Benjamin A. Mains

He represents public and private employers in all aspects of employment law, including harassment and discrimination claims in state and federal court, wrongful discharge, whistleblower retaliation, FMLA, CFRA, and ADA matters, wage-and-hour class actions, trade secret litigation, and PAGA representative actions. His clients range from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies across AI, life sciences and healthcare, fintech, energy, telecommunications, education, and construction.

In addition to his litigation practice, Ben also advises employers on preventive policies and practices, with a focus on practical solutions for complying with local, state, and federal law. He counsels clients on litigation avoidance, employee management, recruiting and hiring, handbooks, leaves of absence, discipline and termination, workforce reductions, discrimination and harassment, reasonable accommodation, and wage-and-hour compliance.

His counseling practice also covers human resources strategy in mergers and acquisitions, and the preparation of executive and other employment agreements, offer letters, and proprietary information agreements.

A former prosecutor and veteran trial attorney, Ben has taken 68 jury trials to verdict in California's state and federal courts. He spent eight years as an Assistant District Attorney, ultimately serving as the head of the Hate Crime Prosecution Division of the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, where he also specialized in prosecuting felony domestic violence and sexual assault matters.

Ben has also taught introductory and advanced trial advocacy as an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University School of Law; defended lawyers, law firms, and judges in professional liability litigation, State Bar complaint investigations, and Commission on Judicial Performance inquiries; and lectured and written on criminal law reform and social justice policy.