In the San Francisco Bay Area and in the Silicon Valley, companies are often required to hire business attorneys to help them with employment counseling and litigation. In the same way that good fences make good neighbors, a clear understanding of the laws governing employment makes for satisfying relationships between employers and the people they employ. Our San Mateo Law Firm specializes in helping you develop that understanding and in giving it meaningful, legally defensible form.

Our services include, but are not limited to, preparation of letters offering employment, creation of employee handbooks, job description reviews and assessments of actual job activities—the latter with an eye toward determining how particular employees should be classified: salaried or commissioned (and therefore exempt from federal and state overtime requirements), hourly or as independent contractors. We provide many of these services for a fixed fee, which includes unlimited phone consultation.

Our attorneys have experience with the California Labor Code and have helped employers understand the rights and the responsibilities involved in providing employment in the state of California. We have worked with companies in the San Francisco Peninsula (San Mateo, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Foster City, Burlingame, Mountain View…), South Bay (San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara..), Alameda County (Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, Pleasanton…) and San Francisco.

Our experienced attorneys at McDowall Cotter protect people on both sides of the employment equation. Employees benefit from rules that guard against discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination, while ensuring a safe workplace, adequate breaks, and family and medical leave. Employers benefit from a clear set of guidelines, which if understood and followed conscientiously, shield them from the loss of assets that can occur when employees or ex-employees bring a lawsuit.

McDowall Cotter also assists in managing employee termination. Because termination can be an emotionally charged event, it occasionally results in legal action. While we cannot prevent a disgruntled former employee from bringing suit, we can ensure that your contracts and procedures are in order and that you appear in the best possible light once you’re in front of a judge or jury. For more on this topic, please see Civil Litigation/Employment Disputes.

Do you have questions regarding employment law or employer/employee dispute? Schedule a consultation with our employment attorneys or trial attorneys at 650-572-7933 or contact us here.