Jennifer Santa Maria is a Shareholder in the San Diego office.
Ms. Santa Maria represents employers of all sizes in all aspects of labor and employment law, including employment litigation and advice and counseling. She also regularly conducts workplace investigations. She advises and defends clients in federal and state employment-related lawsuits and agency claims, including actions alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, disability, leave of absence, breach of contract, and wrongful termination claims. Ms. Santa Maria has also litigated numerous class and representative actions concerning wage and hour claims involving meal and rest periods, overtime, prevailing wage, paycheck deductions, and misclassification of employees.
In addition to litigation, Ms. Santa Maria regularly provides advice to employers regarding litigation avoidance and compliance with federal and state laws and administrative regulations on matters such as employee discipline, hiring and termination issues; leaves of absence; wage and hour issues; internal investigations; workplace accommodations; and other issues arising in the human resources context.
Ms. Santa Maria also frequently conducts workplace investigations involving allegations of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and whistleblower claims.
Ms. Santa Maria also has extensive experience defending employers before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and various other federal and state agencies.
Ms. Santa Maria received her J.D. in 2002 from California Western School of Law. In 2000, Ms. Santa Maria earned a B.A. in social relations from Michigan State University where she graduated with honors.
Ms. Santa Maria also competed on the Michigan State University varsity cross country and track & field teams from 1996 to 2000 and earned NCAA All-American honors in the 10,000 meters event in 2000. She also qualified for and competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials for the women's marathon.
