Heather M. Sager

Heather M. Sager's practice changed tremendously since the COVID-19 pandemic. She became an advisor for national and international paid leave standards, workplace safety, and checks.

"I would say that for the first 18 months of the pandemic, everything I did was related to COVID guidance," she said. "It only later shifted back to what I would consider my standard litigation practice."

"One of the things that is at the forefront of the marketplace would be arbitration agreements in the context of class & representative action lawsuits, and we have had a lot of success enforcing class action waivers, and I'm proud to have been at the forefront of the discussion," Sager continued. "We worked on a number of cases for different clients that turned into an issue that affects not only California but many states. I love being a part of these discussions."

COVID-19 changed the world in such a way that since 2020, her practice shifted to advising Fortune 500 companies on return-to-work, general advice and counsel. Sager's clients are confidential.

Most of her involvement was such that she worked preparing the firm's internally designed COVID-19 Workplace Health Screening App, incorporating CDC protocol and ensuring California Consumer Privacy Act compliance, while maintaining a full-time litigation and traditional labor practice.

"I don't think I've ever worked harder than I did during the pandemic, it was so time-sensitive," Sager said. "Everything had to shut down at once, but every single business had employees and no matter the industry, they were trying to make things work in 72 hours. There were so many questions we were being asked. I never in my life thought I would have to become an amateur virologist in such a short time."

When not working on COVID-related issues, Sager represents employers in single- and multiple-plaintiff employment actions as well as representative, collective and class actions before administrative agencies, state and federal courts. She also regularly advises clients on risk mitigation and compliance with wage and hour issues.

Not everything in Sager's professional life revolves around big companies. She said she is proud of the volunteer work she does in the Board of Directors for Raphael House of San Francisco, the first and largest family homeless shelter in San Francisco.

She is also a member of the Fordham University Law School Alumni Association, serves as the Perkins Coie San Francisco office Pro Bono Committee Chair and heads the firm's San Francisco Labor Practice Group.

- Federico Lo Giudice