Steven M. Chanley

Steven M. Chanley

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 36 years

Employment and labor Lawyer at Lake Forest, CA
Practice Areas: Employment & Labor

23832 Rockfield Blvd., Suite 260, Suite 130-B, Lake Forest, CA

About Steven

Biography

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Employment and Labor 100%

Employment litigation; advice and counsel; contract preparation.

37 years | 1,000 cases

100%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 385-475 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 36 years

State: California

Acquired: 1989

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Employer Advocates Group

23832 Rockfield Blvd., Suite 260, Suite 130-B, Lake Forest, CA, 92630

Employer Advocates Group

735 Tank Farm Road Suite 130B, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401

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Steven M. Chanley's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

22 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (22) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews | Business

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...ry outcome.

Steven Chanley

Replied last January 07, 2025

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 | May 17, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Business

Every employer needs a Steven, better yet Steve!

Steve has bailed us out of several bs claims and helped us out a ton with our small family run business. Our co has used his expertise in handling everything from discrimination claims, false termination claims and employee theft. If I ever need any employee advice Steve is always quick to respond ...and very sharp. Like I said previously, every business owner needs a Steve!

Posted by anonymous | February 27, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Business

Professional, Efficient, and an Excellent Advocate

Mr. Chanley has provided legal counsel to my business for over a decade and I have found him to be consistently responsive to my firms needs. He is very experienced and pleasant to work with, and we have found him to deliver value that far exceeds his fees.

Posted by Dustin | September 25, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Business

Master of His Craft

Steve has been assisting us in various business endeavors for nearly 15 years. He has always been our sole resource on employment law matters, but has also been incredibly helpful in lending his broad legal understanding to explain general business law. When we've had needs outside his area of expert...ise, he has referred us to some equally brilliant attorneys in their respective specialties. Steve treats every matter with the care and effort that makes you feel like family. He has also always billed very generously and far more fairly than most attorneys we've engaged. Steve gives me the confidence to trust his advice and removes the stigma of needing to hire an attorney. I can't recommend him highly enough!

Posted by Rakan | March 22, 2013 | Business

Not Your Typical Attorney!

I am the President and co-owner of an Aerospace Corporation. I hired Mr. Chanley to represent the Corporation against a class action claim with the EEOC (total of 9 claims). l was extremely impressed with Mr. Chanley communication ability, responsiveness, attention to detail, competency, and professi...onalism. From the inception to resolution of my legal cases, Mr. Chanley took the lead in every little detail of the cases (preparation of interview/investigation questioners to meeting out of state with federal investigators). Mr. Chanley kept me always informed and I was extremely pleased with his results. Mr. Chanley is a very intelligent professional attorney. He continues to provide me with great insight on a wide variety of legal matters and has helped guide me in the right direction. I would highly, without hesitation, recommend hiring Mr. Chanley for all your employer legal matters.

See All Client Reviews

Steven M. Chanley's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Steven
Michael Charles Doland headshot
Michael Doland

Employment and labor lawyer | Jan 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"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."

Narak Mirzaie headshot
Narak Mirzaie

Employment and labor lawyer | Aug 27

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Steven is a very knowledgable employment attorney. I would definitely refer employers who are looking for an attorney."

Bruce Neil Anticouni headshot
Bruce Anticouni

Employment and labor lawyer | Feb 24

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"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."

Daniel Joseph O'Neill headshot
Daniel O'Neill

Employment and labor lawyer | Feb 26

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I've always found Mr. Chanley's work to be the highest quality. I have great respect for Steve both personally and professionally."

Robert Davison Thomas headshot
Robert Thomas

Employment and labor lawyer | Dec 25

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"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."

Jon-Erik G. Storm headshot
Jon-Erik Storm

Employment and labor lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

View All Endorsements
John Walter Fricks headshot
John Fricks

Business lawyer

Joseph Arshawsky headshot
Joseph Arshawsky

Litigation lawyer

Bruce Neil Anticouni headshot
Bruce Anticouni

Employment and labor lawyer

Brian Clay Donnelly headshot
Brian Donnelly

Employment and labor lawyer

Joseph Walter Hammell headshot
Joseph Hammell

Litigation lawyer

Robert Davison Thomas headshot
Robert Thomas

Employment and labor lawyer

Thomas Earl Wilson headshot
Thomas Wilson

Employment and labor lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

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

Work Experience

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)

Associations

2024 - Present

American Bar Association

Member, Committee on Wage and Hour Law

2024 - Present

American Bar Association

Member, Committee on The Develpment of the Law Under the NLRA

2024 - Present

American Bar Association

Member, Committee on Technology in the Practice and Workplace

1995 - Present

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association

Member

1989 - Present

American Bar Association

Member

1989 - Present

State Bar of California

Member

1999 - 2014

SLO Bar Assn. Employment Law Section

Chair

Sample of Legal Cases

Bathija v. Vivint Wireless, Inc., No. 18-CV-04389-EJD, 2018 WL5906546 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 9, 2018).

Resolved.

See More Legal Cases

Education

1989

University of California College of the Law, San Francisco

JD - Juris Doctor

1985

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2018

Nat'l Assn. of Women Business Owners, Cental Coast

Avoiding Top 10 Problematic Employment Practices

2013

Santa Maria Human Resources Assn.

Form I-9 Compliance

2013

Dibuduo & Defendis Insurance

Employment Law Update 2013

2012

Employer Advisory Council

Employment Law Update 2012

2011

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

Current and Pending Supreme Court Employment Law Cases

2011

Mission Community Services Corp.

The Laws of Hiring

2011

Central Coast Human Resources Association

The Laws of Hiring

2008

Santa Maria HR Association

Recent Developments in Employment Law 2008

2007

Santa Maria HR Association

The Laws of Hiring

2006

Human Resources Assn. of the Central Coast

Essential Recordkeeping

2002

Van Beurden Insurance Services

The Laws of Hiring

2002

Employer Advisory Council

Selected Topics in Employment Law

2001

Santa Maria Personnel Association

Employment Law Update 2001

2000

Institute For Management Accountants

Employment Law Update 2000

1999

Central Coast Personnel Assn.

Pre-Employment Screening

1998

Institute of Management Accountants

Recent Trends in Sexual Harassment Law

1997

Rotary Club of Nipomo

At-Will Employment in California

1997

Employer Advisory Council

Selected Topics in Employment Law

Publications

2011

San Luis Obispo County Bar Bulletin "Rethinking The 'No Comment Rule' Rule in At-Will Discharges"

2008

Short Story Criticism, Volume 103 (Thompson Publishing) "Quest For Order in "Pigeon Feathers": Updike's Use of Christian Mythology

Languages

English

French

Activity

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