William V. (Bill) Whelan

Mr. Whelan is a partner in the Labor and Employment and Appellate Practice Groups in the firm’s San Diego office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Whelan specializes in labor and employment matters exclusively on behalf of management.  In addition to advising clients on labor issues and providing training, Mr. Whelan has extensive litigation experience.  This experience ranges from advising clients how to avoid litigation all the way through taking matters to trial when necessary.  He has successfully handled many wrongful termination, discrimination, wage and hour class actions, employee compensation cases, ADA access cases, civil rights and other employment cases for a wide range of companies, including medical groups, manufacturers, retailers, non-profit employers, religious institutions, a school of law, golf equipment companies, and financial institutions.

Education

• J.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1984
• B.A., Pomona College, 1981

Clerkships

• Externed for the Honorable J. Lawrence Irving, former U.S. District Court Judge in San Diego.

Honors

• "AV" rating by Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest rating an attorney can receive for legal quality and ethics.
• Named one of San Diego's "Super Lawyers," 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Memberships

• Member, Labor and Employment Section, California State Bar Association
• Past Member, State Bar of California's Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (three year term)
• Expert, legal ethics and professional responsibility
• Past Chair and Vice Chair, San Diego County Bar Association's Committee on Legal Ethics and Unlawful Practice
• Board of Directors, St. Vincent de Paul Villages
• San Diego Tennis and Racquet Club

Articles

• California Supreme Court Weighs in on Privacy in the Workplace, Bender's California Labor & Employment Bulletin, September 2009
• Enforcing and Evading Non-Competition Agreements In California, San Diego Daily Transcript, December 20, 2007

Labor and Employment Law Blog Articles

• "Public Policy Protects An Employee From Termination For Making A Good Faith But Mistaken Claim To Overtime", December 4, 2009
• "Lay-Offs Cannot Always Avoid Discrimination Or Retaliation Trials", August 20, 2009
• "Carefully Drafted Vacation Plans Will Be Enforced", July 1, 2009
• "California Court Of Appeal Clarifies Rules Regarding Tips", June 4, 2009
• "Ninth Circuit Rules That California's Labor Code Applies To Work Performed In California By Non-Residents", November 14, 2008

Speeches

• Mr. Whelan is a frequent presenter at the firm's Breakfast With Your Labor Lawyer Seminars. Mr. Whelan also trains clients on a variety of wage and hour issues.

Events

• Labor & Employment Law Update & Happy Hour - San Diego, September 16, 2010, Our New, Improved, and FREE Breakfast With Your Labor Lawyer (in the Evening!)
• Labor and Employment Law: Mid-Year Update 2009 - La Jolla, September 22, 2009, Breakfast With Your Labor Lawyer
• ACC San Diego Chapter JULY MCLE: Employment Law Trends and Predictions, July 23, 2009
• New Labor & Employment Laws for 2009 - San Diego, February 19, 2009, Breakfast With Your Labor Lawyer
• Labor and Employment Law: Mid-Year Update 2008 - San Diego, September 23, 2008, Breakfast With Your Labor Lawyer