San Mateo Legal Services

ABOUT

Member of:

Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI)
- Member of Diversity & Inclusion Committee, January 2023 to Present
- Co-Convener of Silicon Valley Local Circle from August 2019 through July 2022
- Part-time Faculty at AWI Training Institutes held in September 2021, November 2022 and February 2023
- Co-Presenter at AWI's webinar on "Crossing Borders: Unique Aspects of Investigations Involving Immigrants"
- Co-Presenter at AWI's 2022 Workplace Investigation Basics Virtual Seminar Series on "Evidence, Interviewing & Credibility"
- Co-Presenter at AWI's 2021 Annual Conference on "#mybosssucks: Navigating Social Media Posts in Investigations"
California Lawyers Association (CLA) Labor & Employment Law Section
Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM)
ProVisors (San Mateo 1 Chapter)
Palo Alto Area Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section, Former Co-Chair)

Principal Shivani Sutaria has focused her entire legal career on employment law.

She founded Shivani Sutaria Law Offices in 2014, with a focus on three aspects of employment law: 1) Conducting Workplace Investigations, 2) Providing Advice and Counsel, and 3) Educating and Training Employees and Employers.

Ms. Sutaria is a neutral, external investigator conducting fact-finding investigations into workplace complaints. She has conducted dozens of workplace investigations based on employee complaints on harassment, discrimination, retaliation and other areas of misconduct. Ms. Sutaria is an active member of the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), has completed AWI’s Training Institute for Workplace Investigators and is AWI Certificate Holder. She is the Co-Convener of the Silicon Valley Local Circle and has been selected as Part-Time Faculty for the AWI Training Institute in May 2020 and September 2021.

In addition to conducting workplace investigations, Ms. Sutaria provides advice and counsel as well as training on employment laws to employees and employers.

Prior to the founding of Shivani Sutaria Law Offices, Ms. Sutaria worked at a San Francisco law firm handling employment law matters before the federal and state courts and numerous administrative agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), Department of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) and the Workers Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB).

While earning her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law, Ms. Sutaria served as a judicial extern for the Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges and as a law clerk at the employment law firm of Rudy, Exelrod & Zieff, the California Office of the Attorney General, and the EEOC. In law school, Ms. Sutaria received the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law, the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Advanced Labor and Employment Law, and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Research & Writing.

Prior to law school, Ms. Sutaria worked as the Communications Coordinator and Grants Manager at Equal Rights Advocates, a legal organization focusing on women’s employment rights. She also served as an Amnesty International Ralph J. Bunche Human Rights Research Fellow through which she worked at the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at the University California, Hastings College of the Law on gender asylum issues. Ms. Sutaria earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California, San Diego, both in Sociology.

Past Speaking Engagements

March 2, 2024. "Employment Law for the Small Business." Golden Gate University’s Small Business/Entrepreneurship Program. Presenter at Class.
April 26, 2022. "Evidence, Interviewing & Credibility." AWI's Workplace Investigation Basics Virtual Seminar Series. Co-Presenter at Webinar.
October 14, 2021. "#mybosssucks: Navigating Social Media Posts in Investigations." Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI) Annual Conference. Co-Presenter at Conference.
June 19, 2021. "Thriving in a Post-Pandemic World." Rotary Means Business Fellowship. Panel Member at Webinar.
January 26, 2021. "The New World of Labor and Employment Law." KALW radio show "Your Legal Rights." Guest on Radio Show. Listen here.
December 10, 2020. "California Employment Law Update for 2021." Alameda County Chamber of Commerce and City of Alameda. Presenter at Webinar.
November 7, 2020. "Employment Law for the Small Business." Golden Gate University’s Small Business/Entrepreneurship Program. Presenter at Class.
October 21, 2020. "Let's Talk About AB 5." University of San Francisco Law School's Labor and Employment Law Student Association. Co-Presenter at Webinar.
October 14, 2020. "AB 2257 Amends AB 5: Relief for the Music and Art Sector." San Mateo County Arts Commission & Thrive Alliance of Non-Profits. Presenter at Webinar.
May 28, 2020. "The ABCs of AB5." San Mateo Chamber Commerce of Commerce. Presenter at Webinar.
April 15, 2020. "AB5 and the Future of the Gig Economy." Thrive Alliance of Nonprofits in San Mateo County & SIAG Roundtable Series. Co-Presenter at Webinar.
May 11, 2019. "Employment Law for the Small Business." Golden Golden Gate University’s Small Business/Entrepreneurship Program. San Francisco, CA. Presenter at Class.
January 26, 2018. "2018 Employment Law and Tax Update." San Mateo Chamber of Commerce. San Mateo, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
November 8, 2017. "Employment Law for the Small Business." Small Business Development Center, San Mateo County and South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. San Mateo, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
September 27, 2017. "5 Hot Trends in Employment Law." Women in Consulting Leaders Network. Belmont, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
November 9, 2016. "Part 2: Are Your Employment Law Practices and Policies in Need of Repair?" Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) Silicon Valley Section. Santa Clara, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
September 23, 2016. "Culture and Compliance: An HR Forum." San Mateo Chamber of Commerce's Good Morning San Mateo. San Mateo, CA. Panel Member at Seminar.
August 23, 2016. "Are Your Employment Law Practices and Policies in Need of Repair?" Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) Peninsula Section. Belmont, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
May 11, 2016. "Are Your Employment Law Practices and Policies in Need of Repair?" Automotive Service Councils of California (ASCCA) Silicon Valley Section. Santa Clara, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
May 3, 2016. "Employment Law for the Small Business." City of San Mateo and Small Business Development Center. San Mateo, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
May 2, 2016. "Laws that Effectuate Gender Equality in the Workplace." Women In Action Committee. San Mateo, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
March 2, 2016. "Employment Law for the Small Business." Small Business Development Center, San Mateo County. San Mateo, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
January 29, 2016. "A Legal Perspective on Starting a Business: Selecting a Business Entity and Hiring." San Mateo Chamber of Commerce. San Mateo, CA. Co-Presenter at Seminar.
November 18, 2015. "Be in the Legal Know-How: A Primer on Employment Law for Startups." Hanqi Investment Inc. and Substantia Law Group. Burlingame, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
November 2, 2015. "Employment Law Myths among Startups." Draper University. San Mateo, CA. Co-Presenter at Seminar.
May 6, 2015. "Controlling Unemployment Compensation Costs." National Business Institute Conference on Human Resource Law From Start to Finish. San Francisco, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
January 30, 2015. "Employment Law Essentials For Business." San Mateo Chamber of Commerce. San Mateo, CA. Presenter at Seminar.
October 2, 2014. "Avoid an Employee Lawsuit: 5 Employment Laws Every California Employer Must Know." San Carlos Chamber of Commerce. San Carlos, CA. Presenter at Seminar.