Ellen M. Bronchetti

Greenberg Traurig • 
San Diego & San Francisco


Ellen Bronchetti is a seasoned attorney with a dedicated career spanning 21 years in labor and employment law. She said her passion for fostering equality in the workplace has been the driving force behind her choice of specialization.


"My parents were both in labor unions as teachers in New York state, and I experienced firsthand the challenges caused by an inequitable workplace," Bronchetti said.


She has managed a variety of complex employment litigation cases, including class actions, PAGA matters and trade secret misappropriation cases for prominent U.S. companies. Her notable work as lead counsel in the Dynamex case has left a significant mark on California's legal history, establishing the "ABC test" used to determine the employment status of individuals as independent contractors. 


More recently, Bronchetti was lead counsel in a case alleging gender discrimination and retaliation that went to a trial. A full defense verdict was rendered, an outcome which reflected many years of work and creative strategy, she said.


Other recent matters include serving as lead counsel and scoring a bench trial victory for staffing firm Robert Half International Inc. in the Northern District of California. 


The case involved an employee, a vice president, who claimed Equal Pay Act discrimination, gender discrimination and retaliation. On Feb. 8, 2022, the court issued an order granting summary judgment in favor of our client dismissing the Equal Pay Act claims and, on Sept. 27, 2023, the court decided the plaintiff's claims under Title VII for gender discrimination and retaliation based on gender and her retaliation claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act were without merit resulting in a full bench trial victory.


Bronchetti's expertise often involves tackling novel issues within employment law. Additionally, she represents employers in proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board, handling unfair labor practice cases and matters related to collective bargaining. Her extensive experience and contributions to the field highlight her as a key figure in employment law.


Bronchetti noted the recent PAGA reforms are important to employers who are questioning whether to continue to operate in California due to the punitive and fairly uncompromising nature of the prior statute. 


"I believe the changes will result in better results for well-intentioned employers and for employees overall," she said. "As far as trends within labor and employment law, employers are seeing increased activity by the EEOC and NLRB in prosecuting charges against employers. Both agencies have recently received increased budgets and manpower to enforce the statutes under their authority."