Before joining DLA Piper, Phyllis was the Director of the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the largest state civil rights agency in the United States.
Originally appointed to head the DFEH by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, then retained by Governor Jerry Brown, Phyllis is well respected by both sides of the political aisle and enjoyed a reputation as a hard-working public official who improved the DFEH during a budget crisis by implementing innovative business concepts.
At DLA Piper she combines her experience in workplace investigation, litigation, mediation and legislative and regulatory affairs to help California, national and international clients. Phyllis also provides expert witness services and is a certified mediator.
During her nearly seven-year tenure at DFEH, the agency took in 140,000 complaints, prosecuted between 400-500 cases, including several class complaints, and garnered wins and settlements of about $100 million plus affirmative relief. Meanwhile, during a budget crisis, rather than laying off employees, she closed down five physical facilities to reduce rents, relocated staff and partnered with seven law schools and colleges on campus, staffed by a combination of public employees and civil rights fellows, thus growing the capacity of the agency while drastically reducing costs.
Earlier in her career, Phyllis spent six years in private practice, litigating in the California and federal courts, California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court on both the defense and plaintiff sides. Phyllis has substantial experience in the areas of employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination litigation as well as counseling and training.
She has been attorney of record on numerous administrative and trial court cases, as well as approximately 25 appellate cases, including four published Court of Appeal and California Supreme Court decisions. Phyllis also ruled on 78 administrative decisions as a commissioner on the former Fair Employment and Housing Commission. She has further worked as a senior appellate court attorney and drafted 80 Court of Appeal decisions on all areas of the law.
