Valerie Brender

Deputy County Counsel

Valerie Brender joined the Office of the County Counsel in 2022.  As a member of the Civil and Code Enforcement Team, she represents the County in a variety of civil enforcement actions.   She is also a member of the Labor and Employment Team, where she advises the County in all aspects of labor and employment law.  Prior to joining the County, Valerie represented workers individually and in class actions in wage and hour, discrimination, reasonable accommodation, and wrongful termination claims.  She also advised employees and employers about employment matters.

Valerie’s professional expertise includes:

• Employment law
• Civil and complex litigation

Education

• New York University School of Law, J.D., 2012
  • Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholar
  • Eric Dean Bender Prize for commitment to public service
  • Sol D. Kapelsohn Prize for writing in the field of labor law
• Wake Forest University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2006

Professional Associations

• Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) (2014-2022)
  • Co-Chair, Barristers Labor & Employment Section (2018-2019)
  • Executive Committee, Barristers Labor & Employment Section (2017-2022)
  • 2020 Outstanding Barrister Award

Prior Experience

• Partner at Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP (2020-2022)
• Associate at Rukin Hyland LLP (2014-2019)
• Fellow at Human Rights Watch (2012-2013)