Description of field of expertise

Shardé is an employment lawyer with wide-ranging experience in labor and employment law providing advice and counsel to, and litigating on behalf of, public and private sector clients. Her litigation experience informs the counseling side of her practice, which also includes workplace trainings and conducting or advising on workplace investigations spanning a variety of issues, including harassment, discrimination, and ethics violations. Shardé partners with employers to identify practical business solutions when navigating the ever-changing employment law landscape. She has successfully represented employers in state and federal courts, arbitration, and before California administrative agencies, including, but not limited to, claims of disability discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Shardé regularly advises clients on the ever-evolving pay transparency statutory framework and compliance across the country, as well as California pay data reporting and advice regarding pay equity audits in order to help employers evaluate their pay practices and work towards, or maintain, pay parity. In addition to counseling on pay equity issues, Shardé also litigates pay equity cases. She also provides employment counseling to employers on other complex workplace issues, including internal investigations, diversity and inclusion, employee discipline and terminations, interactive process, and other common employment matters. Shardé partners with employers to develop compliance strategies and practices for a myriad of employment law issues that may arise.

When the need for litigation arises, Shardé represents employers in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies. Shardé has won summary judgment in California state and federal court cases on issues such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and pay equity. She evaluates cases to determine whether informal resolution or mediation is advisable. No two cases are exactly the same, and Shardé works with employers to develop case strategy and recommendations. Shardé’s experience has provided her with a unique understanding of the various types of issues that can arise in the employment context and strategies for addressing them. Shardé is attentive to employer needs and teams up with employers to deliver responsive representation in the format that works best for clients.

Shardé enjoys counseling clients on employment law compliance and helping develop strategies to keep employees happy and business thriving. She also enjoys the challenges and creativity required in litigating employment disputes. Shardé regularly presents on various employment-related topics.

 

What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?

 Don’t be afraid to learn something new. There are new developments in the law all the time and they present an opportunity to develop an expertise in that particular area, which can lead to important career development. With employment law in particular, there are many case developments that will impact the everyday lives of real people. Therefore, get interested in what is happening “at work” with particularly important cases. You’ll provide a lot of value to your clients when you begin thinking about how these developments might come into play in a real-world business setting and considering things such as how employees might respond to changes. Seek out opportunities to gain experience in employment law and take advantage of the many educational opportunities available to employment lawyers, such as employment law conferences and blogs.

 

Final thoughts…

I truly enjoy the practice of employment law. It is relevant to everyone’s lives and gives me an opportunity to engage in impactful work. Whether it is counseling clients on pay transparency and equal pay issues, DEI, or “cultural flashpoint” issues at work; conducting investigations; or defending a lawsuit, I have the opportunity to see a broad spectrum of issues employers and their employees care about, especially in a busy state like California. I enjoy having the opportunity to address interesting and important issues and support employers in complying with the ever-evolving employment law landscape.