Dale A. Bellitto

Dale Bellitto is an associate with the San Francisco office of Ogletree Deakins. Her current practice focuses on representing employers of all sizes through all phases of litigation – from responding to the initial pleading through final resolution, whether that be at mediation, arbitration, trial, or on appeal. Dale is dedicated to defending employers against wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wage and hour causes of action in both state and federal court. In addition to representing clients in employment-related litigation, Dale provides counseling regarding various employment practices and personnel matters – including, but not limited to, severance agreements, Family and Medical Leave Act leave, California Family Rights Act leave, and reasonable accommodations. Dale appreciates that the employment law landscape is ever-changing and is committed to successfully navigating and synthesizing newly-enacted statutes and regulations impacting employers.

Before joining Ogletree Deakins, Dale was an associate at a boutique, Bay Area law firm and focused on two distinct, yet interrelated, practice areas – employment law and professional liability. At this prior law firm, Dale represented employers before the California Civil Rights Department (formerly, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She also regularly drafted employee handbooks and advised clients on COVID-related workplace safety regulations and Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requirements. Dale also has experience in assisting employers with misclassification disputes and, thus, understands the utmost importance of correctly determining whether a worker is an employee or independent contractor at the earliest possible juncture.

Dale is a graduate of Dartmouth College where she majored in Philosophy. Dale consistently draws upon her philosophy background in her law practice – her deep understanding of logic and reasoning assists her in: (1) constructing persuasive and creative legal arguments; and (2) readily identifying weaknesses in opposing parties’ positions. Dale earned her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. During her time in Ann Arbor, Dale discovered her passion for legal writing – specifically, the storytelling aspect of it. Dale maintains that storytelling is an essential element of effective legal writing and strives to incorporate it into her work product – whether it be a discovery motion, dispositive motion, or appellate brief.