Berliner Cohen, LLP

Berliner Cohen is actively seeking attorneys and staff across multiple levels at our three office locations! Join us and grow your legal career with a community-focused and well-established firm. Visit our website at https://bit.ly/410JaXz for job descriptions and more information. If you are interested in joining our team, please submit a cover letter and resume to careers@berliner.com.

Berliner Cohen is a proud supporter of Symphony San Jose. Nancy Johnson, Alan Law, Alex Nguyen, Julia Covello, and Veena Bansal recently attended the symphony's January performance. For more information on the symphony's 2025 performances, please visit https://bit.ly/411ueIB.

Berliner Cohen is excited to welcome Omeed Rajaee to the Employment Department in our San Jose office! Omeed has broad defense litigation experience. Most recently, his practice has focused on employment and commercial matters for large and mid-size corporate clients in various industries. He has obtained favorable results for clients in state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration and pre-litigation matters. Omeed obtained his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley and his law degree at UCLA School of Law. Welcome Omeed!

Effective January 1, 2025, California’s minimum wage has risen from $16.00 to $16.50 per hour, applicable to all employers, regardless of size. California employers must stay informed about these changes to ensure compliance with the law. In this article, Berliner Cohen Associate Kelsey Johnson highlights key information that employers should keep in mind: https://hubs.li/Q034ykfz0 #employmentlaw

Join Berliner Cohen Partner Eileen Kennedy and Jaimie Orendac, owner of MyOHR and a seasoned HR consultant, on February 6th for a webinar on the recent changes to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) and highlights of employment law changes for 2025. Eileen and Jaimie will discuss recent litigation and offer practical tips to ensure your business is compliant and avoids the financial penalties PAGA claims can bring. For more information and to register, please visit https://hubs.li/Q034p0zB0

Recent immigration announcements from the new administration and daily news reports have many businesses scrambling to make sure they are in compliance. Berliner Cohen Partner Christine Long reviews what California employers should do if immigration officials target their business: https://bit.ly/3WBPrWY

If you’re a restaurant owner or manager, join us for a webinar on February 6th reviewing California meal and rest period policies. California labor law requires employers to provide meal and rest breaks for employees, and understanding these requirements is vital for compliance. Berliner Cohen Partners Christine Long and Susan Bishop will review the legal requirements for meal and rest periods, and equip you with the knowledge needed to ensure compliance and avoid costly mistakes. For more information and to register, please visit https://bit.ly/4hnLc9w.

Berliner Cohen is pleased to welcome Shany Klein to the Litigation Department in our San Jose office! Shany is a licensed attorney in both California and Israel with over two decades of experience in business, commercial, and corporate law, primarily in Israel. Prior to joining Berliner Cohen, Shany served as an in-house Deputy General Counsel for a major company and as a Partner at a boutique law firm, where she represented individuals, corporations, and government agencies as both a litigator and advisor. She also handled complex negotiations, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes litigation. Shany holds an LL.M in International Business and Trade Law from UC Law SF (formerly Hastings), where she received the CALI Excellence Award, and an LL.M in Business Law from Reichman University in Israel, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Berliner Cohen is pleased to welcome Kelsey Johnson to the Employment Department in our San Jose office! Kelsey, a Bay Area native, earned her Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2021, majoring in Advertising and minoring in History. She received her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. At Santa Clara, Kelsey completed a High-Tech Law Certificate, focusing on technology-related legal issues. She gained experience as a legal intern at a Silicon Valley startup, handling contract drafting and employment agreements. She worked as a student associate for the Santa Clara Entrepreneurs Law Clinic, where she collaborated directly with her clients on employment-related legal issues. Kelsey has also gained experience as a law clerk at a family law firm.

Are you an employer with questions about leave and accommodation requests? Join Berliner Cohen Partner Susan Bishop, in partnership with the Santa Clara County Employer Advisory Council, for a webinar on January 28th that will explore the guidelines for leaves and accommodations, and review how California courts have responded. For more information and to register, please visit https://bit.ly/427DGLA. Use code BC2025 for a complimentary ticket!