SAN FRANCSICO — In 2004, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman partner Paula Weber flew down to the San Gabriel Valley headquarters of the Panda Express fast-food chain to pitch the company’s general counsel on her firm’s expertise in combating wage-and-hour claims.

She won the business. But after Panda was hit with another wage-and-hour claim, Panda sued Weber and Pillsbury for malpractice. Lawyers for the Chinese restaurant chain deposed Weber in San Francisco last week.