Susan E. Bishop

Susan E. Bishop

Partner

San Jose Office 408.286.5800 Vcard Email

Areas of Focus:

Susan Bishop’s litigation practice includes working with management of public and private corporations and nonprofit organizations on issues, including employee relations, personnel policies, wage and hour matters, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination. She represents clients before State and Federal Courts, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, California Labor Commissioner, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. Much of her time currently is spent defending class actions alleging meal and rest break violations, off-the-desk claims, unpaid overtime, and inaccurate wage statements.

Susan advises clients in a wide range of industries, including high tech, franchisees, general contractors and subcontractors, homeowners associations, physicians and medical professionals, produce companies, restaurants, beauty salons, sanitation, senior living, and temporary help agencies.

During law school she was a Judicial Extern for Justice Jerome Smith.

Representative Cases

  • Defeated motion for class certification in federal court
  • Summarily defeated claim of racial discrimination by former employee of restaurant
  • Successfully defeated employer accused of sexual harassment at arbitration
  • Successfully appealed administrative ruling finding employees improperly classified as independent contractors
  • After significantly narrowing class issues, successfully resolved wage and hour class action after mediation

Personal

  • Born and raised in San Jose, California
  • Married, three children (including twins)
  • Interests include San Francisco Giants, dancing and swimming

Professional Admissions

  • State Bar of California
  • All California state courts
  • United States District Court, Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of California
  • California Court of Appeal

Presentations

  • “Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response,” (AB1825) various companies
  • “New Law Updates,” annually
  • “Top Ten Mistakes Employers Make,” various business leaders
  • Speaker at HR West National Conference, 2014-2015

Articles / Publications

Activities / Memberships

  • State Bar of California
  • Santa Clara County Bar Association, Women Lawyers Committee, Former President; Barristers, Former Chair
  • Santa Clara University School of Law Alumni, Board member

Education

  • Santa Clara University School of Law, J.D., 1996
    • Honors Appellate Moot Court
    • Galloway Moot Court Competition Coordinator
  • University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., Law and Society, 1993