Labor & Employment - Of Counsel or Partner

Title: Labor & Employment - Of Counsel or Partner Level
Location: Oakland, CA or San Diego, CA
Salary: $205,000 - $270,000 (Compensation may be higher for partner-level candidates based on experience and qualifications.)

Position Overview
An established California law firm is seeking an experienced Labor & Employment attorney at the Of Counsel or Partner level to join its growing employment practice. This role offers the opportunity to lead sophisticated employment litigation matters while providing strategic counseling to public and private employers on complex workplace issues.
The ideal candidate is a seasoned employment litigator with substantial courtroom or arbitration experience, strong client advisory skills, and a background that bridges employment litigation, workplace investigations, and labor relations.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all phases of complex employment litigation from case strategy through resolution.
• Handle matters involving:
  • Discrimination
  • Harassment
  • Retaliation
  • Wage and hour claims
  • Class and collective actions
• Draft pleadings, motions, legal memoranda, and other litigation documents.
• Conduct and defend depositions.
• Manage discovery and witness preparation.
• Prepare EEOC position statements and California Civil Rights Department (formerly DFEH) responses.
• Conduct workplace investigations and witness interviews.
• Represent clients in trials, arbitrations, hearings, and administrative proceedings.
• Advise employers on compliance with California and federal employment laws.
• Counsel clients regarding:
  • ADA/FEHA compliance
  • Disability accommodations
  • FMLA/CFRA
  • Pregnancy Disability Leave
  • Leave administration
  • Wage and hour compliance
• Provide guidance on employee relations and labor relations matters.
• Support labor negotiations, grievance proceedings, and labor arbitrations when applicable.

Required Qualifications

• Active California Bar membership.
• 7+ years of employment litigation experience.
• Significant experience handling discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour litigation.
• Experience with depositions, motion practice, and complex discovery.
• Trial and/or arbitration experience.
• Strong knowledge of California employment law.
• Experience advising employers on employment law compliance.
• Labor relations or employee relations experience.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating within a team-oriented environment.
• Excellent analytical, research, writing, and client counseling skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience handling wage and hour class or collective actions.
• Experience with EEOC and California Civil Rights Department responses.
• Background in workplace investigations.
• Experience with labor negotiations, grievances, and labor arbitrations.
• Familiarity with MMBA, PERB, and NLRB proceedings.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and grow client relationships.

Key Skills Required

• Employment litigation
• Trial and arbitration advocacy
• Labor and employee relations
• Workplace investigations
• Wage and hour litigation
• ADA/FEHA compliance
• FMLA/CFRA and leave administration
• Client counseling
• Legal research and writing
• Deposition and discovery management

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule.
• Competitive health insurance.
• 401(k) with partial employer match.
• Profit-sharing program.
• Annual discretionary bonus opportunities.
• Billable hours bonus program.
• Reasonable billable hour expectations.

Why This Location?
Oakland, CA

• Diverse cultural community with outstanding dining and entertainment.
• Easy access to San Francisco, Napa Valley, and outdoor recreation.
• Strong professional networking opportunities.

San Diego, CA

• Year-round mild climate and coastal lifestyle.
• Beaches, hiking, and outdoor recreation.
• Excellent restaurants, arts, and entertainment.
• High quality of life with a vibrant legal and business community.