Michelle Ferber |

Bio

MICHELLE R. FERBER

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Michelle is an employment and business lawyer, defending employers in actions involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations and business torts. Michelle is a highly skilled trial attorney and regularly appears before various state and federal governmental agencies. Michelle’s experience includes jury and bench trials, arbitrations, appellate arguments in both state and federal court and the defense of wage and hour class action lawsuits.

In addition to her litigation practice, Michelle regularly advises clients on employment law issues in the workplace, including the proper handling of termination and discipline decisions, workplace accommodation issues, and leaves of absence. Michelle provides her clients with all the advice and litigation expertise they need to stay current and compliant in the ever-changing landscape of employment laws and regulations, while recognizing the balance of business realities and economics.

Michelle’s practice includes representation of clients throughout the state. In February 2016, she joined the firm of Nemecek & Cole as an Of Counsel attorney. Nemecek & Cole is recognized as a preeminent business litigation Southern California law firm. This relationship allows Michelle the flexibility to effectively represent her clients, regardless of geographic location.

Michelle also has extensive experience in the appellate arena in both state and federal court. Her experience includes oral arguments before the California Court of Appeals, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Michelle has also authored many appellate briefs and writs, resulting in both published and unpublished decisions and orders in favor of her clients.

Michelle has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer and is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible for both her legal skills and ethical standards. Michelle’s client base includes retailers, restaurants, medical and dental providers, trucking and moving companies, contractors, architects, attorneys, and non-profit organizations.

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Originally from Southern California, Michelle moved to Danville in 1997. Since that time, she has become involved in both the legal and local community. Michelle is a past officer and member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa County Bar Association. She was previously recognized as the 2015 “Board Member Extraordinaire.” She is a past President of the Contra Costa County Bar Association Employment Section and former Secretary of the Contra Costa County Bar Association’s Women’s Section. She is a former Vice-President of Beth Chaim Congregation, and was an integral part of the process of building its first permanent home in Danville. Michelle also served at Dougherty Valley High School as its founding attorney mock trial coach and as founding member of its Athletic Boosters Association.

Michelle currently serves as a volunteer for Contra Costa County Superior Court as a Discovery Facilitator. She is a graduate of the Contra Costa County Leadership Program and is an active member of various chambers of commerce, ProVisors, and Highrise.

EDUCATION

Michelle is a 1987 graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she majored in Journalism and wrote for the college newspaper. She received her J.D. in 1990 from Southwestern University School of Law, receiving various awards for excellence in academics and writing. In law school, Michelle served as an extern for the Honorable Arthur Alarcon of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

REPRESENTATIVE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company
– Dynamex—the Landmark Employment Decision that May Impact Your Law Practice

LISC Bay Area HR Roundtable
– “Trends in Employment Law”

California Internship & Work Experience Association
– “Avoiding Wage and Hour Pitfalls – Are Your Unpaid Internships Compliant with Federal and State Laws?”

Contra Costa County Employer Advisory Council
– “Midyear Legislative Update/Hot Topics”

California Trucking Association
– “Annual Employment Law Update and Immediate Impact of Dynamex Decision”

Contra Costa County Bar Association
– “Annual Employment Update”

JFK University Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership
– “Two Entrepreneurs Walk Out of a Bar – Identifying HR and Bias Issues”

Michelle Ferber

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