Steven L. Friedlander

Friedlander founded SV Employment Law Firm PC in 2012 after a 20-year career at Cooley LLP. He said he envisioned a client-focused boutique--he currently has three other lawyers on staff and is looking to expand--to provide sophisticated legal services in a cost-effective way for companies, groups and individuals.

With spacious offices in a low-rise building in a business park, Friedlander said he's been coming to work daily throughout the pandemic. "It's as safe as it can be here," he said. "Plenty of room for distancing, and we bring staff in as needed. Employment counselors under law are deemed essential, so we are open, and we follow the local protocols as they change over time."

In early July he said the latest numbers showed that the virus numbers are higher to the south in Santa Clara County than in San Mateo. "The spiking has come recently. We're under different applicable health orders, and we keep track of local, state and federal laws and CDC requirements so we can advise our clients accordingly."

The clients, whom he declined to specify, range from small tech startups to older more established companies. "Some have a workforce that can work from their laptops at home. Some have warehouses that require a physical presence. At my office, we are modeling what we advise clients regarding any tension between fulfilling business functions and employees uncomfortable about coming to work. The tensions can be resolved intelligently, generally on a case by case basis, and with employer recognition that worker concerns are a real issue. Here at my shop, we maintain integrity in the process."

"I am very sensitive to client concerns regarding confidentiality and press, even for filed cases," Friedlander said. He would detail the results his firm has achieved only generally, as reported on his website. One case was a court trial win in San Mateo County Superior Court for a company and its principal, defeating claims for breach of contract, interference and defamation by a former employee. Another was summary judgment in favor of his private equity fund client in San Francisco County Superior Court in connection with a breach of contract claim by a former employee. A third success involved the successful representation of a company in an alleged Family Medical Leave Act violation and retaliation case in the Central District.

"Our clients tend to be entrepreneurial biotech and technology companies; it was our plan to help emerging companies. We are very familiar with the Silicon Valley ecosystem, venture capitalists and others," Friedlander said. "As an employment boutique focused on counseling and litigation, we take cases through arbitrations and court trials, and we advise on human resources issues."

-- John Roemer