Perspectiva General

Theodora R. Lee has extensive courtroom experience and practices before all state and federal courts in California and all employment-related regulatory agencies. She represents employers in:

  • Class action litigation
  • Wrongful termination and employment discrimination litigation
  • National Labor Relations Board matters
  • Representation cases
  • Unfair labor practice proceedings
  • Grievance arbitrations
  • Title VII proceedings, including race, sex, religious and age harassment and discrimination
  • Unfair competition proceedings
  • State and federal wage and hour litigation

Theodora's recent litigation successes include class actions involving disparate impact; unpaid commissions and expense reimbursement; employee status, overtime, meal and rest periods; and overtime and exempt status under the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. She also has served as lead trial counsel or co-counsel in multiple jury trials and obtained defense verdicts in cases alleging race discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment and retaliation, as well as a case alleging violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Additionally, she defends various corporations in cases in state or federal courts alleging Fair Employment and Housing Act violations, wage and hour class actions, and whistleblower and wrongful termination claims, and has obtained dismissals via summary judgment in countless cases.

A settlement commissioner, AAA certified arbitrator and mediator, Theodora has concluded more than 1,000 matters through use of private arbitration or mediation, including large, complex, multi-party litigation actions, and individuals suing their employers.

Theodora also counsels employers on:

  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Uniform Trade Secrets Act
  • The California Business and Professions Code
  • The Family and Medical Leave Act
  • Employee terminations
  • Corporate compliance
  • Litigation avoidance
  • Reductions-in-force
  • The development of personnel policies and procedures
  • Workplace violence
  • Pre-employment screening
  • Federal and state wage and hour issues
  • Employment agreements
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Trade secrets and unfair competition
  • Drug and alcohol testing

Theodora has been a contributing writer to numerous employment law publications and presents seminars on a wide variety of employment issues and regularly conducts in-house employment law training programs. She is an elected member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

Prior to entering the practice of law, Theodora worked as a Senate intern in Washington, D.C., for Senator Sam Nunn.

Afiliaciones Profesionales y Comunitarias

Elected Member

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

2019

Advisor, Executive Committee

Labor and Employment Law Section

California Lawyers Association

Member

Alameda County Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Reconocimiento

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2021-2025

Named, Super Lawyer

Northern California

Super Lawyers

2004-2006, 2011-2020

Named, America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators

America's Top 100

2020-2021

News, Analysis & Press

Reverse Discrimination

Black In-House Counsel 2022 Annual Report

September 27, 2022

Preventing workplace harassment during a pandemic

Restaurant Hospitality

January 29, 2021

Speaking Engagements

Wealth Management

Elevating Black Excellence West Summit Panel

October 28, 2023

The Art of the Pitch

National Bar Association, 2023 L&E Section Annual Conference

October 26, 2023

The Proliferation of Anti-Directives - What Does the Future Hold?

NELC Regional Panel-Silicon Valley, CA

October 12, 2023

Employment Law Update

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

Employment Law Update

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

NELC Legal Update: Notable United States Supreme Court Decisions Affecting Employers

NELC

May 2, 2023

Employment Law Developments

Western Bankers Association Annual Bank Counsel Seminar, Las Vegas, NV

November 14, 2022

Focusing on the “E” in IE&D: Addressing Some of 2022’s Inclusion Tensions

2022 California Virtual Regional Employer Conference

November 2, 2022

Educación

  • J.D., University of Texas School of Law, 1987
  • B.A., Spelman College, 1984

Admisión de la barra

California
Texas

Cortes

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • California Supreme Court
  • Texas Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia