WENDY LAZERSON is the co-chair of Sidley’s Labor and Employment international practice group and a partner in Sidley’s San Francisco and Palo Alto offices. She also serves on the firm’s COVID-19 Task Force. Wendy is ranked by Chambers USA and a recipient of the BTI Client Service Award for excellence in service to clients. Clients turn to Wendy to handle their most challenging matters regardless of venue, due to her reputation as a thoughtful, pragmatic, and strategic thinker. Wendy is retained to conduct independent investigations on matters of importance to Companies and their boards of directors ranging from allegations of sexual misconduct to retaliation to other ethical issues. She also represents employers in litigation including class actions and single plaintiff cases regarding discrimination, retaliation, trade secret theft, sexual harassment whistleblowing, wage and hour, and other workplace disputes. Wendy regularly works with clients based in China and other parts of Asia and their U.S. subsidiaries. Wendy also advises clients on the myriad of issues impacting employers in California. She also trains workforces with regard to legal compliance and best practices to proactively avoid employee claims. Wendy has a long record of success with juries, arbitrators and judges. Wendy has defeated class certification and obtained summary judgment allowing for a prompt result. Wendy is comfortable in front of a jury, a judge, or an arbitrator.
“Wendy Lazerson perfectly combines legal skills with strategic thinking and industry observation, knows well the client’s real needs and always finds ways out from complexity.”
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2021
Wendy is on the Employment Panel of the American Arbitration Association and serves as an arbitrator.
Wendy serves in several firm leadership roles. In addition to being co-chair of the international Labor and Employment group, Wendy serves on the firm’s COVID-19 Task Force and is the former local chair of SidleyWomen.
Wendy regularly speaks on topics of interest and has published many articles with thought leadership some recent examples are listed below. Wendy has received many honors and awards reflecting her recognition by peers and clients. Examples are below:
Awards
- Benchmark Litigation as a “Litigation Star – California” (2025) and “Labor and Employment Star – Nationwide” (2021–2025)
- Chambers USA as a “Leading Lawyer” for Labor/Employment in California (2021–2024)
- LawDragon’s 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers – Labor & Employment Litigation (2020–2025)
- Daily Journal as a “Top Labor & Employment Lawyer” (2020–2025)
- BTI Client Service All-Star award (2017)
- The Best Lawyers in California (2015–2020)
- The Best Lawyers In America for Litigation — Labor and Employment (2016–2021)
- Best Lawyers in Northern California (2016–2020)
- Super Lawyers for Northern California — Employment and Labor (2008–2020)
- San Francisco Magazine as a “Top Lawyer” in Northern California (2013–2020)