Employee Handbook Compliance Review for Employers & Business Owners
Please contact us to schedule an appointment to review your existing employment Handbook, and/or company policies & procedures to ensure your business is California labor law compliant.
Welcome to the Law Offices of Chauvel & Glatt, LLP!
We are based in San Mateo, California, and serve the Peninsula and surrounding communities, including San Francisco to San Jose, as well as clients throughout Los Angeles, San Diego and San Bernardino Counties and the State of California. We’ve been providing legal services for more than 3 decades and specialize in the fields of Business Law, Real Estate Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning/Probate, Transportation Law, and Intellectual Property Law. We bring a wide range of knowledge and experience, with members of our team speaking English, Spanish and Tagalog.
Practice Areas
Business Law
Our business attorneys provide full-service representation for companies of all sizes from entity formation, preparation of business agreements, purchase and sales, and litigation.
Employment Law
Our ’employer lawyers’ counsel and protect business owners to ensure compliance with California labor laws and defend your business in the event of litigation.
Estate Planning & Probate
Chauvel & Glatt will help individuals and families plan for the future using estate planning tools that address your specific personal needs.
Intellectual Property
We protect our clients’ creative output, trade secrets, and proprietary information.
Real Estate Law
Our firm is committed to protecting your investment and income property, from lease or purchase negotiations and in the event of litigation
Transportation Law
Our attorneys specialize in the transportation field and have a thorough understanding of carrier regulation, compliance issues, and logistics.
Our Team
Our attorneys enjoy working collaboratively and strive to keep matters as simple as possible. We share a desire to give you unparalleled customer service by being proactive and responsive to all your needs.
April Glatt
April Glatt
Natalia Cañas
Natalia Cañas
Derek Myers
Derek Myers
Joe Newman
Joe Newman
Ken Weinfield
Ken Weinfield
Ron Chauvel
Ron Chauvel
Our Expertise
- We provide legal advice relative to the myriad of employment-related requirements and rules that apply to employers under California labor law.
- We handle business formation and commercial transactions, as well as commercial litigation.
- We guide our clients through the creation of individual and family trusts, wills, trust administration and the probate process.
- Our firm advises established companies as well sole proprietors, start-ups, and independent contractors in relation to protecting their rights.
- We are well-versed in a wide variety of commercial and residential real estate matters to provide you full-service representation for all your property needs.
- Our attorneys specialize in the transportation and logistics fields and have a thorough understanding of carrier regulations and compliance issues.
Chauvel & Glatt Brings You The Latest Updates.
- Employment Law Articles & Legal Guides for Employers
Posted in: News
What Is Wrongful Termination?
California is an at-will employment state. This means that an employer can terminate an employee for any reason so long as it is not for a retaliatory or discriminatory reason. However, there are protected activities for which an employee cannot be legally terminated, such as:
- Retaliating against an employee who has raised legitimate claims, such as reporting an illegal activity (whistleblowing) within the organization or refusing to participate in an illegal activity
- Terminating an employee for involvement in an investigative process of labor law violations that they or others have experienced
- Terminating an employee due to a medical condition or disability
- Terminating an employee for taking legally protected leave such as CFRA or Paid Sick Leave
- Discriminating against an employee for reasons such as race/ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious belief, or disability is a violation of employment law.
If an employee believes that they have been terminated for any of the reasons above, they can file a wrongful termination claim against their employer. These claims are not taken lightly, particularly in the state of California. These types of claims can be costly to an employer, not only financially but also reputationally.
Why You Need an Experienced Wrongful Termination Claim Defense Attorney
It is wise for an employer to hire a California wrongful termination defense lawyer who can help minimize risks before a wrongful termination claim arises. A forward-looking, full-service employment law firm can add tremendous value. They can provide the type of strategic guidance and develop policies and procedures that become a standard part of business operations to minimize your legal risk of such a claim.
The advice from a knowledgeable Employer Defense Attorney is extremely valuable. The risk of a wrongful termination can arise, even if the employer is terminating an employee for a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason. With the help of a Wrongful Termination Defense Attorney, we can assist employers in minimizing their legal risk of such claims.
Wrongful Termination Risk Management for Employers
Employer liability in wrongful termination claims can be minimized by creating a strong partnership between HR and an experienced Employer Attorney. Employment disputes are best avoided through proactive measures that involve proper training of employees, consistent policies, thorough documentation, and investigation (if applicable).
When Litigation Is Unavoidable, We Fight for Our Clients.
At Chauvel & Glatt, an employer’s defense strategy becomes our primary focus when a claim is brought against them. This holds true for any type of claim of an employment law violation. We are known as an employment law firm and business ally that solves our clients’ legal concerns.
If you would like to learn more on how we assist you to minimize a claim of wrongful termination or defend your Company against a Wrongful Termination Lawsuit, contact us today.
- Wage and Hour
Posted in: News
California will increase its statewide minimum wage to $17.40 per hour starting January 1, 2027, representing a $0.50 increase from the current rate. This adjustment affects not only the minimum wage employers must pay hourly employees but also the salary threshold required to maintain exempt status for executive, administrative, and professional employees.
