Robert J. Wenbourne
Mr. Wenbourne represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law. With nearly 20 years of experience, he has practiced extensively before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) representing employers in union organizing and unfair labor practices proceedings; and he represents employers in state and federal court and before state and federal agencies including the state Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), the state Employment Development Department (EDD), the state Department of Fair Employment & Housing (DFEH), the federal Department of Labor (DOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contracts Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
Mr. Wenbourne has extensive litigation experience defending race, gender, age and disability discrimination lawsuits, as well as representing employers in arbitrations arising under collective bargaining agreements.
Mr. Wenbourne regularly counsels employers regarding pre-hire processes; employee hiring, discipline and termination; wage and hour obligations; affirmative action; reasonable accommodations and leaves of absence; discrimination; and sexual harassment in the workplace. Mr. Wenbourne conducts seminars and training programs for managers and attorneys covering general employment law requirements, wage and hour obligations, sexual harassment, affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policies and programs. Believing that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of litigation, Mr. Wenbourne also advises clients about the drafting, legal review and implementation of employee handbooks, administrative policies and procedures and drug testing programs.
Mr. Wenbourne views his role as a business partner of his clients and seeks cost-effective and speedy solutions to employment problems. He urges clients to consider alternative dispute resolution along with, or in lieu of, engaging in the protracted litigation of disputes.
Areas of Practice
- Administrative Hearings & Adjudication
- Affirmative Action
- Discrimination
- Affirmative Action -- Employer
- Americans with Disabilities Act -- Employer
- Employment Contracts -- Employer
- Employment Discrimination -- Employer
- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) -- Employer
- Sexual Harassment -- Employer
- Wage & Hour Laws -- Employer
- Whistleblower -- Employer
- Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act -- Employer
- Wrongful Termination -- Employer
- Collective Bargaining
- Labor Arbitration
- Labor Disputes
- Labor Relations Boards & Proceedings
- Unfair Labor Practices
- Wage & Hour Laws
- Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act
Litigation Percentage
- 75% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- California, 1987
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1988
- U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1989
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1989
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 2001
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California
- J.D. (Cum Laude) - 1987
- Law Review: Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, Senior Research Editor, 1985 - 1987
- University of La Verne, La Verne, California
- B.A.
- Major: Government and Social Sciences
Past Employment Positions
- Foley & Lardner, Of Counsel, 1997 - 2005
- Weissburg & Aronson, Associate, 1987 - 1993









