Los Angeles Times Quotes Garvis Wright on Adel Hagekhalil Employment Investigations

On August 28, the Los Angeles Times profiled a significant employment matter concerning Adel Hagekhalil, Chief Executive and General Manager of Metropolitan Water District (MWD).

In June 2024, the MWD board placed Hagekhalil on temporary administrative leave pending internal workplace investigations and announced on August 27 that it had voted to extend his leave of absence until October 23 as investigations continue.

Glaser Weil Partner and Employment Practice Chair Kerry Garvis Wright, who is representing Hagekhalil, was quoted by the Los Angeles Times for comments she made on the client’s behalf during the August 27 MWD board meeting. Garvis Wright highlighted concerns surrounding the pending investigations, including Hagekhalil’s lack of access to his email account and agency documents. These actions are “hampering his ability to prepare for his interviews in the investigations,” she said. “We have significant concerns about the investigative process, including but not limited to the lack of independence, lack of impartiality and the lack of confidentiality.”

Hagekhalil’s removal could heavily impact the policies he has been pursuing on behalf of the agency, which is responsible for supplying water to a 19 million constituency. He has been playing a leading role in efforts to transform how Southern California manages water, one of the most consequential issues the region faces as climate change continues to upend the water cycle.

Read the full Los Angeles Times article, “Embattled manager of California water agency defends record, says complaints are unfounded” (subscription required).