Overview
Susan is a seasoned employment litigator with over 35 years of experience defending employers in complex workplace disputes, class actions, and employment litigation.
Susan represents large national corporations, publicly traded companies, and small and mid-size employers in matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage-and-hour disputes. She guides clients through every stage of litigation, from initial claims through trial, arbitration, and settlement. With a practical, results-driven approach, Susan develops effective legal strategies that protect her clients' interests while minimizing business disruption and litigation costs.
Susan has substantial experience defending employers in wage-and-hour class actions, claims under California's Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), disability accommodation disputes, whistleblower retaliation claims, and employment contract litigation. She also represents employers in proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and California's Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA). Her practice extends to noncompetition and trade secret disputes, as well as advising employers on compliance and employment-related risk management.
Throughout her career, Susan has managed complex litigation involving single-plaintiff, class, and representative actions. She has successfully challenged class certification, obtained orders compelling arbitration and dismissing class claims, and negotiated settlements in individual and class action matters. Her courtroom experience includes first-chairing two bench trials and second-chairing three others. Beyond litigation, she counsels employers on workplace policies, employee handbooks, and compliance strategies, and drafts executive employment and separation agreements to help clients prevent disputes and mitigate legal risks.
Susan also brings a strong background in alternative dispute resolution, having served as a neutral mediator in employment and contract disputes. She has conducted internal investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, and other sensitive workplace concerns. Drawing on her litigation and mediation experience, Susan brings a balanced perspective to resolving contentious matters, helping parties navigate highly sensitive issues and reach practical, mutually agreeable resolutions.
About Me
When Susan isn’t in the office, she can be found puttering in her garden and doing decorating projects at home, camping in her airstream, or babysitting her grandchildren.
Experience
Representative Matters
- Complete defense verdict on wage and hour arbitration of a PAGA claim in Santa Barbara Superior Court.
- Motion for summary judgment in arbitration on claims of FMLA/CFRA violations, leave retaliation, retaliation for allegedly reporting sexual harassment, and retaliation for questioning wages.
- Successful Motion to Deny Class Certification in state court based on typicality challenge on entire action.
- Motion for summary judgment in state court in race discrimination case.
- Motion for summary judgment in state court in sexual harassment case for a large fast food franchise.
- Complete defense verdict on wage and hour misclassification bench trial.
- Favorably settled a large PAGA/class action case for a restaurant franchise.
Credentials
Education
Stanford Law School
- J.D., 1991
- Stanford Environmental Law Journal Editor
- Stephen Block Civil Liberties Award
University of California, Los Angeles
- B.A., Psychology/Neuroscience, summa cum laude, 1988
- Phi Beta Kappa
Professional & Civic Associations
Professional
- Los Angeles Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
Services
Admissions
- California, 1992
- District of Columbia, 2022
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court – CA – C.D., S.D.
- U.S. District Court – AZ
"Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you will be criticized anyway."
Eleanor Roosevelt