Jean Kathryn Hyams

Jean Kathryn Hyams

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 36 years

Mediation Lawyer at Oakland, CA
Practice Areas: Mediation, Employment & Labor, Discrimination ... +2 more

66 Franklin Street, Suite 300, Oakland, CA

About Jean

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Mediation 40%

Jean has successfully mediated the full range of employment disputes in high tech, construction, retail, restaurant, government and many other fields. In addition to private mediations, she serves as a court-appointed mediator.

25 years

40%
Discrimination 15%

Jean has many discrimination trials under her belt. She fights for clients who have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, religion, disability and other oppressed identities.

29 years

15%
Employment and Labor 15%

Jean believes that employers who institute good management practices can stop workplace discrimination, retaliation and harassment. When they don't, it is the job of employment lawyers to hold employers accountable for the damage employees suffer.

29 years

15%
Sexual Harassment 15%

Workers who are sexually harassed need not bear humiliation and degradation in silence. They deserve a lawyer on their side. Jean empowers her clients about how to demand a safe workplace and sues employers who fail to fulfill their duty.

29 years

15%
Wrongful Termination 15%

Jean brings lawsuits and negotiates resolutions for people who have faced the devastating loss of a job because an employer wrongfully terminated them, securing compensation for lost wages, benefits and for the human toll on her clients.

29 years

15%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in California for 36 years

State: California

Acquired: 1989

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Jean Kathryn Hyams

66 Franklin Street, Suite 300, Oakland, CA, 94607

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Jean Kathryn Hyams's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

9 Client Reviews

5 star (9)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by anonymous | May 4, 2021 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

Empathetic + intelligent

Jean provided me with clear advice, based both on legal review and her conscience. It's a pleasure to work with her.

Posted by anonymous | March 16, 2021 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Terrific thought partner, would highly recommend Jean!

I had reached out to Jean to discuss/review a separation agreement that I received from my employer. She was very accessible - I was able to speak with her directly on my first outreach (vs. many other firms who required a detailed questionnaire or discussion with a paralegal). Based upon that firs...t conversation, it was clear that she had good intentions (it wasn't all about how much she would make from the settlement) - her desire was to help me achieve an appropriate outcome. She came across as experienced, measured and fair. I ultimately had her step in to help with the negotiation and was happy with the overall result. Jean was recommended to me by another employment lawyer that is highly regarded - very glad I had the opportunity to work with her.

Posted by Carol | May 23, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

She changed my life!

When a person is wrongly terminated it takes away more than your job. You loose the essence of who you are, your confidence, your trust in people, how you interact with the outside world. You feel ashamed. But, Jean was able to change all that for me and my termination turned out to be a blessing. Je...an gave me hope from the very first conversation. She and Katherine won my case and the money was great but what they really did was continually make me know that the termination wasn’t my fault. They believed in me. I lived across the country from Jean but it felt as though she was right next door. She was in contact when necessary and was always available when I needed to ask something. She allowed me to make decisions on my case and always gave me options and suggestions. Her guidance and in sight was right on target, I trusted her and she was very successful for me. I am forever grateful.

Posted by anonymous | November 29, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Jean Hyams helped save my sanity

I was sexually harassed at work. When I reported it to HR, the HR director and eventually the management of the company turned against me. I went from an exemplary employee to one faced with a performance review plan overnight. Jean helped me to understand that my claim was legitimate and valid. ...She worked hard for me to get an appropriate resolution. I am grateful to Jean for her expertise and tenacity in helping me with my situation. I am required to post anonymously but otherwise would proudly put my name here.

Posted by Thomas | August 19, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Jean Hyams is great.

I was happy to find Jean Hyams and very pleased with the work she did for me. I hired her to advise me regarding my exit from an academic institution, related to sexual orientation. Jean was accessible, friendly, a good listener and very knowledgable in this area of law. I appreciated her calm, suppo...rtive attitude toward me and I feel confident that she was a strong ally for my case. She was a pleasure to work with despite my challenging situation. I highly recommend Jean for her professional expertise and personal demeanor.

See All Client Reviews

Jean Kathryn Hyams's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Jean
Rebecca Grace Lewallen Kagin headshot
Rebecca Kagin

Employment and labor lawyer | Jun 10

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"Jean is a phenomenal attorney. She is knowledgeable, passionate and highly skilled. She is also very devoted to community service in the legal profession, and has enriched the education of countless attorneys."

