Practices
Industries
Education
- J.D., University of California, Davis, 1989
- B.S., University of California, Davis, 1980
Admissions
- California State Courts
- United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central, and Southern Districts of California, as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Overview
David B. Chidlaw is a partner in the firm's San Diego office where he specializes in labor and employment matters on behalf of management, employers and high net worth individuals.
Areas of Practice
Mr. Chidlaw has broad experience counseling and defending employers on a wide variety of employment issues, including immigration. He has substantial experience representing employers in representative and class actions under Federal and California wage and hour law, including prevailing wage matters. He has defended employers in wrongful termination and employment discrimination litigation, including sexual harassment, race, age, national origin, gender, and disability discrimination. He also represents employers in unfair competition and trade secret litigation.
Mr. Chidlaw has substantial administrative litigation and counseling experience before State and Federal Agencies, including the NLRB, Cal/OSHA, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (the Labor Commissioner), the California Apprenticeship Council and Division of Apprenticeship Standards, the U.S. Department of Labor, BCIS, the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing, the OFCCP, and the EEOC.
Mr. Chidlaw has advised both organized and merit shop employers for the length of his career. He has advised and represented employers in collective bargaining negotiations, organizing drives, decertification efforts and grievance arbitration matters. He regularly defends employers before the NLRB. He also provides guidance and training on union avoidance. Mr. Chidlaw provides daily advice to management clients on a wide variety of labor issues including wage and hour, reductions in force, personnel policies and employee handbooks, affirmative action compliance, employment-based immigration, protection of proprietary information, and discipline and termination matters.
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2018-2019
- San Diego Super Lawyer, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Top San Diego Lawyers, 2013, 2014
Thought Leadership
Articles
- "New Prevailing-Wage Risks For Calif. Public Works Projects," Law360, January 24, 2014
Labor and Employment Law Blog Posts
- "A Solution in Search of a Problem: The California Legislature Imposes Duties for Employers When ICE Audits Your I-9s," December 5, 2017
Latin American Blog Posts
Speaking Engagements
- Frequent speaker before employer and human resources groups on topics ranging from wage and hour to employment discrimination
Events
- Fall 2018 Seminar SeriesOctober 11, 2018
- Spring 2018 Seminar SeriesApril 4, 2018
- Spring 2017 Seminar SeriesApril 26, 2017
- Fall 2016 Seminar SeriesOctober 4, 2016
- Spring 2016 Seminar SeriesApril 21, 2016
- Fall 2015 Seminar SeriesOctober 22, 2015
- Spring 2015 Seminar SeriesMay 14, 2015
- Fall 2014 Seminar Series - San DiegoOctober 28, 2014
- Spring 2014 Seminar SeriesApril 3, 2014
- Fall 2013 Seminar SeriesHyatt Regency La Jolla, September 17, 2013
- Spring 2013 Seminar SeriesHyatt Regency La Jolla, May 1, 2013
- Hyatt Regency La Jolla, September 19, 2012
- Hyatt Regency La Jolla, April 26, 2012
- Labor & Employment Law Update Fall 2011Hyatt Regency La Jolla, September 14, 2011
- Hyatt Regency La Jolla, March 24, 2011
- Our New, Improved, and FREE Breakfast With Your Labor Lawyer (in the Evening!)Hyatt Regency La Jolla - San Diego, September 16, 2010
- Breakfast With Your Labor LawyerSan Diego Marriott Mission Valley, September 17, 2009
- Sheppard Mullin's Downtown San Diego Office, July 23, 2009
- Breakfast With Your Labor LawyerHyatt Regency La Jolla, February 24, 2009
- Sheppard Mullin's San Francisco Office, January 23, 2009
- Hyatt Regency La Jolla, January 8, 2009
- Breakfast With Your Labor LawyerHyatt Regency La Jolla, October 8, 2008
- Hyatt Regency La Jolla, January 22, 2008
Memberships
- Member, San Diego County Bar Association
- Member, American Subcontractors Association
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association