Wendy M. Lazerson

WENDY LAZERSON is a partner in Sidley’s Labor and Employment international practice group and former co-chair of that group. She practices in Sidley’s San Francisco and Palo Alto offices, working with clients in multiple jurisdictions and a wide variety of sectors. Clients seek out Wendy for their important matters including litigation and arbitration of disputes, crisis management, independent investigations, and day-to-day advice on all matters involving the workplace. Known as a pragmatic and creative thinker, Wendy has successfully represented clients in employment matters including allegations of sexual, racial, or other harassment; alleged ethical violations; theft of trade secrets; breach of contract and fiduciary duty; discrimination; retaliation; whistleblowing; wage-and-hour; and other matters. She handles individual, multi-party, and class actions both in and outside of the courtroom and arbitration in California and beyond.

Wendy regularly works with U.S. subsidiaries of clients based in China and other parts of Asia, global companies, venture capital and financial services, life sciences, technology clients, education, and retail, including those in the robotics and AI fields, among others.

Wendy is ranked by Chambers USA, has received multiple Benchmark awards for excellence, and the BTI “Client Service Award” for excellence in service to clients. She is the recipient of recognition from the Daily Journal from 2024–2026 as a “Top Labor & Employment Lawyer” and as one of its “Top Women Lawyers.” Wendy’s reputation for good judgment and impartiality has led her to be sought after by boards of directors and leadership teams to conduct independent investigations of alleged misconduct on matters of importance. Her reputation for impartiality has also led to her service on the American Arbitration Associations Employment Panel of Arbitrators.

Clients describe Wendy as follows: 

“She really understands our business and calms us in ways only she could do in moments of crisis.”
Chambers USA 2026

“Wendy is a strategic, experienced full-picture thinker.”
Chambers USA 2026

Wendy has served in several firm leadership roles. 

Wendy is invited to speak on topics of interest and has published many articles with thought leadership.

Representative Awards

• Chambers USA as a “Leading Lawyer” for Labor/Employment in California (2021–2026)
• Benchmark Litigation as a “Litigation Star – California” (2025) and “Labor and Employment Star – Nationwide” (2021–2025)
• Daily Journal as a “Top Labor & Employment Lawyer” (2020–2026)
• Daily Journal's “Top Women Lawyers” (2026)
• LawDragon’s 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers – Labor & Employment Litigation (2020–2025)
• BTI Client Service All-Star award (2017)
  

• Conducted multiple investigations involving alleged sexual improprieties involving C Suite executives and board of directors.
• Won summary judgement for China-based technology company and its R&D arm in a stock option dispute.
• Won a defense jury verdict in whistleblowing, discrimination, and retaliation case for large financial institution.
• Won an arbitrator award, including attorneys’ fees and costs in a discrimination and whistleblowing case filed against an e-commerce company and its CEO.
• Defeated nationwide class and collective action for a U.S.-based global technology company alleging misclassification of “technical employees.”
• Defeated nationwide class and collective certification for a Big Four consulting firm in a case alleging firmwide gender discrimination in pay and promotions commenced by women partners.
• Won arbitration award and costs in whistleblowing for a technology company in a case alleging age, weight, and disability discrimination.
• Defeated class certification and obtained summary judgment for a financial institution in a case alleging nationwide race discrimination in a performance management system.
• Obtained a settlement after a single deposition for a big box manufacturer in a class action alleging wage-and-hour violations.

• Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
• Former Board of Directors, Campaign for Legal Services
• Former Board of Directors, Wornick Jewish Day School - Foster City, CA