Melissa Hughes is an associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm's San Francisco office. 

Melissa defends and counsels employers in a range of employment disputes including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, failure to accommodate disabilities and wrongful termination claims.  She also defends employers against individual wage and hour claims, PAGA representative actions and class actions. 

Melissa has experience representing businesses of all sizes, from pre-litigation through post-trial motion practice before state and federal courts, as well as representing employers in connection with administrative proceedings.

Melissa’s counselling practice includes a broad range of employer issues, with a particular focus on disability accommodation, employee leaves of absence, and performance management, as well as drafting and revising employee handbooks and policies.  Melissa also helps employers navigate the difficult landscape of California wage and hour laws and provides proactive preventative measures to minimize the risks of exposure to litigation.  

Melissa also specializes in defending businesses in sexual assault and battery cases arising both within and outside the employment context.