Exempt employees must earn a monthly salary equivalent to no less than two times the state minimum wage for full-time employment, defined as 40 hours per week. With the 2027 increase, the minimum annual salary for exempt employees will rise to $72,384, up from this year’s $70,304.
While the statewide minimum wage establishes the baseline, California employers must pay the rate most favorable to the employee. When local ordinances impose higher minimum wages, employers must pay the higher local rate for employees working in those jurisdictions. However, the exempt salary threshold remains tied exclusively to the state minimum wage and is not elevated by local ordinances.
Employers should review compensation structures now to ensure compliance by January 1, 2027. Pay particular attention to employees currently earning close to the exempt salary threshold and to those working in jurisdictions with local minimum wage ordinances. Remember that while the exemption salary is based on two times the state minimum wage, employers must track the physical work locations of remote, hybrid, and mobile employees to comply with applicable local wage rates.
To stay up to date on 2027 employment law updates contact the Employer Lawyers at Chauvel & Glatt at contactus@chauvellaw.com.
- Business Law Articles & Legal Guides for Companies
Posted in: News
How Do You Form an LLC in California? What are California’s LLC requirements? What are the benefits of an LLC in California? What does LLC compliance in California entail? Chauvel & Glatt can help you form an LLC properly and answer all of your questions every step along the way.
What Are the Benefits of an LLC in California?
We will first explain what an LLC in California means for those who may not be sure. California business formation can take several approaches depending on the type of business entity that is right for you. An LLC is a business structure that combines some of the benefits of a corporation and a sole proprietorship or partnership.
LLCs are relatively as far as business structures go. LLCs can provide the following advantages:
- “LLC” Conveys Professionalism: When an “LLC” is associated with your business name, it is part of your business identity. It can provide additional legitimacy and credibility to those you are doing business with.
- LLCs Shield Personal Assets: When you own a business, you need to make sure your personal assets are protected against creditors, potential lawsuits, and situations that might negatively impact the business.
- Tax Advantages: LLCs allow for “pass-through taxation,” meaning that taxes are reported on the owner or owners’ personal tax returns, as opposed to the business paying federal income tax. Additionally, LLCs allow you to select a tax bracket that provides the optimal situation for your particular income level.
- Management and Operational Adaptability: LLCs do not require a board of directors. The management structure is more flexible. LLCs can allow a business to streamline operations and paperwork compared to other types of business structures.
Starting an LLC in California Properly Leads to the Advantages.
Forming an LLC the right way — and legally — is best accomplished by partnering with a business formation law firm like Chauvel & Glatt. We understand that forming an LLC requires much more than filing Articles of Organization and a Statement of Information with the California Secretary of State.
Owners need to be able to clearly understand and abide by what they legally can and cannot do in order to protect the separation of their personal and business assets. They must also clearly understand what they can and cannot do in order to capitalize on potential tax advantages (ex. write-offs).
California LLC registration with the California Secretary of State and determining the name of your LLC are two of the steps involved. It is more complicated than many businesses realize and is also just one reason why it is prudent to engage a professional business formation law firm.
Let us navigate the complicated Code of California Regulations for you.
Additional Steps Involved in Forming an LLC
Once you have a name for your LLC, what’s next? The following are some of the steps that a knowledgeable business formation attorney at Chauvel & Glatt can guide you through in a legally compliant manner:
- Secure a domain name, and ensure it is available and relatable to your business.
- Determine your Agent of Service of Process, which is legally required. This will be the person to whom relevant tax and legal information will be sent.
- File Articles of Organization that must include the LLC name, Agent of Service of Process, management structure, purpose statement, and California LLC organizer.
- As part of filing Articles of Organization, an LLC must also file a Statement of Information of the LLC’s formation.
- Create an Operating Agreement when there is more than one business owner. We make sure an operating agreement includes all of the pertinent terms of ownership, management, and operations. We are forward-thinking business formation attorneys and think about the future and outline necessary provisions such as adding members, dissolution, etc. .
- Get a Federal Employer Identification Number, or EIN. This is your identification number for the IRS.
- Ensure that you are compliant with regard to:
- State of California taxes
- Employee-related requirements, such as filing with the Employment Development Department and Workers’ Compensation insurance
- All required federal, state and local business licenses and permits
- Filing a DBA if you are “doing business as” another name
Chauvel & Glatt Can Help YOU
If you are feeling as if the requirements are enough to make your head spin when you thought an LLC would simplify things, rest assured. We understand that it can be complicated and overwhelming. But when you engage a law firm like Chauvel & Glatt, you will be working with attorneys that have experience in all aspects of business formation. We work hard on your behalf so that you can feel at ease. We want you to be confident that the process is being handled properly, professionally, and in full legal compliance.
We are custom business formation attorneys whose additional areas of specialization include employment law and contract law. This enables us to approach each prospective LLC from a holistic standpoint so that all aspects of an LLC are compliant. All of the right documents are created in the right way. If at any time the business seeks to transition from one type of business entity to another, we have the experience to get it done for you.