THE EMPLOYEE MATTERS: Press Releases

Déjà vu? LVBH attorneys once again named to Northern California Super Lawyers list

Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP is proud to announce that, once again, the majority of our attorneys have been selected for the prestigious 2023 Super Lawyers list, published in Super Lawyers Magazine. Partners Sharon Vinick, Jean Hyams and Darci Burrell made the list, along with Of Counsel attorneys Rebecca Kagin, and Wendy Musell.

Also, for the seventh consecutive year, Rachel Terp, Of Counsel to the firm, was selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star, which recognizes excellence in attorneys in their first decade of law practice.

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive the Super Lawyers recognition. And no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected as Rising Stars.

Even with such a small percentage of attorneys around the state featured annually on the Super Lawyers list, the honor has been bestowed multiple times on the attorneys of LVBH. This is the nineteenth year Jean Hyams has been named to the Super Lawyers list, the seventeenth year for Sharon Vinick, the eleventh year for Darci Burrell, the eighth year for Wendy Musell, and the seventh year for Rebecca Kagin.

We like to think our our lawyers as Super Sheroes, so this recognition from Super Lawyers fits right into the theme.

Super Lawyers rates outstanding lawyers from multiple practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

LVBH is rightfully proud of its consistent record of excellence, as evidenced by recognition year after year on the Super Lawyers list.

Northern California’s Top 100 Super Lawyers List includes three from LVBH!

Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP Partners Jean Hyams and Sharon Vinick, in addition to Of Counsel attorney Wendy Musell, were named to the prestigious 2023 Top 100 Super Lawyers list for Northern California. All three were also selected to the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers for Northern California.

LVBH is one of very few firms, and even fewer boutique firms, to have multiple lawyers make the “Top 100” list. To arrive at its “top” lists, Super Lawyers conducts a multi-phase peer nomination process in which attorneys are ranked by their peers, a Blue Ribbon panel that conducts furrther review, and independent research to identify the most outstanding lawyers from multiple practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

LVBH is extremely proud of the accomplishments of all our attorneys and for the recognition of their excellent track record.

Rebecca Kagin selected for Sonoma Magazine’s Lawyers of Excellence Two Years in a Row

LVBH is proud to announce that Of Counsel attorney Rebecca G. Kagin has been included in Sonoma Magazine’s Lawyers of Excellence list for two years in a row – 2021, the inaugural year for the selection, and 2022.

From the Magazine, about this honor:

“Sonoma Magazine is proud to spotlight the many accomplished attorneys of our community in this list of Lawyers of Excellence. Recommended and chosen by their peers, these lawyers exemplify the exceptional legal talent available throughout the Sonoma County region.

Sonoma Magazine partnered with a third-party research, data collection and verification firm to conduct a survey of licensed lawyers in our region, soliciting their peer recommendations of lawyers by practice area. All names collected were tallied and then vetted with state regulatory board information and other data sources to produce the 2022 Lawyers of Excellence list. Inclusion in the list is based on the opinions of responding lawyers, and no one can pay to be included.

With more than 2,500 lawyers practicing in our five-county region, we recognize this list represents a small sample of excellent lawyers available to our readers for their business and personal needs. Lawyers of Excellence is meant to serve as an informal local guide to lawyers who are recommended by those in the know, other lawyers.”

Fair Housing Council honors Leslie Levy with Unsung Heroine Award for pioneering work to combat sexual harassment in housing

February 17, 2023 – The Fair Housing Council of San Diego has announced Leslie Levy as a recipient of the 2023 Unsung Heroine Award, which will be presented during their annual Fair Housing Laws and Litigation Conference. In the Council’s statement announcing this honor, Executive Director Mary Scott Knoll said:

“In the beginning, there was Leslie Levy, a young, brilliant attorney, unpretentious in manner, fierce in her advocacy for and support of women’s civil rights and a pioneer in the truest sense of the word, cracking brick walls with breakthroughs in the field of sexual harassment, working tirelessly and litigating flawlessly on behalf of sexual harassment victims. You set the early pace for the race towards justice for these victims.”

Please join Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP in congratulating Leslie for this well-deserved award.

LVBH recognized as a “Best Law Firm” in Northern California

Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams was recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers as one of the outstanding law firms in the Northern California metro area. Best Lawyers, which is a publication of U.S. News and World Report, is one of the oldest and most respected guide to the legal professionals and has been published for more than three decades. Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area and metro region, a law firm must have at least one attorney who is currently recognized in Best Lawyers in that particular practice area and metro area.

