Innes, Laura E.

Ms. Innes is engaged exclusively in the practice of labor and employment law. Her practice combines preventive counseling for clients with civil and administrative litigation defense. Ms. Innes has practiced extensively in state and federal court and before state and federal agencies including: the state Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), the state Employment Development Department, the state Department of Fair Employment & Housing, the federal Department of Labor (DOL), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs (OFCCP). In addition to litigation and preventive counseling, Ms. Innes effectively employs alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation and arbitration, to efficiently and effectively resolve sensitive employment disputes.

Ms. Innes routinely counsels employers regarding employee hiring, firing and discipline; leaves of absence; the disabled; general wage and hour requirements; safety; affirmative action; discrimination and sexual harassment in the work place. She has conducted extensive in-house training programs in regard to general employment law, prevailing wage, affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policies and programs.

Ms. Innes also routinely consults with regard to the drafting, legal review and implementation of employee handbooks and drug testing programs; drafts communications to employees and prepares for and represents the client employer during governmental investigations and audits. She becomes part of the company's team and is sensitive to the employer's business needs.

In the constantly changing area of labor and employment law, Ms. Innes is recognized within the profession for her ability to stay ahead of the issues. She has published articles on diverse topics such as the arbitration of employment issues and effective use of termination agreements, and is a frequent speaker to client and community groups. Ms. Innes is a regular guest lecturer for the Employment Development Department’s Employer Advisory Committees throughout the Bay Area and Central Coast. Ms. Innes also addresses national professional organizations on employment and labor law as a key speaker with the National Business Institute, Sterling Education Services, Lorman Education Services, Practicing Law Institute and Business & Legal Reports. Ms. Innes has authored legal education seminars approved for professional continuing education credit by the State Bar of California and the Human Resource Certification Institute.

Ms. Innes is recognized within the profession for her professionalism and high ethical standards. Lexis-Nexis/Martindale Hubbell Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers has bestowed on her the highest possible rating - "AV" – indicating preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar. Since 2004, Ms. Innes annually has been named a "Super Lawyer" – one of the top 5% of lawyers in Northern California – by San Francisco Magazine. She was featured in an interview entitled "America’s Most Influential Women" for the Forbes SkyRadio program airing on American and United Airlines flights in January and March 2005, respectively. Ms. Innes is a trained mediator in labor and employment matters – successfully resolving disputes before they escalate to litigation and economically resolving disputes post litigation. Ms. Innes serves as an Expert Witness regarding all labor and employment matters with special emphasis on employment practices, discrimination and sexual harassment claims and wage and hour disputes.