously impacting their bottom line,” said Sapra. “This was particularly disturbing because we know that our franchise clients have very low-profit margins, so every dime counts. That begged the question: ‘What to do?’ This was the turning point for our firm. Our litigation strategy was born as the child of sheer frustration and genuine concern for our employers’ finances.”

Sapra has been using her firm’s unique litigation strategy for nearly a decade, and the leading actuary in the state confirmed that this strategy leads to major reductions in total cost per case compared to state-wide averages. Sapra is also in the works of developing an Artificial Intelligence machine-learning program, that she hopes will revolutionize the industry. 

About Sapra & Navarra, LLP (from firm’s website): 

Since we first opened our doors in 2006, we have been dedicated to saving our clients’ money. And we did a pretty good job at it. But in 2011, we discovered a revolutionary way of accomplishing this goal. And the results have been spectacular. The “generic” description of our services is that we provide workers’ compensation defense for insurance companies and self-insured employers. But a lot of firms do that. What makes us unique is how we do it, and even more importantly, how much money we save our clients in the process.

1851 Franchise: What are some of the things you like about working in the field?

Ambika Sapra: What I love about the franchise industry is that my clients are grassroots entrepreneurs, and most of them started their businesses from scratch. They all have interesting stories to tell of how they started and the trials and tribulations that came with it. They have come from all over the world and are the best example of the American success story. I relate to them well as a business owner. I understand that they have enormous business expenses on a daily basis — food costs, payrolls, multiple insurances, safety costs and so on. Every dime matters, not just to them, but to all the people they employ. They are the hand that feeds many mouths. If we can make a difference in their economics, it impacts not only their businesses but to some extent the whole economy of California.

1851: What is something you think every franchisor should know about franchising?

Sapra: Do not wait for fantasy legislation to save you. Legislative changes are political, as well as fickle. If you depend on outside circumstances, you are captive to them. So stand on a solid litigation strategy that can withstand adverse changes in the political or legal climate. Otherwise, with every new legislative change, you will be like a fluttering sail with no defined course, bound to reach troubled waters. Remember, the wind and waves are always on the side of the ablest navigator.

1851: What is something you think every prospective franchisee should know about franchising before diving into the industry?

Sapra: It is not easy to do business in California, especially in the restaurant franchise industry. As a franchisee, you will face many challenges. California is one of the most expensive workers’ compensation states in the nation. You will hire employees, train them, and after a short time, they will be gone. Not only are they gone, but you are left in the dust with a lawyer-letter from their attorney suing you for things unimaginable. 

It is a very difficult and emotional time when an employee sues you, but panicking can cost you even more. Understand and respect the system within which you are operating. Consult with real experts and make decisions based on law and economics, not fear.

1851: What’s your take on the new NLRB joint-employer ruling?

Sapra: In January of 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor released its final rule regarding joint-employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule is generally viewed as favorable to businesses, but it’s the fifth change in joint-employer law in five years. Employers need sustainable strategies that make them less vulnerable to changing legal circumstances. Make sure to retain expert labor law attorneys for guidance.

1851: What do you see as the biggest or most interesting topic in franchising over the next year and why?

Sapra: Continuous trauma (CT) claims are the bane of California employers. To a large extent, a continuous or cumulative trauma is a so-called "no-injury," injury. Effective — not habitual — legal strategies must be used to defend such claims. The continual minimum wage increases will also impact indemnity costs, but strategy is everything in the legal business.