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Robert S. Nelson

Robert S. Nelson

Nelson Law Group
900 Cherry Avenue
Suite 300
San Bruno, CA 94066

Phone: (650) 794-2760  |  Fax: (650) 794-2761
http://www.nelsonlawgroup.com

Contact Robert S. Nelson

Effective resolution of employment disputes

Legal Topic

Employment & Labor Relations

Preferred New Clients

I represent both people and companies who want to ensure that California labor law is properly followed in their respective workplaces.

Sub-Categories

Employees
  • Age Discrimination
  • Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Disability Discrimination
  • Employee Rights
  • Employment Contracts
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
  • Race Discrimination
  • Racial Harassment
  • Severance Packages
  • Sex Discrimination
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Termination
  • Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act
  • Wage & Hour Laws
  • Whistleblower
  • Wrongful Termination
Employers
  • Affirmative Action
  • Age Discrimination
  • Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Disability Discrimination
  • Discipline/Suspension
  • Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
  • Employee Rights
  • Employment Contracts
  • Equal Pay Act (EPA)
  • Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA)
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)
  • Race Discrimination
  • Racial Harassment
  • Severance Packages
  • Sex Discrimination
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Termination
  • Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act
  • Wage & Hour Laws
  • Whistleblower
  • Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification (WARN) Act
  • Wrongful Termination

Bar Admissions

CA, Dec 2002
Bar Number: 220984

Specialty Certifications

Labor and Employment

Other Court Admissions

Northern District of California; Central District of California; California Superior Court

Association Memberships

American Bar Association and the California Bar Association.

Continuing Education

Exceeding continuing education requirements.

Papers and Publications

Yes; "Unused Vacation," Los Angeles Daily Journal, Page 7, November 29, 2006; "Everything We Need to Know We Learned from Television: Overtime Exemption Lessons from Television and Other Media," The Recorder, Page 4, November 22, 2006; "Eyes and Ears on the Road: Issues of Employee Cell Phone Use While Driving," www.workforce.com, November 10, 2006; "Howard Stern's Lessons for Lame Duck Employees," California Labor & Employment Law Review, Vol. 20, No. 2, April 2006; "Policymakers, Take Note: The Force is with Workplace Bloggers," Daily Journal, March 10, 2006; "The Theory of the Waiver Scale: An Argument Why Parents Should be Able to Waive Their Children's Tort Liability Claims," 36 U.S.F.L. Rev. 535, 2002; "Unraveling the Trademark Rope: Tarnishment and Its Proper Place in the Laws of Unfair Competition," 42 I.D.E.A. 133, 2002.

Example Cases

Discrimination, harassment and retaliation; wage-and-hour matters including overtime, meal and rest break violations and deductions from employee wages; severance agreement negotiation and review; non-compete issues; advice and counseling; and contract and handbook drafting and review.

Education

Degree:

Juris Doctor

School:

University of San Francisco School of Law

City:

San Francisco

State:

CA

Year:

2002

Honors:

Cum Laude (top 10% of class); McAuliffe Honor Society

Focus and Accomplishments:

Law Review

 

Degree:

Bachelor of Arts

School:

Duke University

City:

Durham

State:

NC

Year:

1995

Honors:

President, Theta Chi Fraternity

Focus and Accomplishments:

Majored in Public Policy Studies

Number of Attorneys

1

State Licensed In

California

Firm Focus and History

Specializing exclusively in labor and employment law, representing both employers and employees.

Established June 1, 2006, with a mission to help avoid employment disputes whenever possible, and to efficiently resolve disputes whenever they occur.

Previous Employment Summary

I was previously employed by Fisher & Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm, and Curiale Dellaverson Hirschfeld & Kraemer, a well-regarded California-based labor and employment firm.

What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?

I encourage it. It helps the representation process because it enables clients to recognize what sorts of facts and issues are most relevant to their respective cases.

Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?

I am always willing to review and provide feedback on anything my clients take the time to prepare.

Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?

I am willing to have consultations during which I will answer whatever questions clients may have.

Why did you decide to be a lawyer?

I previously worked as a newspaper reporter covering the court beat. One day, while I was in court covering a trial, I found myself making objections in my own head before the attorneys trying the case could make them. It was at that point that I realized I should become a lawyer.

What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?

I cannot overemphasize how much my past experience as a newspaper reporter helps me in my law career. Newspaper reporting taught me how to interview and assess people, especially whether or not they are telling the truth; how to find and interpret evidence; how to write clearly and concisely; and, above all else, the importance of detail. These skills are essential to effective lawyering.

Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?

My first law-related job was with the University of San Francisco Office of the General Counsel, where I handled primarily labor and employment matters. It was that experience that convinced me that I wanted to practice in the labor and employment field.

What do you like best about your career?

I get to use creativity and strategy to help people in need solve serious, complex problems. It is an incredibly stimulating and rewarding way to spend my work time.

Tell us about your law firm:

I am directly involved with all my cases. I employ paralegals and support staff to handle administrative matters, but all legal work is performed solely by me.

What are your strengths and style?

I am a cut-to-the-chase problem solver. My mission is to solve my clients' problems in the most efficient and effective ways possible. I subscribe to the way of the "reluctant warrior," which means that I do everything I reasonably can to keep my clients out of fights, but when fighting becomes inevitable I do it with deadly seriousness.

Personal Interests:

My family, which includes my wife, Jenny, and my daughters Elizabeth, 2, and Kate, 4 months; golf; carpentry; running and exercising.

Office Manager/Assistant

Danielle Tizol

Fax

(650) 794-2761

Office Hours

9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Emergency After Hours

Yes

Foreign Languages

Spanish

Fixed-Price Services and Fees

My billing arrangements are case-specific and depend on various factors, including the type of case at hand.

Hourly Rates

$250 and up, depending on the case.

Free Initial Consultation?

I offer a short telephone consultation, free of charge. I generally charge for all in-person consultations.

Typical Retainer

Whether and to what extent I require a retainer is also case-specific.

Understanding Fees

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