LVBH was recognized as one of the best Labor and Employment firms in Northern California. Partners Leslie Levy, Sharon Vinick, Darci Burrell, and Jean Hyams were individually recognized for their achievements in this area.

LVBH adds two more members to its superhero legal team

Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP, a boutique worker’s rights firm, has now expanded its ranks by adding two more accomplished women to its roster – Rachel Terp and Salina Isaq. Rachel joins as Of Counsel and Salina joins the firm as an Associate following her graduation from Hastings College of Law and successful completion of the California Bar Exam.

Rachel Terp has been representing workers for almost a decade. She has extensive success in litigating wage and hour claims on class, collective, and multi-plaintiff bases. She and LVBH have a long-standing relationship as co-counsel on many cases. “I am thrilled to bring my experience litigating complex wage and hour actions to this renowned employment law firm,” Rachel said. “I look forward to working side by side with LVBH’s attorneys and staff to champion justice and fairness for California workers.”

Salina Isaq, a first-generation United States citizen, maintains an unwavering dedication to ending gender-based violence and sexual harassment in the workplace. “It is a great privilege to work with a team of feminist lawyers who center social justice in the work they do,” Salina said. “Approaching novel legal issues from a feminist framework is a rare practice, but here it is a priority. LVBH has created a blueprint for new lawyers to shape and transform the law to advance the project of gender equity and racial justice. I am incredibly proud to work with such a purposeful, creative team.”

LVBH client settles lawsuit against San Rafael City Schools

Colored pencils with "Equality" written out — *Shutterstock*

June 6, 2022 – Juan Rodriguez, a beloved principal at Venetia Valley School, has settled a discrimination and retaliation case that he brought against San Rafael City Schools (“SRCS”). SRCS has agreed to pay $725,000 to settle Mr. Rodriguez’s claims.

The lawsuit, filed in September 2020, alleged that the Superintendent and Board of San Rafael City Schools discriminated against Mr. Rodriguez based on his race and national origin, and because of his vocal advocacy on behalf of Latino students and his efforts to achieve racial equity within the San Rafael City Schools. The suit further alleged that as a result of Mr. Rodriguez’s complaints about unlawful discrimination, the District retaliated, defamed him and demoted him in March 2020, which led to his eventual departure from the District.

As Principal of Venetia Valley K-8 school since 2012, Mr. Rodriguez had consistently advocated for practices intended to minimize or eliminate racial and ethnic bias in the school system. The Venetia Valley School largely serves the Spanish-speaking students. During his tenure as principal, Mr. Rodriguez instituted changes that elevated the school from one of the lowest performing schools in Marin County to a California Gold Ribbon School. He received numerous accolades for his work in the district. Despite both subtle and overt opposition from the District, during his tenure, Mr. Rodriguez introduced programs intended to address issues which he reasonably believes were caused by racial bias. In response, the superintendent and its board repeatedly retaliated against Mr. Rodriguez and eventually demoted him from principal to teacher.

Juan Rodriguez shares his reflections,

I brought this lawsuit on the grounds that SRCS was engaging in discriminatory practices against socio-economically disadvantaged Latino students and because my advocacy on their behalf resulted in ongoing retaliation that included my removal from the role of principal. My hope is that as a result of this lawsuit, SRCS will take meaningful steps to address systemic racism, and create an atmosphere that supports and provides equal resources for students of color.
My work with the greater Latino community was inspired by my own journey through higher education, as a first-generation Latino student. I was fortunate enough to have mentors who validated my identity and who opened up the world to me, so that I could see beyond my barrio and imagine possibilities. My hope was to provide this same source of light and support for the students of SRCS for many years to come. Nevertheless, I remain a committed educator and advocate for educational equity.

Mr. Rodriguez was represented by Leslie Levy and Leticia Chavez of Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams, LLP, a boutique law firm in Oakland that represents individuals in workplace disputes. Ms. Levy commented on the lawsuit:

“It has been an honor to represent Mr. Rodriguez in this matter. While the settlement provides closure for our client, we remain seriously concerned about the incompetency and inappropriate conduct by the District’s Human Resources department. Furthermore, we are concerned that the District will not see this lawsuit as a wake up call to adequately address the needs and rights of students of color.”

For further information regarding the matter, visit www.levyvinick.com or call Leslie Levy at 510-318-7705.