Kirby Fernando Canon

          Kirby Fernando Cañon focuses his practice solely on protecting workers who are wrongfully terminated or experience harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.  Mr. Cañon represents workers against large, private, and public employers in both state and federal courts.  

Mr. Cañon is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (“CELA”), the National Employers Lawyers Association (“NELA”) and the Fresno County Bar Association.  In CELA, he is the Co-Chair of the Immigrant Employee Rights. He is also a member of the Legislative and Worker Outreach Committees.  He attended UCLA after earning a full academic scholarship and holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Development Studies.  He graduated with a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law with Outstanding Achievement for his Pro Bono work.  During his time as a student at UCLA and UC Hastings, Mr. Cañon advocated for student rights, educational opportunity and access for low-income and traditionally underrepresented minorities.  He focused his time as a student mentor for Students Heightening Academic Performance through Education; the Political Chair for the La Raza Law Students Association; a student representative for the Associated Students of Hastings and Staff and Community Outreach Editor for the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal.  He also worked as a student clinician in the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies.  He also clerked for the Honorable Maria Elena James, Chief Magistrate Judge, United States District Court, Northern District of California.

     
          Mr. Cañon is the proud son of a dedicated single-mother and was born in the beautiful San Andres Islas in Colombia.  He came to United States in 1997.  In his spare time, he is an avid soccer fan who enjoys cooking traditional dishes from around the world and keeping up with current events. 

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Wrongful Termination

Mental and Physical Disabilities

Medical Leaves

Retaliation

Whistleblower

First Amendment, 18 U.S.C. 1983

Discrimination

Harassment

Sexual Harassment

USERRA / Military Leaves

BAR ADMISSIONS

California Superior Courts

United States District Court, Eastern District

United States Court of Appeal, Ninth Circuit

EDUCATION

University of California Los Angeles, UCLA, June 2006

Inter-American Court of Human Rights, June 2008

University of California, Hastings College of The Law, June 2010

HONORS and AWARDS

Outstanding Achievement in Pro Bono, June 2010

Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, June 2001 – June 2006

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. ACTIVITIES and MEMBERSHIPS

Member, California Employment Lawyers Association

Co-Chair, CELA’s Immigrant Employment Rights Committee

Member, National Employment Lawyers Association

LANGUAGES

Spanish & English