$ 385-475 per hour
Steven M. Chanley has over 30 years' experience concentrating on representing businesses in employment litigation and advice matters. His practice focuses on litigation and legal advice regarding Wage-Hour Claim Defense; Wrongful Discharge; Retaliation; Employment Discrimination; and Trade Secret Misappropriation.
1
Practice Area
37 years | 1,000 cases
$ 385-475 per hour
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Chat withState: California
Acquired: 1989
No misconduct found
23832 Rockfield Blvd., Suite 260, Suite 130-B, Lake Forest, CA, 92630
735 Tank Farm Road Suite 130B, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401
22 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 22 reviews
Posted by Brian | July 23, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor
Steve is great!
I’ve worked with Steve for over 20 years through four job transitions, and he’s been outstanding every time. He’s smart, strategic, responsive, and always keeps my best interests front and center. A true pro and a trusted advisor.
Posted by Manuel | December 24, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
A Pleasure to Work With
We used Steve's services to deal with a personal issue regarding my mother's estate. I found Steve to be personable and had very good communication skills - he asked appropriate questions regarding the matter, he provided very good information that guided our approach to the resolution of the matte...
Thank you, Manuel, so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with Employer Advocates Group. We are thrilled to hear that you found my communication skills and approach to be both personable and effective in addressing the labor issue arising out of your mother's estate matter. I, personally, appreciate hearing that my thorough approach and responsiveness helped guide you through this challenging situation. EAG prides itself on providing clear and articulate documentation, and I am pleased that my efforts achieved a favorable resolution for you. We are grateful for your trust in our services, and we are here to support you should you need representation in the future. Thank you once again for your kind words, Manuel. If you have any further questions or require assistance down the line, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Posted by anonymous | December 16, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor
rancher
I had the misfortune of being confronted with a labor issue earlier this year and by being a fine advocate and at the same time not confrontational, Steve was able to resolve the issue.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with our firm. I am thrilled to hear that I was able to assist you effectively during your labor issue. I always endeavor to advocate for our clients while maintaining a non-confrontational approach. It is rewarding to me to hear that it made a positive impact on your situation. Your feedback is incredibly important to us, and we are committed to providing the best support possible. If you have any further questions or need assistance in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help! Thank you once again for your kind words and for choosing Employer Advocates Group.
Posted by Tom | December 13, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Business
Excellent Lawyer
Steven was great to work with on a few projects here at our business. He communicated well, was extremely attentive to our needs, persistent, diligent and so easy to work with and very knowledgeable. We were in a difficult, complex situation and Steve worked us through our problems with a satisfacto...
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your positive experience with our team at Employer Advocates Group. We are thrilled to hear that we were able to assist you effectively through your complex situation. I’m humbled to hear that my communication, attentiveness, and knowledge made your projects smoother and more manageable. We pride ourselves on our commitment to our clients, and it’s rewarding to hear that this was reflected in our interactions. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support you. If you have any further needs or projects in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to working with you again.
Posted by anonymous | September 25, 2024 | Employment & Labor
Went Above and Beyond!
Steven was incredibly helpful. I made the mistake of contacting Steven as an Employee, when Steven specializes in assisting Employers. But nevertheless, he still took the time to carefully explain and guide me to helpful resources to assist me with my case. Despite Steven suffering from a terrible Fl...
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with us. I’m pleased to hear that I was able to assist you, even under challenging circumstances. I take the responsibilities of my work, as a member of the State Bar ad an Officer of the Court, seriously and believe that it is an honor and a duty to be able to serve others when they are in need, even if I cannot represent them. We understand that navigating these situations can be complex, and we are glad that I was able to guide you to the right resources and help you feel confident about your next steps. Your feedback reinforces the importance of our team's efforts to provide some support to people who inquire of our services, even if they do not become clients of the firm. Thank you once again for your kind words. They mean a lot
"Sometimes a single Avvo answer reveals a lot. The answer of Mr. Chanley was not only accurate and analytic - it was customized to the potential individual needs of the Avvo asker. These are exactly the qualities that every client would look for when hiring an attorney."
"Steven is a very knowledgable employment attorney. I would definitely refer employers who are looking for an attorney."
"I have had Steve as opposing counsel a number of times. He is a strong but fair advocate for his employer clients. I have referred a number of employers to Steve and will do so in the future. He is clearly the best employment law attorney in San Luis Obispo County."
"I've always found Mr. Chanley's work to be the highest quality. I have great respect for Steve both personally and professionally."
"Steve handled a litigation matter for one of my clients and did a great job. He got the whole case dismissed on a summary judgment."
Business lawyer
Litigation lawyer
Employment and labor lawyer
Employment and labor lawyer
Litigation lawyer
Employment and labor lawyer
Employment and labor lawyer
2025
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2024
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell
1996
AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
1988
American Jurisprudence Award, Labor Law II
1987
American Jurisprudence Award, Labor Law I
2002 - Present
Shareholder, Employer Advocates Group LC
1999 - 2002
Shareholder, Sinsheimer, Schiebelhut, Baggett & Tangeman
1995 - 1999
Attorney, Sinsheimer, Schiebelhut, Baggett & Tangeman
1990 - 1995
Attorney, Morrison & Foerster (Palo Alto)
1989 - 1990
Attorney, Littler (San Francisco)
1989 - 1989
Law Student Intern/Board Agent, National Labor Relations Board, Region 20 (San Francisco)
1987 - 1987
Summer Associate, Cotchett & Illston
1984 - 1985
Paralegal Clerk, Pillsbury Madison & Sutro (San Francisco)
2024 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember, Committee on Wage and Hour Law
2024 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember, Committee on The Develpment of the Law Under the NLRA
2024 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember, Committee on Technology in the Practice and Workplace
1995 - Present
San Luis Obispo County Bar AssociationMember
1989 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
1989 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
1999 - 2014
SLO Bar Assn. Employment Law SectionChair
Resolved.
1989
JD - Juris Doctor
1985
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2018
Avoiding Top 10 Problematic Employment Practices
2013
Form I-9 Compliance
2013
Employment Law Update 2013
2012
Employment Law Update 2012
2011
Current and Pending Supreme Court Employment Law Cases
2011
The Laws of Hiring
2011
The Laws of Hiring
2008
Recent Developments in Employment Law 2008
2007
The Laws of Hiring
2006
Essential Recordkeeping
2002
The Laws of Hiring
2002
Selected Topics in Employment Law
2001
Employment Law Update 2001
2000
Employment Law Update 2000
1999
Pre-Employment Screening
1998
Recent Trends in Sexual Harassment Law
1997
At-Will Employment in California
1997
Selected Topics in Employment Law
2011
2008
English
French
Legal Answers
Missing wages from my final paycheck
01 Jan 2025
Is my non-compete enforceable in CA for an ex-employer in Texas?
16 Mar 2024
Can a company continue using your personal outgoing voicemail messages, after termination?
15 Mar 2024