JENNIFER SCHWARTZ is a partner at Outten & Golden LLP and heads the individuals representation practice in the San Francisco office. She represents employees exclusively in a wide range of employment matters, including litigation in state and federal trial courts, arbitration, before administrative agencies, and in appellate courts.
Ms. Schwartz’s practice focuses on claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and violation of state and federal wage and hour laws. She also represents whistleblowers and individuals who have experienced adverse employment action as a result of opposing illegal or unethical corporate practices. Her deep experience with discrimination and retaliation includes matters involving race, disability, ethnic origin and religious discrimination. Her passion for advancing the cause of women in the workplace has given her the opportunity to represent an uncountable number of women – from the C-suite to the assembly line – in an effort to remediate all forms of gender discrimination. She also represents clients in contract disputes, commission and bonus claims.
An experienced and hard-driving trial lawyer, Ms. Schwartz has litigated a wide variety of matters in court and arbitration. She will leave no stone unturned in seeking a winning outcome.
Despite her extensive litigation and arbitration experience, Ms. Schwartz often finds that, with appropriate counseling and negotiation, extensive litigation can be avoided. Ms. Schwartz frequently utilizes mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution in pursuit of the most favorable outcome for her clients.
Ms. Schwartz also handles a variety of professional and executive compensation and benefits matters, including the negotiation of employment, severance, restrictive covenant, confidentiality and trade secret agreements. She provides advice to founders, leadership team members and other employees and professionals at both “start ups” and established businesses relating to transactional matters, including employment and equity agreements, changes in control, and IPO’s. .
Before joining Outten & Golden LLP, Ms. Schwartz managed her own firm in the San Francisco area, practicing in the areas of employment law and criminal defense. One of her career highlights was obtaining an acquittal at re-trial after appeal for a client wrongfully convicted of a homicide.
Ms. Schwartz has been rated regionally and nationally by Northern California Super Lawyers, Avvo, Center for Women in Law as a “Power Player”, and San Francisco Magazine, Top Attorneys In Northern California.
Ms. Schwartz employs a highly client-centric approach, carefully considering all aspects of a client’s life and needs in helping develop and implement strategic decisions. She believes that every single client — without regard to position in life — deserves a dedicated, compassionate, and tenacious advocate.
(*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)
