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LCW
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore is California’s premier labor, education, and employment law firm. We provide training, education, and legal representation to hundreds of public agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations across the state of California. LCW also provides expert and cost-effective investigation services to California businesses.
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Lisa S. Charbonneau

Partner
415.512.3044 | lcharbonneau@lcw.wpxnew.riefmedia.com

Lisa has been practicing labor and employment law since graduating from law school and passing the bar in 2006.  After eight years of representing private and public sector employees and unions in courts and administrative agencies, Lisa turned her focus to the representation of public agencies when she joined Liebert Cassidy Whitmore in 2014.

Lisa’s practice now encompasses a range of labor and employment subject areas, from labor negotiations to advice and counsel to litigation.  She has extensive experience in the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and wage and hour compliance, labor relations, collective bargaining, PERB practice, public employee disciplinary matters, POBR/FBOR, and MOU audits.  Lisa’s practice also includes advising schools and non-profits on labor relations and wage and hour matters.

Lisa has served as lead negotiator for public agencies of all sizes throughout Central and Northern California.  Her background in public safety/wage and hour issues has lent itself well to successful negotiations with fire and law enforcement unions, and her attention to detail and employee working conditions has proved helpful in negotiations with employee organizations of all types.   Given her background in litigation and adversarial settings, Lisa is a strong advocate.  However, she also strives to be responsive to her client’s labor partners and is mindful of the importance of collaboration and cooperation in labor relations.  Lisa takes a hands-on approach to bargaining and strives to be highly responsive to the unique needs of each client and their governing body.

Lisa has also represented clients in arbitrations and fact-finding hearings, as well as before the Public Employee Relations Board, the California Labor Commissioner, the U.S. Department of Labor, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  As one of the firm’s wage & hour litigators, Lisa has represented numerous cities, counties, and special districts in FLSA collective actions throughout the state.

A significant part of Lisa’s practice involves counseling clients on the meet-and-confer process and FLSA issues.  She also conducts FLSA audits for clients, which range in scope from reviewing employer compliance with discrete wage and hour laws to assisting with payroll system upgrades and modifications to achieve compliance with wage and hour laws.  Her practice also includes training on such subjects as ethics, discrimination and harassment, FLSA compliance, the collective bargaining process, and the Brown Act.

Lisa serves on the Executive Committee of the firm’s Wage and Hour Practice Group and the firm’s Labor Relations Practice Group and has taught LCW’s FLSA Academy since its inception.

Photo team member

Expertise

Education

JD, University of California, Hastings College of Law

BA, Wesleyan University

Did You Know

In 1992 Lisa appeared in the American Midwest Pemier of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski's opera, King Roger, as a member of the Michigan Opera Theater's Children's chorus. To this day, she can still sing the music by memory.

Lisa has served as lead negotiator at the following agencies:

City of Campbell 

City of Citrus Heights

City of Concord

City of Los Altos

City of South San Francisco

County of Mendocino

County of Marin IHSS Public Authority

County of Marin Housing Authority

Monterey County Regional Fire District

Town of Los Gatos

Town of Windsor

Padilla v. City of Richmond (2022) – U.S. District Court, Northern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action involving firefighter overtime.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice

Burris v. City of Petaluma (2019) – U.S. District Court, Northern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action involving firefighter overtime.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Valentine et al. v. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District (2019) – U.S. District Court, Eastern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action involving more than five hundred firefighters.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Spiller v. City of Petaluma (2018) – U.S. District Court, Northern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action involving police department employees.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Baskin et al. v. City of San Luis Obispo (2018) – U.S. District Court, Central District.  Multi-plaintiff Fair Labor Standards Act case.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Hoffman v. County of Butte (2017) – U.S. District Court, Eastern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action brought by sheriff’s department employees.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Stewart v. County of Amador (2017) – U.S. District Court, Eastern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Alviso et al. v. City of San Rafael (2017) – U.S. District Court, Northern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Anderson et al. v. Marinwood Community Services District (2017) – U.S. District Court, Northern District.  Multi-plaintiff Fair Labor Standards Act case.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Drobish et al. v. City of Citrus Heights (2017) – U.S. District Court, Eastern District.  Fair Labor Standards Act collective action.  Court approved settlement and case dismissed with prejudice.

Maner v. County of Stanislaus, Birgit Fladager (2016) – U.S. District Court, Eastern District.  Represented County and District Attorney.  Secured complete summary judgment for County and District Attorney in first amendment retaliation claim brought by a former deputy district attorney.

James et. al. v. City of Santa Clara (2016) – Santa Clara County Superior Court.  Represented City and secured complete summary judgment for City in age discrimination claim brought by three plaintiffs.

