Other Services

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) is the new frontier for employers wanting to improve workplace culture. At its best, an effective DEI program can boost employee morale, improve retention and recruitment, and even increase efficiency. But, a poorly executed program can polarize your workforce and lead to violations of equal employment opportunity laws.

We offer customized, attorney-led DEI consulting that balances your business interests and legal obligations. Unlike many prepackaged consulting and training services, we create a tailored proposal for your budget and unique workforce. Depending on your needs, our services may include training, audits, coaching, and policy development. We provide our clients with practical, legally-compliant strategies they can put to use right away.

Title IX Hearing Assistance 

Federally funded colleges and universities are responsible for complying with Title IX, which prohibits sexual harassment in all educational programs and activities, including discrimination, assault, domestic violence, and stalking.  Title IX requires an effective process to respond to complaints in a manner that respect the rights of all parties, which includes a prompt, thorough, and fair investigation of the allegations, and a fair and impartial hearing where parties are represented by an advisor. 

Our certified Title IX attorneys assist colleges and universities as: 

• Hearing officers 
• Independent investigators 
• Party advisors 

Federally funded colleges and universities are responsible for complying with Title IX, which prohibits sexual harassment in all educational programs and activities, including discrimination, assault, domestic violence, and stalking.  Title IX requires an effective process to respond to complaints in a manner that respect the rights of all parties, which includes a prompt, thorough, and fair investigation of the allegations, and a fair and impartial hearing where parties are represented by an advisor. 

Our certified Title IX attorneys assist colleges and universities as: 

• Hearing officers 
• Independent investigators 
• Party advisors 

Expert Witness Testimony

We offer retained and trial expert opinions on any of the following subjects: 

• Adequacy of workplace investigations
• Adequacy of an employer’s discrimination, harassment, and retaliation (EEO) prevention and correction policies and practices 
• Interactive process and disability accommodation evaluation 
• Leave of absence policies and practices 
• Wage and hour policies and practices
• Employee handbook and personnel manual assessment 
• Human resources policies and practices regarding employee discipline and termination 
• Negligent hiring, retention, and supervision issues 
• Course and scope of employment issues 
• Pre-employment testing 
• Pay discrimination 
• Legal malpractice and standard of care in employment law matters 
• Attorney’s fees motions 
• Skelly risk analysis 

Administration Agency Representation 

California and federal administrative agencies investigate a variety of claims, and conduct inspections and audits of our clients’ practices. We represent clients before the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Labor Commissioner, and other agencies. 

We regularly help clients with: 

• Position statements in response to agency complaints 
• Representation at informal conferences and hearings 
• Defense against agency audits 
• Public agency disciplinary proceedings 
• Mediation and settlement 

California and federal administrative agencies investigate a variety of claims, and conduct inspections and audits of our clients’ practices. We represent clients before the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Labor Commissioner, and other agencies. 

We regularly help clients with: 

• Position statements in response to agency complaints 
• Representation at informal conferences and hearings 
• Defense against agency audits 
• Public agency disciplinary proceedings 
• Mediation and settlement 

Compliance Audits 

Our breadth of employment law knowledge allows us to develop and conduct customized workplace audits on subjects such as: 

• Culture work/environment 
• Wage-hour compliance 
• Leave of absence compliance 
• Preparation for and response to agency investigations 
• Personnel files 
• Posters and recordkeeping 
• Litigation vulnerability assessments 
• “PAGA” claim evaluation 
• I-9 audits

 We offer several cost-effective audit options based on the client’s level of involvement in gathering and analyzing data. Avoiding one legal claim will more than pay for an audit, and, if done correctly, the audit results are privileged and confidential. 

Litigation Monitoring and Support

Our lawyers have decades of collective experience managing and defending employment claims. We can help make sense of the litigation process and provide independent litigation assessment. We also assess outside counsel’s performance to ensure your organization receives the best possible representation, including EPLI counsel. Services we provide in this area include: 

• Billing analysis 
• Liaison to and oversight of outside litigation attorneys
• Review of motion papers, discovery, depositions 
• Summary judgment assessment 
• Mediation assistance 
• Trial themes and preparation 

Our lawyers have decades of collective experience managing and defending employment claims. We can help make sense of the litigation process and provide independent litigation assessment. We also assess outside counsel’s performance to ensure your organization receives the best possible representation, including EPLI counsel. Services we provide in this area include: 

• Billing analysis 
• Liaison to and oversight of outside litigation attorneys
• Review of motion papers, discovery, depositions 
• Summary judgment assessment 
• Mediation assistance 
• Trial themes and preparation