Natasha Baker is a senior associate in the firm's San Francisco Office. She represents private and public institutions of higher education and private employers in a wide range of legal matters pertaining to employment, labor relations, regulatory compliance and student affairs. Representative Matters Labor and Employment In order to protect her clients from litigation, Ms. Baker's practice includes conducting preventative training and providing practical advice on a wide-range of legal issues, including: · ADA compliance; · Performance management and termination strategies that minimize risk; · Labor relations issues. Ms. Baker also represents clients in administrative agency charges and state and federal litigation. She employs strategies to successfully resolve these matters in an efficient manner for her clients. She also regularly conducts third-party investigations into a variety of workplace issues and has trained supervisors and managers nationwide on the best practices to use when conducting an investigation. Higher Education Ms. Baker advises Boards of Trustees for institutions of higher education on the negotiation of Presidential contracts and the termination of high level administrators. Ms. Baker assists institutions with the accreditation process, including appeals and revocation hearings. In addition to handling employee terminations, Ms. Baker advises institutions regarding the termination tenured faculty members for cause. Ms. Baker regularly reviews handbooks and institutional policies for her clients. Trainings Ms. Baker also regularly provides training to employers on the following topics: · Managing Within the Law: Understanding EEO, Wrongful Termination and Breach of Contract Theories. · Fair Labor Standards Act Compliance · Conducting Background Checks in Higher Education · Avoiding Claims of Wrongful Termination · Conducting Effective Internal Investigations Other Distinctions Speeches Ms. Baker regularly presents on topics of employment, labor relations, regulatory updates and student affairs for the following groups: The National Association of College & University Attorneys · Managing Disabled Faculty & Staff · Document Retention · Employee Threat Assessments The Council of Independent Colleges · Managing the Hiring Process - A Guide for Department Chairs · Best Practices: Faculty Evaluations · The Work of the Presidential Spouse University Risk Managers Insurance Association · Are E-Signatures Worth the "Paper" They Are Written On? Higher Ed Hero · Creating and Implementing an Effective Student Disciplinary Process · At-Risk Students on Campus · Student Handbooks for Today's Student The Community College Conference on Legal Issues · At-Risk Students on Campus · Negotiating And Implementing Collective Bargaining Agreement Provisions Pertaining To Online Instruction Publications · At the Crossroads: International Programs, Laws, and Cultural Expectations. Chronicle of Higher Education. · Where in the World are Your Employees? Institutions As Global Employers: Employment Law Considerations In The Age Of International Programs. The Journal of College and University Law. Vol. 36 Number 2 (2010). · Transgender Individuals on Campus, Educational & Institutional Insurance Administrators, Inc. · How Far is Too Far: Employers and the Use of Online Searches. ABA's The Young Lawyer. Vol. 12 Number 5 (March 2008). Professional and Civic Involvement · Queen's Bench, Education Committee Chair |