Susan Kay Chelsea

Susan K. Chelsea has over over 30 years of employment litigation and counseling, business litigation, and construction law experience.

Ms. Chelsea practices in the area of employment law litigation and counseling, including litigating class and PAGA claims related to wage and hour and classification issues, wrongful termination claims, and harassmet and discrimination claims.  Ms. Chelsea counsels employers on all aspects of employment law including hiring, firing, wage and hour issues, and leave requests.  She also drafts and reviews employee handbooks and other polcieis and procedures.  Ms. Chelsea conducts workplace investigations and advises employers on issues related to workplace investigations.  Her practice also includes workplace training including employee and supervisor harassment prevention training.

Ms. Chelsea also handles general business  general contract disputes, construction contract disputes, government contract claims, including bid protests and requests for equitable adjustments, bond and surety claims and litigation, and advising clients regarding participation in government set-aside programs including Small Business Administration small business set-asides, WOSB, WBE, 8(a), veteran and SDV, MBE, and HUBzone.  Ms. Chelsea's clients are large, medium and small businesses, including healthcare, car dealership, staffing, transportation, hospitality, and construction companies. 

Ms. Chelsea has successfully tried and arbitrated cases involving employment claims, real estate issues, business disputes, construction disputes, securities transactions, and products liability. She has also handled bid protests before the Government Accounting Office (GAO), claims with various federal agencies, and determination challenges by the Small Business Administration.

Ms. Chelsea is admitted to practice in California and in the U.S. District Courts, Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of California as well as the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Ms. Chelsea is a leader in the legal community. She was the Chair of USLAW Network’s Employment & Labor Law Practice Group. Before assuming her role as Chair, Ms. Chelsea served as Vice Chair and Secretary. Ms. Chelsea was a faculty member of the University of San Diego Lawyer’s Assistant Program for nine years. Ms. Chelsea served on the Executive Committee of the State Bar Real Property Law Section and was the Co-Chair of the Litigation Subsection of the State Bar Real Property Law Section. She has also served as Co-Chair of the San Diego County Bar Association Construction Law Section, and a barrister with the Inns of Court, Wallace Inn.