Emphasis
Class Action Defense
Disability Discrimination Defense
Wrongful Termination and Discrimination Defense
Wage and Hour Litigation
Employment Law Training
Planning Reorganizations and Downsizings
Corporate Freeze Out Cases
Mediating Employment Disputes
International Employment Law Compliance
Biography
Margaret Hart Edwards is a Littler shareholder, resident in the San Francisco office. Nationally recognized as a specialist in the Americans with Disabilities Act, she advises and defends employers in a broad variety of employment and labor matters. She has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal courts since beginning practice in 1975. Ms. Edwards routinely advises employers on legal compliance and litigation prevention measures, and trains managers and human resources on employment law subjects.
Education
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, cum laude, 1975
Board of Editors of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
Winner of the Wigmore Prize for legal writing, and graduated cum laude
Undergraduate, University of Chicago, cum laude, 1972
Phi Beta Kappa honor society
Publications
Ms. Edwards has written more than three dozen articles on various employment law subjects. A sampling of these, include: the role of remarks in discrimination cases, discrimination against individuals with mental disabilities, sexual harassment, policies for email and internet use, telecommuting and employment law, steps to take to avoid employment litigation, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, how to hire good people legally and a variety of other subjects.
Ms. Edwards is the author or co-author of several books, including:
Americans with Disabilities Act: A Practical Guide for Employers. California Continuing Education of the Bar.
A Model Employee Handbook for the California Business. California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Posting and Recordkeeping Requirements California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Chapters in Advising California Employers and Employees California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Chapters in Advising California Employers, 2nd and 3rd Eds. California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Chapters in Employment Law Compliance for New Businesses. California Continuing Education of the Bar.
Co-author, Employment Class Actions Lexis/Nexis Publications, 2007.
Ms. Edwards is one of the creators and editors of the Littler Mendelson Guide to International Employment and Labor Law. Lexis/Nexis Publications, 2008.
Lectures & Presentations
Ms. Edwards is a frequent speaker before industry and human resources groups, such as the Employers Group, NCERT, the Northern California Human Resources Association, the California Telephone Association, the West Coast Airline Personnel Association, the American Council on International Personnel, the California Hospitality and Lodging Association, the American Payroll Association, the California Downtown Association, the California Mortgage Bankers Association, the Association of Legal Administrators and the American Institute of Architects.
She has also spoken for many bar groups, such as the American Bar Association, the State Bar of California, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the California Continuing Education of the Bar, the Administrative Law Judges Association, and the Defense Research Institute, and has lectured at Boalt Hall School of Law of the University of California, Stanford University School of Law and Golden Gate University School of Law. She has been a trainer on disability and discrimination law for early neutral evaluators and law clerks of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Ms. Edwards is scheduled to moderate a session at NYSBA and Cornell University's third annual Conference on International Employment Law on July 8, 2010.
Honors & Awards
Rated "AV," by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available ranking for legal ability and professional conduct.
Selected as a neutral evaluator and mediator in employment law cases by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Adviser to the Employer's Delegate, and member of United States Delegation to the 98th International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization, Geneva 2009.
Recipient of the 2010 Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) "Spirit of CEB" Award.
Activities
California State Bar
American Bar Association's Labor and Employment, Litigation, and International Law sections
State Bar of California and its Labor and Litigation sections
Bar Association of San Francisco
Defense Research Institute