People
Dorothy Liu

Dorothy S. Liu

Partner
(415) 995-5046

Intro

With nearly 25 years of experience representing employers in the private and public sectors, Dorothy regularly defends complex litigation and class actions for clients. She served as Commissioner on the San Francisco Ethics Commission from 2011 to 2013, having been appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in April 2011. Prior to joining the firm in 1999, Dorothy served for two years as Law Clerk to The Honorable Walter E. Webster, Jr. at the Washington State Court of Appeals.

She represents employers in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction and building materials, transportation, federal defense contractors, education and scientific research communities, hospitality, health care, and senior care, which includes medical centers, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing centers.

Dorothy regularly advises clients on risk management and class action avoidance strategies. An integral part of her practice involves working with clients to defend against wage and hour litigation and develop practices and policies aimed at averting class, collective, and representative actions under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). 

In addition, Dorothy defends employers in single-plaintiff and multi-plaintiff lawsuits against claims of whistleblower retaliation, wrongful discharge, pay claims, as well as harassment discrimination, retaliation and disability accommodation claims. She frequently advises employers on workplace investigations, managing leaves of absence and disability accommodations, handling employee discipline and terminations, and wage and hour compliance under state and federal law. She handles litigation in state and federal courts throughout California, as well as in arbitration proceedings and before administrative agencies.
 

Education

J.D. University of Washington School of Law ( 1997 )
B.A. Stanford University ( 1992 )

Admissions and Courts

California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Role

Intro

With nearly 25 years of experience representing employers in the private and public sectors, Dorothy regularly defends complex litigation and class actions for clients. She served as Commissioner on the San Francisco Ethics Commission from 2011 to 2013, having been appointed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in April 2011. Prior to joining the firm in 1999, Dorothy served for two years as Law Clerk to The Honorable Walter E. Webster, Jr. at the Washington State Court of Appeals.

She represents employers in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction and building materials, transportation, federal defense contractors, education and scientific research communities, hospitality, health care, and senior care, which includes medical centers, assisted living facilities, and skilled nursing centers.

Dorothy regularly advises clients on risk management and class action avoidance strategies. An integral part of her practice involves working with clients to defend against wage and hour litigation and develop practices and policies aimed at averting class, collective, and representative actions under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). 

In addition, Dorothy defends employers in single-plaintiff and multi-plaintiff lawsuits against claims of whistleblower retaliation, wrongful discharge, pay claims, as well as harassment discrimination, retaliation and disability accommodation claims. She frequently advises employers on workplace investigations, managing leaves of absence and disability accommodations, handling employee discipline and terminations, and wage and hour compliance under state and federal law. She handles litigation in state and federal courts throughout California, as well as in arbitration proceedings and before administrative agencies.
 

Areas of Focus

Education

J.D. University of Washington School of Law ( 1997 )
B.A. Stanford University ( 1992 )

Admissions and Courts

California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area, Former Co-Chair, Community Services Committee

Bar Association of San Francisco, Labor and Employment Section

State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Section

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

"Rainmaker Q&A: Hanson Bridgett's Dorothy Liu," Law360 (September 2016)

"Hanson Bridgett: Official Outside Counsel to the America's Cup," San Francisco Attorney (Summer 2012)

Law Clerk to The Honorable Walter E. Webster, Jr., Washington State Court of Appeals (1997-1999)

Extern to The Honorable Thomas S. Zilly, United States District Court, Western District of Washington

"Employers Doing Business in the Cities of Los Angeles and San Diego Must Address New, Expanded Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Laws," co-author, CALA Legal Update (June 2016)

"Employment Law Roundtable," California Lawyer (January 2006)

"Labor Code 2002 and Beyond", Employment Law Bulletin, Issue 5 (2001)

"What’s New For 2023? California Employment Law Compliance Update," co-presenter, Hanson Bridgett 2023 Labor & Employment Seminar (January 2023) 

"New Employment Laws for 2021," 2021 Annual Labor & Employment Webinar (January 2021)

“Wage and Hour & Class Action Update,” co-presenter, Hanson Bridgett 2020 Labor & Employment Seminar (January 2020)

"Proactive Strategies for Coping with Workplace Class Action Claims Before Litigation," Hanson Bridgett Labor & Employment Seminar (January 2018) 

"How to Minimize Retaliation Claims during the Termination Process," USLAW Client Conference (September 2016)

"New Anti-Discrimination/Retaliation Obligations," co-speaker, Hanson Bridgett Labor & Employment Seminar (January 2016)

"Expansion of Discrimination & Harassment Protections," Hanson Bridgett Labor & Employment Seminar (January 2015)

"2012 Labor & Employment Law Update," co-speaker, National Cement Employers Association (September 2012)

"Training Your New Supervisors in California: 11 Practical Lessons," Employer Resource Institute Webinar (March 2011)

"HR Self-Audits in California: How to Find (and Fix) the Legal Time Bombs in Your Workplace," Employer Resource Institute Webinar (November 2010)

"Navigating the Web of Disability Leave, Pregnancy Leave, and Reasonable Accommodation Issues under California and Federal Law," QCHF DD Symposium (May 2010)

"Avoiding Employment Nightmares and Minimizing Legal Risks, from Hiring to Separation," Quality Care Health Foundation (May 2008)

"Family and Medical Leave: The Basic Do's and Don'ts of Handling FMLA Requests," National audioconference (October 2007)

"Wage & Hour Law Presentation for Residential Care Facilities," Community Education, Temecula, CA (July 2006)

"Time Off in California: Leave as an Accommodation Under the ADA and FEHA, and Other Federal and California Statutory Leaves," Lorman Seminar, San Francisco (July 2005)

"Time Off in California: Leaves of Absence," Lorman Seminar, San Francisco (July 2003)