From more than 15 years as in-house counsel in the insurance and wholesale distribution industries, Susan Laffer has first-hand experience with the pressure to control legal costs and minimize exposure, while taking into account business considerations.

Susan specializes in advice and counseling regarding employment-related issues and policy development, workplace investigations, management training (including harassment prevention training required by California law), fraud-related employment issues and dispute resolution.

Employment-related issues don’t happen in a vacuum. By integrating her business experience with her training and education in law, journalism, psychology and dispute resolution, Susan works with her clients to make well-informed, thoughtful decisions, implement proactive measures and reach effective resolutions that take into consideration the company culture and business goals.

Practice Areas

Employment law consulting, including risk minimization and avoidance

Workplace investigations

Employment Practices Audits, Policy Development & Management Training

Business and employment litigation

Dispute resolution

Training Seminars and Speaking Engagements

Ms. Laffer has prepared and conducted training seminars throughout the United States and has designed custom web-based training, including mandatory harassment prevention training pursuant to California Assembly Bill 1825. Seminars conducted include:

• Management Seminars covering the following topics: Preventing Harassment and Discrimination, Contract Review, Compliance (Government Contracting, Affirmative Action, Product Liability and Antitrust), Law for Management Trainees, Management Tools for Performance Management, Hiring and Termination Practices (2005-2011)
• CalCPA Litigation Section Meeting, “Employee Theft: Risks & Rewards of Pursuing Criminal and/or Civil Actions” (August 2011)
• Association of Corporate Counsel of America (ACCA) Corporate Counsel University Conference

“Social Media: The New Rules of Engagement” (May 2011)

• Association of Corporate Counsel of America (ACCA) In-House Counsel Conference

“Recent Developments in Employment Laws: U.S. Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit and California Update” (January 2007)

• California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association Conference

 “Human Resources Issues in the Law Firm.” (May 2003)

• More than 50 Training Seminarsin California, Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Illinois and New Jersey, 1998-1999, “Preventing Harassment and Discrimination and Employee Handbook Issues for Employees and Management.”
• California Self-Insurers Conference

Spring 1998, “Improving Client-Counsel Relations.”

• California Workers’ Compensation Defense Attorneys’ Association Conference

Fall 1997, “Improving Client-Counsel Relations.”

Education


Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, Bachelor of Science 1986

Boston University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1990

Pepperdine University, Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution, Mediating the Litigated Case, 2011

Admissions

State of California Bar, United States District Court - Central

Professional & Community Activities

California State Bar Labor & Employment Section Member

California State Bar Litigation Section Member

Association of Corporate Counsel Member

Los Angeles County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section

Co-President, Agoura High School Theater Boosters

*Disclaimer: Any legal information presented at this site should not be considered formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Please note that you are not considered a client until you have signed a retainer agreement and your case has been accepted by us.