Robert (“Bob”) Jones is the former California State Deputy Secretary, Special Counsel for the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, (California Department of Labor) appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in June 2008. As such, he was responsible for the enforcement activities of all the Divisions of the Agency, including the operation of the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner), Division of Safety & Health (Cal/OSHA), and the State’s Economic and Employment Enforcement Coalition.
Prior to his appointment, Bob was the Deputy Secretary of Policy and Enforcement. He was also the Chief Counsel for the Labor Commissioner and Acting California State Labor Commissioner from 2005 to 2007, all under the Schwarzenegger administration. As Acting Labor Commissioner, he was responsible for enforcing the state’s labor laws governing working conditions, minimum wage and overtime.
Bob’s background includes over 20 years of employment litigation and dispute resolution experience before state and federal courts throughout the United States and eight years as a professional labor negotiator.
Bob advises and represents employers in all areas of labor, employment, and legislative matters, with particular emphasis on employers doing business in California. He is a frequent presenter on employment-related topics.
Experience
In addition to regularly providing advice on California related wage and hour issues to national and local clients of Ogletree Deakins, Bob is actively engaged in the litigation of cutting edge employment law issues before the federal and state courts, including major wage and hour class action cases.
Bob’s experience as a highly placed Labor Department official for the State of California also provides the Firm’s clients with access to his unique perspective on not only California employment law enforcement, but also on the legislative and political process involved.
As a past Lecturer for the University of Maryland and frequent presenter for the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Bob regularly provides presentations to Ogletree Deakins clients and other interested groups on all aspects of California wage and hour issues.
California
Nevada
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California
Professional Activities
- California State Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Nevada State Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Bar Association of San Francisco
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
- Transportation Lawyers Association
- Association of Attendees and Alumni of the Hague Academy of International Law
- Former Commissioner, California Commission on the Status of Women
- Former Lecturer, University of Maryland, European Division, Labor and Business Management
- North American Transportation Employee Relations Association (“NATERA”) - "Real Challenges in the Courtroom, California Wage & Hour Class Actions" - Savannah - October 26, 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Breakfast Briefing - "What’s New at the Labor Commissioner’s Office" - San Francisco - June 22, 2010
- Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar - "California – The Land Where Any Mistake Can Cost You Millions" - Las Vegas - May 6, 2010
- Facultad de Derecho, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez - "The Internet-Copyright, Trademark and Privacy Issues" - Santiago - August 9, 2004
- National Association of Computer Consultant Business - "Managing Offshore Resources-Phase II, Brokering Offshore Services for Your Clients, Partnering on Small to Medium Size Projects" - Dallas - August 12, 2003
- Center For International Legal Studies - "Globalization of Human Resources in Times of Economic Uncertainty and Political Turmoil" - Salzburg - January 20, 2002 - January 26, 2002
- National Association of Computer Consultant Business - "Employment & Contract Law Update" - Redwood Shores - June 21, 2001
- Bar Association of San Francisco - "Employment & Labor Law Essentials for Immigration Lawyers" - San Francisco - May 24, 2001
- Lorman Education Services - "Payroll Management In California" - various California locations - 2001/2003
In The News
- April 13, 2012 - CCH Employment Law Daily - "Ogletree Deakins Attorneys React To California High Court’s Brinker Decision"
- October 24, 2011 - Inside Counsel - "Labor: Small Mistakes Mean Large Potential Liability"
- October 14, 2011 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "California Governor Signs New Employment Bills"
- November 9, 2010 - Ogletree Deakins Publication - "Avoiding California Wage & Hour Class Action Suits"
- April 22, 2010 - The Virtual Lobbyist - "The State of Labor Law Enforcement in California"
- August 2004 - California Labor & Employment Law Review, Volume 18, No.4 - "Premium Overtime Pay for Attorneys?"