Harold R. Jones

Harold Jones is a shareholder in Ogletree Deakins’ San Francisco office. For over 20 years he has collaborated with employers to address complex legal challenges.

Harold has represented management and business owners across a diverse array of industries, including financial services, hospitality, healthcare, biotechnology, staffing, manufacturing, construction, retail, transportation, and technology. His practice includes defending large and small employers in a broad spectrum of civil actions before California state and federal courts as well as state and federal administrative agencies. He works closely with his clients to develop cost effective strategies for investigating, defending and resolving legal actions. He has significant experience in representing employers against claims of gender, race, disability and discrimination under, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and other related federal and state statutes, as well as wrongful termination, breach of contract, defamation, invasion of privacy and many other employment-related matters.

Harold maintains a robust advice and counsel practice, supporting employers with daily employment law issues in California. He works with his clients to understand their business needs and provides strategic advice to avoid litigation. He regularly advises employers in the areas of hiring, background investigations, interactive process, reasonable accommodation issues, wage and hour compliance, employee discipline, terminations, employee handbooks, and severance negotiations.

In addition, Harold is an experienced workplace investigator. Relying upon his 10 years’ experience conducting initial crime scene investigations and background investigations of police officer applicants as an Oakland Police Officer, Harold designs and conducts internal workplace investigations arising out of employee complaints of harassment, bullying, discrimination, retaliation and other inappropriate actions.  He works with his clients to design an appropriate investigation based upon the allegations, his client’s resources and needs.

Harold received his juris doctorate from Santa Clara University in 2000. He is a former legal extern to the Honorable James Ware of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in California.