Vanessa R. Inman is a member of the firm’s Employment Group.  Her practice is focused on labor and employment law – both in advice and counsel to her employer-clients regarding compliance with labor & employment laws, and defending them when litigation arises. Ms. Inman counsels clients with respect to a broad range of labor and employment issues, including wage & hour questions, employee leave and disciplinary matters, employer investigations, and difficult terminations.  She also drafts and revises employee handbooks, and conducts sexual harassment training seminars for her clients.

In addition, Ms. Inman has significant litigation experience, having represented management in wrongful termination, sexual harassment, employment discrimination, and other workplace and labor law matters. Ms. Inman has extensive state and federal trial preparation and case management experience, including significant discovery planning, legal research, pleading, motion, and brief writing skills.  She also has participated in a number of alternative dispute resolution processes on behalf of her employment clients.

Representative Experience

• Defense of employers in litigation involving claims of harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and unfair business practices
  
  
• Representation of employers in wage & hour claims for unpaid overtime
  
  
• Preparation of employment agreements, confidentiality agreements, and employee handbooks
  
  
• Succeeded in having her client dismissed from a case alleging fraud, conspiracy, negligence, and breach of contract
  
  

Speaking Engagements & Professional Activities

Ms. Inman is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association.  She regularly lectures on employment law issues, and has authored a number of professional articles on such topics as age discrimination, domestic partnership, and insider trading.  Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Inman served as a judicial extern for The Honorable Thomas A. Balmer of the Oregon Supreme Court, and worked as a federal investigator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington , D.C.

Admissions

Ms. Inman is admitted to practice in all California courts and the United States District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California.

Articles

Good News! Meal Break for Employers: Court Rules That Employers Do Not Need to Ensure That Employees Actually Take Available Meal Breaks, July 2008