Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld

Managing partner of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, Grunfeld predominantly focuses on complex litigation and has handled a number of high-profile wage, gender discrimination and Equal Pay Act cases.

“In the last year, we’re seeing — finally — after many decades of trying, we’re seeing some progress,” Grunfeld said. “Not only for women in the law, but for women generally, with regard to the “Me Too” movement, “Time’s Up” and equal pay. So I think it’s a very exciting time to be a woman lawyer and I’m very happy that I’ve been able to deliver some really good results to some of my clients.”

Grunfeld cited some of her prison litigation work in the past year as influential. In a class action to challenge dangerous conditions at the Yuba County Jail in Marysville, Grunfeld is working to resolve constitutional and statutory issues to ultimately improve mental and health care resources at the jail, as well as access to physical exercise. Hedrick v. Grant, 2:76-CV-00162 (E.D. Cal. 2017).

“I am making progress towards improvements in a consent decree that’s been around for a long time,” she said. She added that she hopes to resolve the case soon.

Grunfeld also worked on a case at Marin County Superior Court representing two women and the small business they own.

One of the women’s estranged husbands filed a lawsuit for allegedly interfering with his interests in a joint commercial lease. Grunfeld filed an anti-SLAPP motion “to show the case for what it was — a revenge case that was filed to harass a former spouse.”

The case was dismissed, and the court awarded all attorney’s fees. Riedy v. Riedy, 1701814 (Marin Super. Ct., filed May 19, 2017).

— Caroline Hart