Stephen R Jaffe headshot
Stephen Jaffe

Employment and labor lawyer | Dec 12

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Carl Andrew Botterud headshot
Carl Botterud

Unknown lawyer | Nov 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Elisa W. Ungerman headshot
Elisa Ungerman

Employment and labor lawyer | Dec 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Sharon Rachel Vinick headshot
Sharon Vinick

Unknown lawyer

Rebecca Grace Lewallen Kagin headshot
Rebecca Kagin

Employment and labor lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2018

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2017

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2016

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2015

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2014

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2013

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2012

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2011

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2010

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2009

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2008

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2007

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2006

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2005

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

Work Experience

2024 - Present

Founding Partner, Vinick Hyams Trial Partners

2024 - Present

Mediator, Sequitur Resolutions

2012 - 2023

Founding Partner, Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP

2010 - 2012

Founding Partner, Dickson Levy Vinick Burrell Hyams LLP

2004 - 2009

Partner, Boxer & Gerson LLP

2000 - 2004

Associate, Boxer & Gerson

1998 - 1999

Civil Rights Attorney, United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

1991 - 1998

Owner, Law Office of Jean K. Hyams

1990 - 1990

Contract Attorney, East Bay Community Law Center

1990 - 1990

Contract Attorney, Legal Aid Society Of Alameda County

1984 - 1986

Marketing Communications Manager, Hewlett Packard Company

1983 - 1984

Marketing Communications Manager, Oracle Corporation

1982 - 1983

Assistant to the President, Oracle Corporation

Associations

2022 - Present

Women Lawyers of Alameda County

Board Member

2015 - Present

YES: Nature to Neighborhoods

Board Member

2016 - 2018

California Employment Lawyers Association

President

2015 - 2016

California Employment Lawyers Association

President-Elect

2015 - 2019

Bay Area Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association

Chair

2005 - 2019

California Employment Lawyers Association

Board Member

2002 - 2015

Bay Area Cabal

Founder and Chair

Sample of Legal Cases

Hill v. BART

1.2+ Million Jury Verdict

See More Legal Cases

Education

1989

UC Berkeley SOL Boalt Hall

JD - Juris Doctor

1982

Wellesley Coll

A.B.

Speaking Engagements

2024

Continuing Education of the Bar online webinar What's in a Mediator's Toolbox?

2023

UC Berkeley Center on Comparative Equality & Anti-Discrimination - Rethinking Sexual and Gender Harassment Practice

Effective Settlements

2023

Continuing Education of the Bar online Webinar Preparing Clients for Employment Mediations

2023

Continuing Education of the Bar On-line webinar Dealing with Juror Implicit Bias

2020

California Lawyers Association, Labor and Employment Section Webinar

#MeToo After the Dust Has Settled

2018

Northern District Annual Judicial Conference

Rights & Remedies: The Latest in Workplace Sexual Harassment

2018

Annual Diversity Leadership Summit

At the Intersection of Diversity and Free Speech in the Workplace

2017

California Employment Lawyers Association Trial College

Trial College Presenter and Trainer

2016

National Employment Lawyers Association Annual Conference: #NELA16

Breaking into the Field: A How-To Guide for Aspiring Workers' Rights Advocates

2016

Association of Workplace Investigators Annual Conference

From Subpoena to the Witness Stand: The Good, the Bad and the Scary Unknown of Testifying About Your Investigation

2015

California Employment Lawyers Association Second Trial College

Trial College Presenter and Trainer

2014

State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Section Annual Meeting

Hot Issues in Workplace Investigations: A Plaintiff, Defense and Investigator Perspective

2014

San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Conference

Trial Skills: Voir Dire

2014

Plaintiffs Employment Lawyers Association Seminar

Exhausting Exhaustion and Limiting Statutes of Limitations

2014

Bar Association of San Francisco Labor and Employment Section Yosemite Conference

What's New in Discrimination Law and Litigation

2014

American Bar Association, 8th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference

Jury Instructions and Closings

2013

Pincus Seminar

Mastering the Deposition: A Critical Skills Workshop

2013

Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention

Voir Dire Skills Workshop

2013

Alameda County Bar Association Labor and Employment Section Annual Seminar

Picking Your Alameda County Jury

2012

Practising Law Institute Annual Ethics Marathon

The Obligation and Opportunity to Eliminate Bias in the Legal Profession

2012

NELA Annual Convention

That's Private!

2012

CELA Seminar

The ABC's of Co-Counseling

2011

NLG Seminar

Jury Issues in Civil Rights and Public Interest Cases

2011

NELA Two-Day Intensive Trial Training Workshop

Trial Advocacy for the Plaintiff's Employment Lawyer

2010

NELA Annual Conference

Forced Arbitration & Techniques for Success

2010

CELA Seminar

Pulling the Curtain Back on Jury Selection: An Interactive Seminar

2010

California State Bar Public Sector Conference

Overlap Between Disability Laws and Worker's Compensation in the Public Sector

2009

CELA Seminar

Mock Trial Intensive: Full Day Trial Skills Training

2008

Labor and Employment Section Conference

Expert Discovery in a Disability Discrimination Case

2006

Yosemite Conference

Mandatory Arbitration of Employment Disputes

2006

Labor and Employment Section Conference

Annual Employment Law Update

2006

CELA Annual Conference

Drafting Jury Instructions

2006

CEB Seminar

Emerging Issues in Employment Law

2006

CAAA Convention

Fair Employment and Housing Act and its Relation to Worker's Compensation

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