Denise Brucker is the head of the firm’s Transactional Practice Group and has eleven years of experience in employment law. Her practice is dedicated to providing counseling and transactional services to management and human resources professionals. Ms. Brucker has a background in employment litigation and extensive experience assisting companies with risk management. Particular areas of expertise include wage and hour compliance, leaves of absence, disability accommodation, layoffs, employee terminations and discipline management, employment contracts, compensation plans, and hiring issues.

Ms. Brucker regularly conducts audits for large and small employers in the areas of exemption classifications and HR compliance. She also provides management training on a wide variety of topics including sexual harassment prevention, managing employee leaves and disability issues, avoiding wage and hour claims, conducting layoffs without lawsuits, and the differences between California and federal employment laws for multi-state employers.

Ms. Brucker also represents employers in administrative proceedings before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the California Department of Labor.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP
  Partner (2007 - present); Associate (2001 - 2006)
• King & Ballow - Associate
  May 1998 - February 2001
• Harris & Offner - Associate
  August 1997 - May 1998

EDUCATION

• Northeastern University School of Law, J.D., 1997
• University of California, San Diego, B.A. 1992, cum laude

COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Partnerships With Industry, Board of Directors (Jan. 2007 – Dec. 2008)
• Thursday Club Professionals, Member (May 2004 – present)
• State Bar of California – Labor Law and Employment Section
• San Diego County Bar Association – Labor and Employment Law Section

SELECTED ARTICLES & PUBLICATIONS

• “New Federal Law Expands FMLA – Relatives of Injured Servicemen and Women Provided Up To 26 Weeks of Protected Leave,” Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton E-Update (Jan. 2008)
• “What Are Your Pay Obligations During This Natural Disaster?” Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton E-Update (Oct. 2007)
• “Employers Face New Requirements For Responding To ‘No-Match’ Letters,” Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton E-Update (Sept. 2007)
• “Court Permits Employer To Proceed With Novel Claim Against Competitor For Soliciting Its Employees,” Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton E-Update (April, 2007)
• Advising California Employers and Employees, Continuing Education Of The Bar, Contributing Author (2005-2008)
• “Employment Law Question Of The Month,” San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Website (2006)
• “Court Holds Release Agreements With Confusing Legalese Are No Bar To Age Discrimination Claims,” Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton E-Update (Sept. 2006)

RECENT PUBLIC SEMINARS & TRAININGS

• San Diego Compensation & Benefits Association, “Wage and Hour Law Update / Managing Labor Costs in a Down Economy,” (Feb. 2009)
• PPS&C Legal Update Seminar “FMLA Compliance & LOA Administration” (Dec. 2008; Jan. 2009)
• San Diego Employers Association, “Managing the Legal Risks of Cutting Labor Costs” (Dec. 2008)
• Employers Group Annual Workplace Employment Law Update, “Layoff Considerations” (Nov. 2008)
• California Disability Services Association, “Effectively Managing Cost Cutting Measures” (Sept. 2008)
• PPS&C Breakfast Briefing, “Layoffs Without Lawsuits” (Aug. 2008)
• Red Lion Hotels, Inc., “California Employment Law 2008” (May 2008)
• Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego Section, “Protecting Confidential Information and Trade Secrets” (April 2008)
• Waxie Sanitary Supply, “Manager Training 2008: Preventing Workplace Harassment & Other Good Management Practices” (April 2008)
• San Diego Employers Association, Certified Training Program, “Preparing Employee Handbooks” (Feb. 2008; April 2008)
• Metropolitan Transit System, “Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Managers,” (Feb. 2008)
• California Coast Credit Union, “Seven Habits of Frequently Sued Managers,” (Jan. 2008)
• Association of Corporate Counsel, San Diego Employment Law Section, “Advanced Wage & Hour Issues” (Nov. 2007)
• Scripps, “Working Together To Prevent Workplace Harassment” (October 2007)
• Continuing Education Of The Bar, “Employment Law Update” (February 2007)
• Brandes Investment Partners, LP “Manager Training: Employment Law Tips and Trends for 2007” (Feb. 2007)
• SHRM Law Day, “Leave of Absence ‘Boot Camp’” (Jan. 2007)
• Council On Education in Management, “Avoiding FMLA/CFRA Retaliation Claims” & “Determining Whether the Employee Has A serious Health Condition As Defined Under the FMLA/CFRA” (Aug. 2006)
• San Diego Employers Association, “When Do You Have To Pay Your Employees?” (Aug. 2006)
• San Diego Zoological Society, “Leaves of Absence: Manager Training” (July 2006)
• UCSD Healthcare Executive Leadership Program, “Human Resources Law” (June 2006)
• San Diego Employers Association, Human Resources Survival Guide Seminar, “Alphabet Soup: How Do All These Leaves Mix Together?” (June 2006)
• Continuing Education Of The Bar, “Employment Law Update” (Feb. 2006)

ADMISSIONS

Ms. Brucker  is admitted to practice before all California state courts and federal district courts in California.