Steinke, Suzanne
Partner
Legal Expertise
Represent management in all areas of labor and employment law, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour, and collective bargaining issues. Defend employers before state and federal courts and administrative agencies (e.g., DLSE, DFEH, EDD, and NLRB). Advise employers on complex personnel policies and decisions, such as discharge, drug testing, disability and accommodation, leaves of absence, and sexual harassment investigations.
Key Professional Accomplishments
* Successfully represented a major cultural institution in a disability discrimination and wrongful termination suit brought by a plaintiff who had been an employee for 24 years. After a five and a half day jury trial, the jury returned in just over an hour with a unanimous verdict in favor of the client.
* Second-chair on trial team obtaining defense verdict for major motion picture studio in jury trial of federal Section 301 action.
* Currently represents a major motion picture studio in a wage and hour class action.
* Member of trial team in successful jury trial of whistle-blower and discrimination claims.
* First-chair in successful representation of health care company in wrongful termination arbitration brought pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement.
* Defended employers against numerous unfair labor practice charges.
* Successfully represented all of the major studios and networks in a closely-watched arbitration against the WGA in which it was determined that a portion of the 2008 New Media deal is not retroactive.
Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations
* Board Member, Hollywood Schoolhouse
* Board Member, Getty House Foundation
* Los Angeles County Bar Association
* Stanford Professional Women of Los Angeles
Court Admissions
* California, 1996
* USDC, Central District of California, 1996
* USDC, Eastern District of California, 1997
* USDC, Northern District of California, 1997
* USDC, Southern District of California, 1997
* U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1996
Education
University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1996; Order of the Coif; cum laude
Stanford University, A.B., 1991
