Dean A. Rocco

Employment Counseling, Training & Litigation
Clients routinely seek Dean’s help navigating difficult personnel issues, managing employees with disabilities and medical leave needs, complying with wage-and-hour regulations, developing handbooks and policies, constructing compensation plans and negotiating executive compensation arrangements.  Dean’s clients also sought his guidance on risk mitigation and business re-opening protocols in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Clients also call on Dean to train management and employees on a variety of subjects.  Dean has produced a number of online training programs, including state-mandated sexual harassment training that clients can deliver to employees virtually through the firm’s e-learning platforms. 

Dean also maintains a significant employment litigation practice.  He defends employers against such claims as breach of employment contract, discrimination and harassment, violations of disability and medical leave laws and workplace torts.  He frequently litigates individual, representative and class action wage-and-hour lawsuits alleging denials of meal periods and rest breaks, misclassifications of employees, non-payments of wages, off-the-clock work, unlawful commission and bonus plans, and violations of statutory pay provisions, including the California Private Attorney General Act.  Dean has successfully enforced employer-promulgated arbitration programs, secured restraining orders against employees involved in workplace violence, and prosecuted actions against employees engaged in unfair competition and misappropriation of trade secrets. 

Cannabis Law
Within the cannabis industry, Dean assists with business formations and corporate governance, supports licensing applications and modifications, advises on commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions and fundraising, develops sound SOP’s and personnel policies and guides regulatory compliance in the growth, transportation, processing, production and distribution of cannabis products.  Dean also supports ancillary businesses, financial institutions and insurance companies working with cannabis companies by providing guidance on regulatory compliance, risk management principles, underwriting practices and policy forms. 

When disputes arise, Dean leverages the firm’s strength across multiple disciplines to effectively litigate commercial, products liability, professional liability, intellectual property and employment law claims. 

For employers of all types, Dean provides guidance on legalization’s impact on employment law issues such as job applications, drug testing, accommodating employees’ use of cannabis for medical purposes and cannabis as a cause or treatment for workplace injuries. 

Fair Housing & Discrimination
Dean has significant experience counseling clients and defending against litigation asserting discrimination under state and federal fair employment and housing laws. He has defended hotels and business establishments against claims of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act and California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act. He also has handled numerous website accessibility claims under the same laws.