David Urban represents organizations in all aspects of labor and employment law. He has successfully defended employers in cases involving alleged discrimination and retaliation, disability, medical leave, privacy, trade secrets, and alleged violation of wage and hour laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and California’s Wage Orders and meal and rest break laws. He has successfully represented government agencies in lawsuits alleging deprivation of constitutional rights, including lawsuits under 42 U.S.C. section 1983.

Elizabeth Arce is an experienced litigator who is licensed to practice law in California and New York. Her background includes litigating labor and employment cases in both state and federal court, as well as before administrative agencies including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. Elizabeth has successfully represented employers in various employment matters ranging from single plaintiff lawsuits to wage and hour class and collective actions. Her litigation experience includes numerous successful summary judgment motions, defeating class certification, and decertifying collective actions. Elizabeth’s litigation practice also includes preparation of appellate briefs in both state and federal appellate courts.

Frances Rogers has extensive litigation, arbitration, and administrative hearing related experience. Additionally, she provides representation and legal counsel to clients in all matters pertaining to labor, employment, and education law.

Frances is experienced in conducting and assisting with investigations pertaining to harassment, discrimination, internal affairs and other employee misconduct. Frances also advises public agencies on retirement issues, including local safety disability retirement and compliance with other state and federal employment laws.

Frances was recently selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers 2010 Northern California Rising Star in the field of Employment & Labor Law.

Jeffrey C. Freedman has forty years experience representing public agencies as well as private companies in all areas of labor and employment relations law. Jeff joined Liebert Cassidy Whitmore in 2002 after having been a partner in his own labor law firm for more than twenty years and in a large national firm.

His areas of practice include representing clients in state and federal court litigation, before the EEOC, Fair Employment and Housing Commission, California OSHA, the NLRB, and other state and federal regulatory agencies.

Melanie Chaney is an experienced negotiator and litigator who regularly advises cities, counties, community college districts, school districts, public safety departments and special districts regarding employee and labor relations matters. She negotiates, drafts and provides guidance for interpreting collective bargaining agreements. She also handles all aspects of labor disputes including unfair labor practice charges before the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). As a litigator, Melanie has received favorable verdicts in state and federal court before judges and juries. She also handles arbitrations and administrative proceedings including disciplinary actions and grievances.

Morin Jacob counsels and represents our clients on all labor and employment matters.

She has handled all facets of defense-side state and federal court employment litigation, from pre-litigation through trial and appeal. She has also represented clients in a variety of administrative proceedings, including before the DFEH, EEOC, and EDD. In 2010, Morin first-chaired a five week jury trial for the County of Stanislaus and secured a complete defense verdict on all causes of action.

Morin also has experience in labor negotiations in the public sector. She has represented local agencies in labor negotiations with employee unions.

Pilar Morin is experienced in all phases of trial practice, including litigation before state and federal courts, administrative bodies, and alternative dispute resolution procedures such as mediation and arbitration. She represents our clients in all aspects of employment law including employee discipline, due process, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and privacy issues.

She is also experienced in conducting and assisting with investigations pertaining to harassment, discrimination and employee misconduct, and advising clients concerning compliance with state and federal employment laws.

Pilar is bilingual and conducts investigations and training in Spanish.

Stefanie Vaudreuil has spent her legal career providing counsel and advice to and litigating on behalf of public agencies, including fire departments/districts, law enforcement, cities, counties, special districts, school districts, charter schools, community colleges, and county offices of education. Stefanie also is experienced in advising and representing independent schools. Stefanie, the daughter of a retired fire marshal, has a special interest in working with fire departments and districts. She understands and appreciates the unique culture that is the fire service.

Stefanie regularly and promptly advises public agencies and independent schools on all aspects of employment law, including employee leaves, disability accommodation and interactive process, discipline, first amendment rights, employment contracts, agency policies and procedures. In addition to providing employment law advice, Stefanie advises independent schools on a wide variety of subjects, such as pupil records, school security, student discipline, enrollment contracts, suspensions and expulsions, student harassment, international students, restraining orders, among others.

Stefanie represents public agencies at administrative hearings for employee discipline appeals and employee grievances arising out of bargaining agreements. She also is an experienced litigator representing public agencies and independent schools in state and federal courts at all phases of litigation from initial pleadings through appeal. Stefanie has obtained favorable results through negotiated settlements, dismissal at the initial pleading stage, summary judgment, trial, and appeal. Stefanie has successfully argued before the California State Court of Appeal.

Prior to joining Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, Stefanie was a partner in a national law firm, where she represented public and private employers in discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and civil rights litigation. Before that, Stefanie was an associate with a firm that exclusively represented California K-12 school districts and county offices of education.

Stefanie is an avid music fan, lover of literature, international traveler, and working on her golf game.