Mom, Esq.

There’s no doubt, the parenting learning curve can be steep. One minute, the only person you have to worry about is yourself. And the next, you have the life of a tiny baby in your hands. And there’s so much to learn–breastfeeding, sleep training and perfecting that stealth maneuver to get your sleeping child out of a car seat.

Add on top of that, the legal issues–understanding maternity leave benefits, hiring baby nurses and nannies, and returning to work. It can be overwhelming

Baby’s Coming? There’s more to it than you thought.
Need home help? Then you probaby need help.
Going back to work? Let’s make that touch transition easier.

As a mom, I understand this all too well. One day I was an employee on maternity leave, the next I found myself an employer to a nanny. So, I’ve made it my business to help moms and dads understand and handle the legal issues that go hand in hand with parenthood–so they can get back to the more important business of being parents.

I’ll worry about the law. You worry about everything else.

Whether you’re about to have or adopt a baby, thinking about childcare or preparing to return to work, there’s a whole range of employment-related legal issues to consider. Unfortunately, these issues are often misunderstood or overlooked until problems arise–lost wages, court disputes with hired help, wrongful termination, etc. What’s worse is that once it becomes a problem, it is often a costly one. Fortunately, these problems are avoidable.

It’s my role to clearly explain all relevant legal issues, advise you on your rights and obligations and assist you with properly drafting or completing any necessary documentation or correspondence. As a mom who’s been through this, I understand your fears and can often anticipate many of the concerns that arise with each transition. My goal is to alleviate your worries—at least when it comes to any legal issues—so you can just enjoy being a parent.

About Me …I’m a mom first. A lawyer second.

I love being a lawyer. But even more, I love being a mom. I’ve had the good fortune to work at a prestigious Los Angeles law firm, representing some of the biggest names in Hollywood. But when I had my son it was instantly clear that motherhood was my true passion. It wasn’t long before I realized that I could use my skills and experience as an employment lawyer to help others like myself–the parents I was meeting on the playground, at music class and at my mommy groups. I found that even the most thoughtful, organized and resourceful parents simply didn’t know to consider the legal issues that affected their families once their children were born–or didn’t know where to go for the answers. I wanted to create a place where these parents would feel comfortable asking questions, parent-to-parent, and get straightforward answers from someone who understands employment law. So, I combined my two loves and carved out my niche practice of Mom, Esq.

Prior to founding Mom, Esq., I spent 7 years at the well-known entertainment law firm of Greenberg Glusker working as an employment lawyer with many of Hollywood’s A-List celebrities. And while my job involved counseling on matters related to large domestic staffs—nannies, housekeepers, tutors, chefs, gardeners, trainers, butlers, drivers—the truth is that the issues and concerns are all, essentially, the same whether you’re dealing with a full staff or a single nanny. I have extensive experience advising on the hiring process, background and drug checks, wage and hour issues, counseling, discipline, and terminations, and preparing employment applications, timekeeping records, offer letters and employment agreements, confidentiality agreements, arbitration agreements, termination letters, and severance and release agreements.

In addition to my current work, previously I counseled employers on many aspects of California and federal employment law, including the interviewing and hiring process, classification of exempt and non-exempt employees and other wage and hour issues, confidentiality and trade secret issues, harassment and discrimination, leaves of absence, and terminations. In connection with this representation, I drafted customized personnel policies and other employment-related agreements for clients, led training sessions to help minimize employment liability, conducted investigations of employee complaints regarding discrimination, harassment and theft in the workplace, and represented employers in litigation before state courts and administrative agencies in a broad range of matters.