Employment Law Experts are available to answer members' questions most business days, Monday through Thursday — 8am - 5pm and Friday 8am - 4pm.
Bianca N. Saad – General Counsel, Labor and Employment, a member of the CalChamber legal affairs team since April 2018, was named general counsel, labor and employment in October 2023. Since mid-November 2021, she has developed and led the content and training strategy for existing and emerging products and training, as well as overseeing CalChamber subject matter experts. She serves as a co-presenter for CalChamber compliance seminars and webinars.
Matthew J. Roberts, Associate General Counsel, Labor and Employment - Joined CalChamber in July 2019, and was named associate general counsel, labor and employment in October 2023. He explains California and federal labor and employment laws to CalChamber members and customers, and since October 2021 has served as manager of the Labor Law Helpline. Roberts brought to CalChamber a decade of experience representing business owners on California wage and hour and anti-discrimination employment laws for law firms in Sacramento and Davis. J.D. McGeorge School of Law.
Mel Davis, Workplace Safety Expert - Joined CalChamber in 2000 as a Workplace Safety Expert specializing in Cal/OSHA and safety-related matters. Mel worked for Cal/OSHA for more than 23 years as a Principal Safety Engineer and Construction Safety Engineer. His responsibilities included managing the technical staff responsible for the development and revisions of California's Safety and Health regulations, evaluating requests for variances from regulations and conducting complaint and accident investigations at all types of construction sites.
Michelle Galbraith, Employment Law Expert - Joined CalChamber in 2007 as an Employment Law Expert. Prior to joining CalChamber, Michelle defended employers on discrimination and sexual harassment issues, as well as advised employers on wage and hour laws, ERISA and workers' compensation benefits. She is the author of articles on various topics for current CalChamber publications. J.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Lisa Guzman, Employment Law Expert - Joined CalChamber in 2022 as an Employment Law Expert. Lisa has advised employers on matters such as discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour issues, and leave laws. She has led numerous training programs and conducted investigations into discrimination and wrongful termination claims. J.D. University of California, Berkeley.
Dana Leisinger, Employment Law Expert - Joined CalChamber in 2000 and currently serves as an Employment Law Expert. Dana has advised employers on matters such as employment law, wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment and wage and hour issues. She has conducted seminars and training and guided employers through various levels of governmental investigations. J.D. McGeorge School of Law.
David Leporiere, Employment Law Expert - Joined CalChamber in 2014 and currently serves as an Employment Law Expert. Specializing in employment and labor law on behalf of businesses and business owners, David has also provided training for employers on a wide variety of employment related topics, including discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and leave laws and regulations. J.D. University of California, Davis.
Sharon Novak, Employment Law Expert - Joined CalChamber in 2021 as an Employment Law Expert. Before working with CalChamber, Sharon practiced employment law in firms in Montana and Chicago, served as Employment Counsel for a national company based in California, and assisted employers as a Director of Workplace Solutions. Sharon’s employment law practice included trial work, professional support to human resources departments, and workplace investigations. She has also developed and conducted seminars on critical employment law issues, including sex and age discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour practices, and wrongful terminations. J.D. Gonzaga University Law School.
Ellen Savage, Employment Law Expert - Joined CalChamber in 1990 and currently serves as an Employment Law Expert. She has been assisting employers on the Helpline since 1993. She was the editor of eight editions of the California Labor Law Digest and author of the CalChamber's California Hiring to Termination Guide. Her experience also includes practicing at a large Sacramento law firm and presenting at dozens of employment law seminars statewide. J.D. from Lincoln Law School.
Barbara Wilber, Wage and Hour Expert - Joined CalChamber in 2005 and currently serves as a Wage and Hour Expert. Prior to joining CalChamber, Barbara served as a Deputy Labor Commissioner and Hearing Officer with the Labor Commissioner in the California Department of Industrial Relations. Her 24 years of experience includes settlement conferences, wage claim determinations and resolving employee disputes brought to the office of the Labor Commissioner.
