Biography

Stacy North’s employment law practice centers on a fundamental truth: work is a necessity, and the right to work is essential.

Stacy has more than twenty years of experience practicing representing employees, founders, and start-ups in all aspects of employment law. Stacy is an expert in California and federal employment law. Her practice encompasses the entire life cycle of employment, from negotiating compensation packages and severance agreements to mediations, arbitrations, and litigating cases through trial. 

Stacy’s litigation practice includes wrongful termination, whistleblower retaliation, discrimination, sexual harassment, unequal pay act violations, violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act and California Family Rights Act, breach of non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements, theft of trade secrets, wage and hour violations, independent contractor and exemption misclassification, severance pay disputes, breach of contract including bonus and commissions agreements and equity disputes, unfair competition, and representative actions under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).

Stacy also advises founders, executives and closely held businesses on executive compensation packages and severance agreements, and she advises startups on their unique employment issues. 

Stacy is client-focused, responsive and efficient. She strives to help clients resolve their matters in the most cost-effective way possible. A shrewd negotiator, Stacy is skilled at assessing the risks of her clients’ cases, recognizing and mitigating bad facts, and maximizing the facts in her clients’ favor. 

A native Arizonan, Stacy earned her law degree from Loyola University in Los Angeles. In the two decades following, she has practiced in employment law and business litigation. 

Prior to founding Berman North in 2019 with Scott Berman, she was a partner at Pierce & Shearer, LLP, where she practiced for 12 years. Her practice there included a focus on employment law and business litigation. 

Stacy has a passion for civil rights. Outside of her practice, she provides pro bono advice on employment law matters for Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto.

Education

• Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
  Juris Doctor, 2001
  Legal Honor Society, Phi Delta Phi

• Arizona State University
  Bachelor of Arts, 1997
  International Sociology Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Delta

Honors and Awards

• Labor & Employment Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2023-2024

• Top Labor & Employment Lawyers, Daily Journal, 2023

• Super Lawyers, 2020-2024

• National Trial Lawyers Top 100, 2023

Admissions & Organizations

• Admitted to practice in California and Arizona

• Admitted to the United States District Court for the Eastern, Northern and Central Districts of California

• Member of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association

• Member of the San Mateo County Bar Association

• Member of the Palo Alto Area Bar Association

• Member of the Labor and Employment Section of the California Bar Association 

• National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 

Professional Experience

• Pierce & Shearer LLP (2006-2018)

• Dillingham & Murphy LLP (2005-2006)

• Engelman Berger PC (2003-2004)

• Arizona Civil Liberties Foundation (2003)