Laura Riesenberg advises clients on a broad range of employment and workforce issues, including complying with state and federal anti-discrimination and harassment laws, wage and hour laws, privacy, defamation, and trade secret issues, as well as negotiating and defending employment contracts. Laura assists employers in developing and implementing personnel policies and procedures; providing advice on hiring, firing, and managing employees. She participates in internal investigations; conducts management and employee training; and defends employers in a variety of employment-related claims before state and federal administrative agencies as well as in state and federal courts. She has broad experience in mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings.
Laura regularly advises clients in establishment and administration of ERISA employee benefit plans, including compliance with federal laws and regulations, such as PPACA, HIPAA and COBRA, as well as state apprenticeship training requirements. She represents employee benefit plans and fiduciaries in Department of Labor audits and in litigation of plan fiduciary issues.
Laura received her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University in 1974, as well as masters degrees in 1975 and 1976. She was a science writer and editor for the National Institutes of Health and the American Chemical Society. In addition, Laura taught math and science in San Diego schools. In 1996, she received her J.D. from the University of San Diego and worked as an associate in civil litigation for Duckor Spradling Metzger & Wynne from 1996 – 1998. She joined Merrill, Schultz & Wolds, Ltd. from 1998 – 2005 as an associate. From 2005 – 2009, Laura was a member of the labor and employment practice group at Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch. She is a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Labor and Employment Law Section of the State Bar of California. Laura is admitted to practice law before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Central Districts of California.