SB 1334 Amends California Labor Code to Extend Meal and Rest Period Requirements to Public Employees Providing or Supporting Direct Patient Care in General Acute Care Hospitals, Clinics, or Public Health Settings
12/30/2022
LCW Special Bulletin

Effective January 1, 2023, California law will require public employers to provide meal and rest periods to employees who provide or support direct patient care in a general acute care hospital, clinic, or public health setting.  Public employers should consult with legal counsel for advice on...

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Worker Organizing At UC, Private Schools Faces Distinct Tests
12/08/2022
Law360

Quoted in Law360’s recent article “Worker Organizing At UC, Private Schools Faces Distinct Tests”, LCW Partner Lisa S. Charbonneau stated, “Public agency organizing in the state of California has been around since the late ’60s and ’70s. Public sector unions in...

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Counties May be Liable for IHSS Provider Overtime
11/21/2022
LCW Special Bulletin

On November 4, 2022, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Los Angeles County was a joint employer of In-Home Supportive Services (“IHSS”) program workers (“IHSS providers”), rendering the County responsible for overtime owed to IHSS providers under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”)....

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DOL Proposes Regulations Modifying Test for Independent Contractor Status under the Fair Labor and Standards Act that More Closely Aligns with the Ninth Circuit and California Law
11/16/2022
LCW Special Bulletin

While unlikely to affect the current ABC test governing Independent Contractor status under the California Labor Code, we can expect legal challenges from Gig Economy employers.
On October 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) published a proposed rule to rescind and revise the regulations...

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Medic Suits Highlight Wage Issues For Emergency Workers
09/21/2022
Law360

Quoted in Law360’s recent article “Medic Suits Highlight Wage Issues For Emergency Workers”, LCW attorney Lisa S. Charbonneau uses her wage and hour expertise to speak on emergency personnel compensation issues seen in the workforce today.
Click the following to access the full...

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Firefighter Overtime Suits Show Complexities under FLSA
05/20/2022
Law360

With the knowledge gained from working side by side with fire departments, Lisa states, “ schedules are just very hard to fit into normal pay practices and normal overtime rules. The FLSA partial exemption seeks to account for those unique hours but it’s still pretty complicated to...

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Summer Shines Spotlight On Seasonal Wage Exemption
06/24/2022
Law360

LCW Attorney Lisa S. Charbonneau, who regularly advises public employers in California on wage and hour compliance, shared her thoughts on seasonal employment in “Summer Shines Spotlight On Seasonal Wage Exemption,” which was published in the June 24th Employment Authority section of Law360. In the...

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Special Wage and Hour Laws for Summer Employees: Are Lifeguards and Camp Counselors Exempt?
06/02/2022
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

Many schools, colleges, and municipalities operate special programs and camps during the summer months.  Staffing these programs and camps frequently involves hiring temporary or “seasonal” personnel, such as lifeguards, camp counselors, swim instructors and boathouse attendants.  In recognition...

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Tips from the Table: MMBA Information Requests
04/20/2022
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

We are excited to continue our video series – Tips from the Table. In these videos, members of LCW’s Labor Relations and Collective Bargaining practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented at your bargaining tables. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful...

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California’s $15 minimum wage begins this year. Debate on the next increase has already begun.
02/25/2022

Attorney Lisa Charbonneau was recently interviewed in the HR Dive article titled “California’s $15 minimum wage begins this year. Debate on the next increase has already begun.”
In the interview, Lisa discusses the potential issues public agencies may encounter with incremental...

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CDC Shortens Isolation/Quarantine Period
12/30/2021
LCW Special Bulletin

On December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) shortened its recommended isolation and quarantine periods for people who test positive for, or are exposed to COVID-19.  The reason for the change, according to the CDC, is that most transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 appear to...

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Wage & Hour: The Difference & Nuance of Call-Back & Standby
07/27/2021
California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog

We are excited to introduce our video series – Wage & Hour Issues in the Workplace. In these videos, members of LCW’s Wage & Hour practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented in your workplace. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful!

This...

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The US Department of Labor Sets Forth New Guidance Regarding the Classification of Independent Contractors Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
01/11/2021
LCW Special Bulletin

On January 7, 2021, the United States Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule establishing new guidance on classifying individuals as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  The new guidance is set forth in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations at Part...

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DOL May Update Overtime Rate Regulations for First Time in 50 Years
09/13/2019
The Daily Journal

This article discusses the proposed new rules on the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)’s regular rate of pay requirements by the Department of Labor (DOL). If and when the final rules are issued, this revision would be the first substantive change to the DOL’s regular rate guidelines in 50 years....

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Public Employers Need To Be Vigilant About Overtime Rules
09/19/2016
The Daily Journal

This article addresses how California’s public employers have to approach various nuances of overtime and other FLSA rules, as well as how they were affected by the Flores v. City of San Gabriel decision.
You can read the entire article on the Daily Journal‘s website.

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