On September 30, 2023, California Senate Bill 553 (Cortese) was signed into law and California Labor Code section 6401.9 will be in effect and enforceable on July 1, 2024. California employers that fall within the scope of this law must establish, implement, and maintain an effective… Read More
Berliner Cohen Partner Christine H. Long recently published an article with Lawyer Monthly magazine on California’s 2024 employment laws, including key updates employers need to know. Read “California’s 2024 Employment Law” in Lawyer Monthly’s current… Read More
We are pleased to announce that Berliner Cohen, LLP has been regionally ranked as a Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” for 2024! The rankings are entirely based on peer reviews and highlight a unique combination of high-quality law practices and the full breadth of legal expertise.… Read More
We are pleased to welcome Rena Harrison to the Litigation department in our Merced office. Rena's law practice has focused on victim representation and white collar criminal defense. Rena excelled in those areas and was nominated to the Super Lawyers Rising Star List in 2022 and 2023 for… Read More
Employers were dealt another blow in a recent decision by the Court on PAGA Claims this week. The Courts of Appeal have in the past two years reached contrary conclusions as to whether trial courts have the inherent authority to strike a Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (PAGA; Lab.… Read More
Berliner Cohen, LLP is pleased to announce that Brandon L. Rebboah has been elected to Partner effective January 1, 2024. “Brandon has dedicated himself to providing exceptional legal services to our clients and has shown a strong commitment to the Culture at Berliner and the Community… Read More
The legislature was busy again this past year, and not only amended the rules on sick leave, requiring now 5 paid sick days but also the forms required to provide notice to employees. All employers need to update their forms and provide notice to employees by January 7, 2024. If you missed that… Read More
We are pleased to welcome Monica Hammer to the Land Use and Municipal Law department in our San Jose office. Monica is an attorney specializing in municipal law and land use. Her prior practice includes public health, environmental law, and mediation. Representing government entities, her experience… Read More
By Iris C. Chiu and Jake Kim The California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) amends the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and includes additional privacy protections. Effective July 1, 2023, noncompliance with the CCPA could have significant consequences for your businesses. Our past article discussed… Read More
With few very limited exceptions, California has long prohibited California employers from entering into “non-compete agreements” with their workers, and the restrictions have long applied to employees who work in the State of California. California has now enacted a new law prohibiting… Read More
It is not uncommon for a real estate or business client to inquire about forming a limited liability company (LLC) out of state. Two states often mentioned are Nevada or Wyoming. The impetus for selecting these two states is usually asset protection and income tax savings. It is true that both… Read More
By Susan E. Bishop and Alec Barcelos Just last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several bills into law, the most relevant to California employers and employees being Senate Bill 497, aka the Equal Pay and Anti-Retaliation Act. The Act includes amendments to California Labor Code Sections 98.6, 1102.5,… Read More
By Susan E. Bishop and Caitlin Capriotti On October 4, 2023, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 616, amending the Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (the Act). In the simplest terms, beginning in 2024, employers covered by the Act will be required to provide a minimum of five days of… Read More
As a part of our commitment to serving San Jose’s small business community, we are pleased to offer this grant opportunity of legal services and financial support to minority-owned businesses in the San Jose area. Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be a minority-owned business located in… Read More
We are pleased to announce the seven Berliner Cohen attorneys who were recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers in America! This year's edition marks the publication's 30th anniversary in honoring the best lawyers. Congratulations to: Andrew L. Faber - Litigation (Land Use and Real Estate) Samuel L.… Read More