Ogletree Deakins Reunites with Former Department of Justice Attorney Jennifer Santa Maria in San Diego

SAN DIEGO – January 21, 2025 – Ogletree Deakins, one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome Jennifer Santa Maria back to the firm’s San Diego office as a shareholder. Jennifer returns to the firm after serving for more than four years as a Deputy Attorney General for the Employment and Administrative Mandate Section of the California Department of Justice.

Jennifer has more than two decades of employment law experience, including nearly six years as a shareholder with Ogletree Deakins. At the California Department of Justice, she managed a diverse caseload of lawsuits and administrative actions brought against state agencies and their employees from intake to resolution. Jennifer also served as first chair trial counsel for numerous jury trials and successfully defended discrimination, harassment, accommodation, wrongful termination, whistleblower, and retaliation claims as lead trial counsel.

Prior to her tenure at the California Department of Justice, Jennifer’s practice focused on day-to-day advice and counsel to employers on the broad spectrum of employer-employee relations, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, performance management, discipline, leaves of absence, disability accommodation, termination, and reductions in force. She also has experience conducting workplace investigations and anti-harassment training. Jennifer previously served as co-chair of Ogletree Deakins’ Arbitration Practice Group.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer back to Ogletree Deakins. During her previous tenure, she demonstrated a successful litigation track record and a deep understanding of California’s nuanced employment laws,” said Chris Olmsted, office managing shareholder in San Diego. “Her time at the California Department of Justice has further sharpened her unique skill set. Jennifer’s return to the firm will add immense value for our San Diego team and clients across the state.”  

Jennifer earned her J.D. from California Western School of Law and her B.A. from Michigan State University.

About Ogletree Deakins
Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management in all types of employment-related legal matters. Premier client service, as outlined in the firm’s Client Pledge, is one of the firm’s top priorities and a cornerstone of its core values. Best Law Firms^® has named Ogletree Deakins a “Law Firm of the Year” for 14 consecutive years. In the 2025 edition, the publication named Ogletree Deakins its “Law Firm of the Year” in the Litigation – Labor and Employment Law category. Ogletree Deakins has more than 1050 attorneys located in 59 offices across the United States and in Europe, Canada, and Mexico. The firm represents a diverse range of clients, including many of the Fortune 50 companies in the U.S. www.ogletree.com