Stephanie M. Stringer

Stephanie Stringer has specialized her practice on defending and counseling employers in all areas of employment related litigation, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, employee discipline, litigation avoidance, wage and hour issues, and misappropriation of trade secrets claims. She is an experienced trial attorney and has represented clients in government regulatory actions involving the EEOC, DFEH, and SEC, among others. Ms. Stringer has practiced in federal and state courts throughout California.

Her dual role as a California business owner and entrepreneur allows her to understand her clients’ workplace challenges firsthand and Ms. Stringer has been resolving and preventing disputes for employers for over 10 years. Her active leadership in the business community shapes her effective, practical and value-driven counsel to employers of all sizes. Ms. Stringer has helped many clients in various industries by crafting policies and procedures that provide a strong first line of defense; offering sexual harassment training; and providing advice and representation on wage and hour, discrimination, trade secret, wrongful termination, and other employment-related claims. When necessary and unavoidable, she has vigorously defended her clients in employment-related litigation.

Ms. Stringer also has experience conducting neutral workplace investigations. As a neutral investigator, she draws from her extensive litigation background and knowledge. The matters she investigates often involve the potential for significant financial, legal, or public relations exposure and include areas such as discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and workplace safety compliance.

Practice Areas

  • Antitrust & Unfair Competition
  • Bodily Injury
  • Business Litigation
  • Class Action
  • Discrimination Claims
  • Employment Litigation
  • Employment Practices Counseling
  • Hostile Work Environment
  • Intellectual Property
  • PAGA Claims
  • Premises Liability
  • Real Estate
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Trade Secret
  • Wage & Hour
  • Wrongful Termination

Representative Matters

  • Ms. Stringer defended a large commercial contractor in a high-value employment action which included both PAGA and class action claims. Following an eight-figure demand, a nominal settlement was reached representing just a fraction of the initial claim.
  • In an action against a manufacturing company with an eight-figure demand comprised of both PAGA and class action claims, Ms. Stringer secured an early dismissal of the class claims based on an argument that the claims were waived by way of an arbitration agreement and ultimately negotiated a token settlement of the PAGA claims.
  • Ms. Stringer successfully litigated a discrimination claim against a property management company sued by a former employee.
  • Ms. Stringer investigated a harassment and racial discrimination claim against a University which resulted in conclusions that ultimately led to pre-litigation resolution and litigation avoidance.

Publications

  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2017) "Law Expands Employment Benefits for the Modern Family" Orange County Business Journal Vol. 40, No. 49
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2018) "Employing the Modern Family" Employment Awareness Newsletter February 2018
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2018) "The Pence Paradox" Employment Awareness Newsletter August 2018
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2019) "Happy New Year … Please!" Employment Awareness Newsletter January 2019
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2019) "A Little Common Sense, Please!" Employment Awareness Newsletter April 2019
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2019) "Getting Burned By the Weather Tax!" Employment Awareness Newsletter May 2019
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2019) "The Best Defense…Is a Good Arbitration Agreement!!" Employment Awareness Newsletter July 2019
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2019) "A New Challenge for Employers!" Employment Awareness Newsletter September 2019
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2019) "Navigating the Minefield of Workplace Investigations" Employment Awareness Newsletter October 2019
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "Do You Need to WARN Your Employees?" Employment Awareness Newsletter April 2020
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "How To Protect Your Employees As We Return To The ‘New Normal’” Employment Awareness Newsletter May 2020
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "Employers: You Have More At Risk Than You Probably Realize” Employment Awareness Newsletter May 2020
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "Are Your Employees’ Exempt Status at Risk After COVID-19?” Employment Awareness Newsletter May 2020
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "Are You Listening For (And To) The Whistleblower?” Employment Awareness Newsletter June 2020
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "Preparing For Post COVID-19 Employment Claims” Employment Awareness Newsletter June 2020
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "Post COVID-19 Employment Claims: Vacations Under Fire” Employment Awareness Newsletter September 2020
  • Cone, J., Stringer. S (2020) "(Un)Happy New Year?" Employment Awareness Newsletter October 2020

Speaking Engagements

  • Orange County Paralegal Association, “10 Things That Employers Do To Get Themselves Sued” (June 2019)
  • PLB Resources Speakers' Series, "5 Is The New 50" Labor Law Update (January 2021)

Education & Certifications

  • J.D., 2008, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
  • B.A., 2006, Literatures in English, University of California, San Diego
  • Association of Workplace Investigators - Certificate Holder

Admissions

  • State Bar of California
  • State Bar of Colorado
  • State Bar of Idaho

Honors

  • AV-Rated by Martindale Hubbell
  • 2022 Chair of Orange County Bar Association Tort & Trial Section
  • 2021 Chair-Elect of Orange County Bar Association Tort & Trial Section
  • 2020 Treasurer/Secretary of Orange County Bar Association Tort & Trial Section
  • Member of Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
  • Member of Association of Workplace Investigators
  • Member of Defense Research Institute

Professional & Community Activities

  • Orange County Bar Association, Member
  • Association of Southern California Defense Counsel
  • Association of Workplace Investigators
  • Mary's Kitchen, Serving the Homeless, Orange, CA, Volunteer
  • Yorba Linda Friends Church, Member
  • Extensive International Volunteer Work; Total of over 2,000 Hours of Community Service
  • University of California San Diego Alumni Association, Member
  • University of Denver Sturm College of Law Alumni Association, Member