Jean C. Kosela

Jean advocates for management in traditional labor matters such as union grievances and arbitrations, collective bargaining, and unfair labor practices proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board. She also defends and advises employers in employment discrimination, harassment/hostile work environment, failure to accommodate, wrongful termination, and wage and hour cases, including state and federal administrative proceedings, single-plaintiff lawsuits, and class action litigation. Her experience includes the following:

• Secured favorable rulings in labor arbitrations on behalf of national employers in multiple termination cases;
• Secured dismissal of multiple unfair labor practice charges from the National Labor Relations Board based on position statements drafted;
• Negotiated favorable settlements on behalf of employers in multiple union contract and termination grievances;
• Obtained multiple insufficient evidence findings from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing based on position statements drafted; and
• Successfully represented a national financial institution in the arbitration of a wage claim under California law.

Education

• J.D., Harvard Law School, 2007
• Ed. M., Harvard University Graduate School of Education, 1996
• B.A., summa cum laude, Rice University (Phi Beta Kappa), 

Admission to Practice

• California
• Texas

• The State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Law Section)
• San Francisco Bar Association
• The State Bar of Texas

• Ogletree Deakins Seminar (co-presenter) – “Nonunion Employers: Preparing for the New NLRB” – San Francisco – October 17, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar (co-presenter) – “Balancing Your Right to Monitor Employees and Employee Privacy Rights” – San Francisco – October 25, 2012
• Ogletree Deakins Seminar (co-presenter) – “Avoiding Sexual Harassment in the Workplace” – San Francisco – October 26, 2010

• 2013 – The Developing Labor Law (Contributing Editor) – “2013 Supplement to the Sixth Edition”
• 2010 – California Grocer – “What evidence supports an employee’s claim of interference with FMLA rights?”
• 2010 – California Grocer – “Has a federal court expanded ‘hours worked’ definition?”

• Co-Editor-in-Chief, Harvard Latino Law Review