Margaret Hart Edwards advises and represents employers in a broad variety of employment and labor matters focusing on the defense of discrimination, retaliation and wrongful discharge claims, and discrimination and wage and hour class actions. Since beginning practice in 1975, she has litigated hundreds of cases in state and federal courts. She also appears before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and California agencies related to employment. Margaret has significant experience with claims arising under:

• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• Title VII
• The Fair Labor Standards Act
• The Family and Medical Leave Act
• California labor laws

Additionally, Margaret routinely advises employers on legal compliance, including international employment compliance, litigation prevention measures and business restructuring. She also provides training to managers and human resources professionals on employment law subjects. She works with both the Littler Learning Group and ELT, Inc. to develop new training programs.

Margaret has substantial experience in mediation and serves as a mediator and neutral evaluator for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She also has trained early neutral evaluators.

Margaret works with a wide range of clients, including:

• Manufacturers
• Restaurant chains
• Retailers
• Home builders
• Law firms
• Non-profit corporations

Margaret has written more than three dozen articles on employment law subjects, such as:

• Bullying in the workplace
• How to avoid retaliation claims
• Role of remarks in discrimination cases
• Employment contracts
• Preventing workplace violence
• Discrimination against individuals with mental disabilities
• Preventing sexual harassment
• Email and Internet usage policies
• Telecommuting issues
• Steps to avoid employment litigation
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• How to hire good people legally

She served as volunteer advisor on draft rules relating to disability and leaves of absence for the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission. A frequent speaker, Margaret has appeared before industry, human resources and bar groups. She has lectured at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law; Stanford University School of Law; and Golden Gate University School of Law.

Margaret serves on Littler Mendelson's Board of Directors and is chair of the Shareholder Candidates Committee. Previously, she was a partner and head of the employment, labor and employee benefits practice at two firms in San Francisco. In law school, she was on the board of editors of the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

• Member, Labor and Employment / Litigation / International Law sections - American Bar Association
• Member, Labor / Litigation sections - State Bar of California
• Member, Bar Association of San Francisco
• Member, Defense Research Institute

RECOGNITION

• Named, Management Labour and Employment Lawyers - Who's Who Legal, 2011
• Awarded, Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rating
• Named, The Best Lawyers in America, 2012
• Named, Super Lawyer - California, 2008-2011
• Recipient, Spirit of CEB Award - Continuing Education of the Bar, 2010
• Advisor/member, 98th International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization, United States Delegation, 2009
• Recipient, Wigmore Prize