Tom M. McInerney

Tom has experience in jury and bench trial on behalf of employers in sex harassment, age discrimination, and complex contract dispute cases. He also has directed all aspects of litigation, including pre-trial discovery and law and motion practice, involving claims of discrimination (sex, race, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and others), tort (defamation, assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment, and others), and breach of contract.

Tom has also developed an expertise in wage and hour defense, including in class actions asserting failure to pay overtime, failure to provide meal breaks, and other alleged violations of California and federal law.

Tom has led the defense in arbitrations involving a wide range of claims, including for breach of contract, discrimination, and violations of the California Labor Code.

Tom has also argued a large number of appellate matters, including briefing and arguing cases before the California Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit, and other state and federal courts in California and elsewhere. Examples of Tom’s published cases include:

• Guz v. Bechtel National, Inc., 24 Cal. 4th 317 (2000), a landmark Supreme Court decision addressing California state law for claims of discrimination, breach of employment contract, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing
• Greene v. Marin County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, 49 Cal.4th 277 (2010), a unanimous California Supreme Court decision upholding the legality of a flood fee election raising millions of dollars for flood protection in Marin County.
• Stiefel v. Bechtel Corp., 624 F.3d 1240 (9th Cir. 2010), a Ninth Circuit decision involving novel substantive and procedural issues for disability discrimination claims.
• Conley v. Pacific Gas & Electric Co., 131 Cal. App. 4th 260 (2005), a Court of Appeal decision rejecting opinion letters from the California Labor Commissioner involving class certification and vacation pay.
• West v. Bechtel Corporation, 96 Cal. App. 4th 966 (2002), a decision overturning a jury verdict in which the plaintiff had asserted state discrimination laws applied to employment overseas.
• Application Group, Inc. v. The Hunter Group, 61 Cal. App. 4th 881 (1998), a landmark decision addressing conflicts of law as applied to noncompetition clauses.

Education

• J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law, 1992
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1986

Admission to Practice

• California
• U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

• Board member, Larkin Street Youth Services
• Board member, Cedars of Marin
• Chair, Judiciary Committee, Bar Association of San Francisco
• Co-Chair, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
• Member of the Town Council of the Town of San Anselmo, California (2009-2017, Mayor in 2012 and 2014)
• Chair, Central Marin Police Council (2011-2017)
• Chair, Marin County Flood Control District 9 Advisory Board (2009-2017)
• Ross Valley Fire District Board Member (2012-2017)
• State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Section)
• Federal Bar Association, Northern District of California
• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of San Francisco
• Barack Obama Delegate, 2008 Democratic National Convention, Denver, CO
• John Kerry Delegate to the Rules Committee, 2004 Democratic Convention, Boston, MA
• Campaign Field Director – Dukakis for President Campaign (1987-1988)
• Campaign Organizer – Clinton/Gore Campaign, Los Angeles, CA (1992)

• Navigating California Employment Law – “The FEHA Frenzy: Steering Clear of Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Liability in California” – Napa – March 6, 2025
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “The In-House Guide to Developing and Maintaining an Internal Wage and Hour Audit Program” – Amelia Island – November 15, 2024
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Claims: Emerging Trends and Litigation Avoidance Strategies” – Napa – February 29, 2024
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Surf’s Up: The Latest Developments in the Golden State” – Phoenix – November 9, 2023
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “California’s New Noncompete Notice Requirements: What You Need to Know” – November 1, 2023
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Managing a California Workforce—Challenges and Solutions” – Napa – March 4, 2022
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Performance Management for the Hybrid Workplace: The Newest Tactics, Technology, and Resulting Legal Issues” – Amelia Island – November 12, 2021
• Navigating California Employment Law – “Running a Business in Sweatpants: Five Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic” – March 5, 2021
• California Employment Law & Cabernet – “Investing to Win: Managing Litigation Costs in California” – Napa – March 5, 2020
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Beam Me Up, Scotty: Legal Issues When Employees Telecommute” – New Orleans – November 14, 2019
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “Arbitration Agreements in California Post–Epic Systems: Pros and Cons, Drafting Tips, and Logistics” – Napa – February 28, 2019
• Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Pop Quiz – Labor and Employment Exclusive Style” – La Quinta – November 8, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Rise of the Robotics: How Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Are Reshaping the Workplace” – Phoenix – May 10, 2018
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “I Can Say What I Like: It’s a Free Country” – Napa – March 2, 2018
• California Employment Law Council Annual Meeting – “Trump Administration, One Year In” – San Francisco – November 16, 2017
• Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Generations Y and Z, the Gig Economy, and New Employment Strategies” – Boca Raton – November 9, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “Generations Y and Z, the Gig Economy, and New Employment Strategies” – Boca Raton – November 9, 2017
• Marin County Women Lawyers MCLE Fair – “Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession” – San Rafael – November 2, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Managing a Workforce in 2018 – “Surf the Retaliation Wave Without Getting Caught in the Tide” – San Francisco – October 26, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Classify This: Emerging Employment Relationships” – San Diego – May 4, 2017
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law Seminar – “‘I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now’ – Lessons Learned From Defending California Wage and Hour Class Actions” – Napa – March 2, 2017
• Strafford Webinar: Minimizing Wage and Hour Risks With an Evolving On Demand Workforce – “Wage & Hour Risks with the On-Demand Workforce” – San Francisco – November 24, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive – “The “Gig Economy”: Flexibility for Workers, Legal Issues for Employers” – Phoenix – November 12 – 14, 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Managing a Workforce in 2016 Seminar – “The Right Things To Do To Avoid Wrongful Termination Claims” – San Francisco – October 2015
• Ogletree Deakins Corporate Labor and Employment Counsel Exclusive Seminar – “In-House Pressure Points: Top 10 High Intensity Issues” – Dana Point – September 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “The San Francisco Family Friendly Workplace Ordinance and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (Ban the Box)” – June 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “No Hire Agreements—Are They Worth the Risk?” – Las Vegas – May 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Striking Gold—Wage and Hour Issues in California” – Las Vegas – May 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Navigating California Employment Law – “No Need to Hit the Panic Button—Best Practices and Strategies for Managing Litigation in California” – Silverado – March 1, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Wage and Hour Litigation—California Style!” – New Orleans – May 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Webinar – “Protecting Trade Secrets and Balancing Employee Rights in California” – San Francisco – November 15, 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Cyber Sabotage by Employees: Practical Prevention and Legal Strategies” – Chicago – May 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Portable Devices Freeze Employers in their Tracks” – Las Vegas – May 6, 2010
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Latest Developments in California Employment Law 2009” – Miami – May 2009
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Latest Developments in California Employment Law 2008” – New Orleans – May 2008

