Overview

Barbara is an experienced employment litigator practicing in all areas of employment law. She has particular knowledge and experience in wage and hour law and complex and class litigation, including discrimination claims.

Barbara has secured numerous summary judgments, has defeated class certifications and has successfully defended class and collective actions alleging violations that involve:

  • The Fair Labor Standards Act
  • California wage and hour violations
  • Unpaid wages
  • Incentive compensation
  • Overtime
  • Misclassification
  • Off-the-clock
  • Failure to provide meal and rest breaks
  • Business expenses
  • Wage statements
  • Vacation pay
  • Minimum wage
  • Split shift
  • Reporting time

Barbara also has experience in mass tort litigation and successfully defended 1,200 individual cases alleging violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. At both summary judgment and trial, she has defeated multiple civil and administrative charges alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation under:

  • Title VII
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act
  • The California Fair Employment and Housing Act
  • Related contract and tort claims

Barbara has conducted company-wide audits of compensation and EEO practices and has drafted company handbooks, policies and compensation plans. She also advises employers on all aspects of California and federal employment laws.

Additionally, she provides management training, gives presentations on topics such as sexual harassment and wage and hour pitfalls, and authors articles updating clients about recent decisions and other developments in employment law.

Barbara represents clients in a variety of different industries including financial services, hospitality, transportation and technology.

Honors & Recognitions

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law – Management (2023-2024)

News & Analysis

Speaking Engagements & Industry Publications

  • "Live from California, It’s Even More Laws – 2019 Legislative Update," Women’s Business Circle, Miami, Florida, February 2019
  • "Intersection of the Gig Economy & Employment Law," Retail Law Conference, Austin, October 2018
  • "Embrace Your Inner Techie: Best Practices for Managing Cybersecurity and Managing Electronic Evidence," ABA Employment Law Seminar, Dallas, September 2017
  • "Understanding Disabilities and Reasonable Accommodation," San Francisco, May 2017
  • "Employment Law Overview and Investigation How-Tos," San Francisco, June 2017
  • "Cities and States Going Rogue: Navigating through City and Local Ordinances Impacting Employers throughout the U.S.," Charleston, February 2017
  • "New Wage Statement Law Will Help Rein in Litigation," San Francisco Daily Journal, August 2016
  • "The Impact of Pre-Certification Decisions on Settlement," Class Action Settlement Program, October 2011

Blogs, Videos & Podcasts

Blog Posts

  • "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
  • Maya Angelou

Practice Emphasis

  • Litigation and Trials
  • Class Actions
  • Wage and Hour
  • Discrimination and Harassment
  • Leaves of Absence and Disability Accommodation

Education

University of California, Berkeley School of Law

  • J.D., 2000

Columbia University

  • B.A., 1996

Bar & Court Admissions

  • California, 2000
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
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