Experience
Professional Experience
Mediator, Steinert Mediation — December 2022-present. Private employment mediations and panel employment mediations for California Civil Rights Department, USDC Central District of California, USDC Northern District of California, USDC Eastern District of California, San Diego Superior Court, Los Angeles Superior Court (Resolve Law LA and Mediation Volunteer Panel), Riverside Superior Court, California Second Appellate District and AAA Mediation Panel.
Arbitrator, Steinert Arbitration/American Arbitration Association (August 2024 to present) and FINRA (April 2024 to present).
Partner, Labor and Employment Practice Group, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, 2010-2025. California-wide employment practice involving single/multi plaintiff litigation, wage-hour class actions/PAGA representative actions, employment counseling, traditional labor and mediations/arbitrations; Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2022-2026); Northern California Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2019-2021); Rated AV Preeminent (5 out of 5), Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings.
Employment Counsel, Wachovia Corporation/Wells Fargo & Co., 2007-2010. In-house employment attorney for large financial services companies.
Associate/Partner, Labor and Employment Practice Group, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, 2000-2007.
Associate, Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, 1998-1999.
Associate, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 1996-1998.
Judicial Law Clerk to Hon. Lawrence T. Lydick, United States District Court, Central District of California 1995-1996.
Associate, Law Offices of Rick M. Stein, 1994 – 1995
Mediation Training
USDC Mediator Training, Northern District, October 2024 (40 hours), and Central District, August 2025 (8 hours).
Advanced Mediation, taught by Steven Rottman and Steven Paul at the Straus Institute, Pepperdine University, Caruso School of Law, January/February 2023 (30 hours classroom and final paper).
Mediating the Litigated Case, Straus Institute, Pepperdine University, Caruso School of Law, October 24-28, 2022 (30 hours classroom/10 hours roleplaying).
Advanced Mediation Conference: Practical Skills for Experienced Employment Litigators, California Lawyers Association, December 1-2, 2022 (6.5 hours in various seminars).
Education
Recognition
Publications
Presentations
Media Mentions
UC Berkeley School of Law, J.D. 1993
Rice University, B.A. Economics 1990 cum laude
Universität Heidelberg, 1988
Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2022-2026)
Listed in San Francisco Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor (Thomson Reuters) (2019-2021)
Rated AV Preeminent (5 out of 5), Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
Co-Author, "SEC Claws Back Award for Dawdling Whistleblower, as Feds Signal Changes in Award Eligibility," One Minute Memo, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 9, 2017)
"Retail Workers’ Bill of Rights set to take effect," Daily Journal (June 5, 2015)
Co-Author, "The Unique Role of Expert Witnesses in FINRA Employment Arbitrations, Part II," Financial Services Employment Arbitration Q&A, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 27, 2015)
Co-Author, "The Unique Role of Expert Witnesses in FINRA Employment Arbitrations, Part 1," Financial Services Employment Arbitration Q&A, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 14, 2015)
Co-Author, "Understanding FINRA Panel Composition," Financial Services Employment Arbitration Q&A, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 14, 2014)
Co-Author, "Compelling FINRA Arbitration for Dodd-Frank Whistleblowers," Financial Services Employment Arbitration Q&A, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 6, 2014)
"Does My Case Qualify For Simplified Arbitration?," Financial Services Employment Arbitration Q&A, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 31, 2013)
"What Are Acceptable Workplace Conditions?," Los Angeles Daily Journal (December 1, 2010)
"Managing Internal Investigations: Lessons from U.S. v. Ruehle," Bloomberg Law Reports, Vol. 4, No. 43 (October 26, 2010)
"Forced Patronage: No Longer the Wage and Hour Bridesmaid?," Los Angeles Daily Journal, (August 27, 2010)
"So Long, Stray Remarks Doctrine," The Recorder, (August 16, 2010)
"Plaintiff’s Bankruptcy and Judicial Estoppel of Employment Litigation," BNA Employment Discrimination Report, Vol. 22, No. 5, p. 133 (February 4, 2004)
"Rules Revision," (Federal Civil Procedure) Los Angeles Daily Journal (February 21, 2001)
Co-Presenter, "Moving Forward: Employer Considerations and Obligations, and other Workplace Tips," Webinar, EmployBridge (August 27, 2020)
"San Francisco Retail Workers Bill of Rights: New Burdens for San Francisco Employers," Bar Association of San Francisco (August 20, 2015)
"The SF Retail Workers Bill of Rights: New Burdens for Financial-Services Employers," San Francisco Bank Attorneys Association (July 6, 2015)
"SF Retail Workers Bill of Rights: New Burdens for SF Employers Starting July 3rd," Northern California Human Resources Association (June 12, 2015)
"SF Retail Workers Bill of Rights: New Burdens for SF Employers Starting July 3rd," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (June 3, 2015)
"Recent Developments in Federal Qui Tam, False Claims Act and Whistleblower Litigation," Breakfast Briefing, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, San Francisco, CA (June 6, 2013)
"Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Litigation," Advanced Labor and Employment Law Conference, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 8, 2011)
"Ethics for Employment Lawyers," Bar Association of San Francisco (April 6, 2011)
"Employers Hold On To Your Seats! A New Wave of PAGA Litigation Is Coming," Webinar, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 15, 2011)
"Legislative and Wage & Hour Law Update For California Employers," Breakfast Briefing, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 1, 2011)
"Independent Contractors: The Steep Costs of Misclassification in California," Legal & Legislative Conference, Northern California Human Resources Association (January 27, 2011)
"Ethical Considerations for Companies and Candidates Before, During and After a Job Search," Association of Corporate Counsel, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (January 22, 2010)
"Avoiding Legal-Ethics Traps in Managing Internal Investigations, Government Inquiries, and Litigation," Advanced Labor and Employment Law Conference, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 10, 2010)
"Ethics Issues for In-House Counsel," Advanced Labor and Employment Law Conference, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (October 15, 2009)
"Managing Class Actions: What In-House Counsel Need to Know," Association of Corporate Counsel, Southern California Chapter (April 19, 2006)
"Cutting Edge Employment Compliance Issues," Association of Corporate Counsel, Southern California Chapter (April 20, 2005)
Quoted, "Bringing Predictability to Scheduling," Human Resource Executive Online (September 18, 2017)
Quoted, "Brokerages can require advisers to trade with the 'company store' attempt to apply Depression-era forced patronage law fails," Los Angeles Daily Journal (April 10, 2013)
Quoted, "Wave of Lawsuits Over Seats Hit Retail Stores," Associated Press (July 25, 2011)
Interview, "A Slew of ‘Suitable Seating’ Lawsuits," Fox Business Channel with David Asman (June 22, 2011)
Quoted in San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, the Daily Journal, MSNBC.com, CNET.com, E-Commerce Times, NewsFactor.com, and Business Insurance discussing Reid v. Google California Supreme Court Decision (August 23, 2010)