• March 6, 2023 – SHRM Online – “California Bill Would Penalize Employers for Enforcing Restrictive Covenants”
• May 29, 2019 – Ogletree Deakins International Employment Update – “United States: United States Labor Department Finds Gig Economy Service Providers Are Independent Contractors”

• August 31, 2017 – Marin Independent Journal – “San Anselmo councilman makes ‘Best Lawyers’ list”
• August 8, 2017 – Law360 – “Google Asks Judge To Keep Hiring Info Private In Bias Case”
• December 1, 2016 – Law360 – “Lyft Nears OK On $27M Wage Deal Amid Driver Objections”
• November 17, 2016 – Law360 – “Class Wants Final OK For Lyft Driver Misclassification Deal”
• August 4, 2015 – Practical Law Company – “Expert Q&A: Labor and Employment Issues in the On-demand Economy”
• February 27, 2015 – Ogletree Deakins Publications – “California Court Rules on Whether to Compel Arbitration Where Employer Could Not Authenticate Employee’s Electronic Signature”
• August 28, 2014 – Ogletree Deakins Publication – “California Supreme Court: Holding Franchisor Liable as Employer Depends on Level of Control Over Day-to-Day Employment Decisions”
• August 8, 2014 – Daily Journal – “Employment Case Claims Against Lyft Tossed”
• August 7, 2014 – The Recorder – “Lyft Licks Nationwide Employment Class Action”
• July 30, 2014 – Ogletree Deakins Publication – “Ninth Circuit Allows Deputies to Proceed with Sex Discrimination Suit”
• April 30, 2014 – Ogletree Deakins Publication – “California Court Finds Employers Can Seek Evaluation After Employee Returns From FMLA”
• February 28, 2014 – Ogletree Deakins Publication – “California Appellate Court Holds Substantial Motivating Factor Required in Wrongful Termination Case”
• May 15, 2012 – SHRM.org – “Protecting Confidential Information in California”
• December 27, 2011 – KQED Radio – “Who Owns Your Tweets?”
• December 22, 2011 – San Francisco Business Times – “Labor Lawyers Brace for Sweep of Changes Coming in New Year”
• April 1, 2011 – Inside Counsel – “Court Denies Privacy Rights in Company E-mail System”
• October 12, 2010 – Marin Independent Journal – “Ross Valley’s Measure Needed to Address Overcrowded Schools”
• August 28, 2010 – Marin Independent Journal – “San Anselmo Councilman Pushes for Campaign Reform”
• June 7, 2010 – Marin Independent Journal – “California Supreme Court Upholds Ross Valley Flood Fee”
• November 3, 2009 – Marin Independent Journal – “Incumbents Swept Out in San Anselmo; McInerney Tops Field”
• December 21, 2008 – San Francisco Business Times – “Political Climate Seems to Favor Broader Labor Rights”
• November 10, 2008 – Law360 – “California Gay Marriage Ban Brings Workplace Confusion”
• March 10, 2008 – Business Insurance Magazine – “Court Rules for Employers in Retaliation Case”
• February 29, 2008 – Marin Independent Journal – “Tom McInerney: One Attorney’s Take on Greene’s Flood Vote Suit”

• Thomas Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (2025)
• Fellow – The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2016)
• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2018-2025)
• Super Lawyers of Northern California
• The Justice & Diversity Center of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s “2014 Outstanding Volunteer In Public Service Award”
• The Legal 500 United States 2015: Recommended in “Labor and employment – Labor and employment litigation” category
• Selected to the AV Preeminent list, issued by Martindale-Hubbell