Gretchen E. Birkheimer
Senior Counsel
Gretchen is a litigator with eighteen years of employment, business, tort, and probate litigation experience. Her employment practice includes wage and hour violations, sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation, misclassification, fraudulent inducement, and related civil claims for defamation, emotional distress, and negligence. She also litigates contract, fraud, and other business disputes. Gretchen represents clients in state and federal superior and appellate courts, in binding arbitration, and before the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and the California Labor Commissioner.
In addition to providing pre-litigation advice and counsel, Gretchen advises small businesses in corporate and employment matters, including contract drafting and review, non-disclosure agreements, discipline, severance, best practices, and employment policies and manuals.
Gretchen earned her J.D. from UC Berkeley, where she was active in the Ecology Law Quarterly, Boalt Hall Women’s Association, and the Moot Court Board. She chaired the Palo Alto Area Bar Association Women Lawyer’s Section for four years. Gretchen is a Notary Public in the State of Oregon.
Education
University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2002
University of California at Irvine
Bachelor of Arts, 1999, Magna cum Laude
Admissions & Organizations
Admitted to practice in California
Admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of California
Admitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
President Emeritus, Palo Alto Area Bar Association (PAABA)
Member of PAABA Board of Directors 2015-present
Member of BALIF, an LGBTQI Bar Association
Professional Experience
Rodnunsky & Associates
Pierce & Shearer LLP
Morgan Franich Fredkin & Marsh LLP
Law Office of Stephan Volker
Speaking Engagements
Recognizing and Eliminating Bias in the Workplace, 13th Annual Jerry A. Kasner Estate Planning Symposium
Intellectual Property in Employment Matters, Palo Alto Area Bar Association