Employment decisions are among the most consequential decisions a company makes. Pacific Street advises employers across the full employment relationship, from first hires and handbooks to executive agreements, terminations, workplace investigations, and disputes. We have represented employers in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings, including single-plaintiff, class, and collective actions. For growing companies, we offer fixed-fee employment packages that put core documents and compliance in place, and we can serve as ongoing employment counsel as the workforce grows.

What we do

Employment Packages for Growing Companies

Fixed-fee packages that put core employment documents in place, from offer letters, confidentiality and invention assignment agreements, and separation templates to state-specific employee handbooks and workforce compliance assessments.

Employment Counseling & Workforce Management

Ongoing advice to management and HR on performance, employee relations, wage-and-hour, classification, leaves and accommodations, remote work, and multistate workforces.

Employment Agreements & Policies

Offer letters, employment and contractor agreements, confidentiality and IP protections, restrictive covenants, handbooks, and workplace policies.

Compliance Assessments

Worker classification reviews, required notices and postings, and reviews of hiring, leave, recordkeeping, and separation practices, with prioritized findings and recommended fixes.

Executive Employment & Compensation

Employment, compensation, equity, restrictive covenant, and separation agreements for founders, executives, and other senior employees.

Terminations, Layoffs & Reductions in Force

Individual terminations, severance and release agreements, layoffs, reductions in force, and WARN Act requirements.

Workplace Investigations

Harassment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, and misconduct complaints. When a matter needs a fully independent investigation, our investigations team steps in alongside our employment lawyers.

Frequently asked questions

Do you offer fixed-fee employment packages?

Yes. Our packages give growing companies the core employment documents they need, customized to the company and its state:

First hires: offer letter; confidentiality, invention assignment, and restrictive covenant agreement; and a separation and release template.
Building a team: everything above, plus an employee handbook that reflects state and local requirements.
Established workforce: everything above, plus a compliance assessment covering worker classification and required notices and postings.

Additional states, customization for individual hires, and deeper compliance reviews are also available. Scope and fees are confirmed in writing before work begins.

How do I know if a prospective team member should be an employee or an independent contractor?

It depends on how the relationship actually works, not what the agreement calls it. We analyze classification, including exempt and non-exempt status, and help structure relationships correctly. This becomes more important as companies grow, hire across states, or rely on contractors.

We have employees in multiple states. What do we need to do?

Each state can bring its own wage-and-hour, leave, payroll registration, notice, and handbook requirements, and some cities add more. We identify what applies and can extend your agreements and handbook to each new state as you grow.

We need to terminate an employee. What should we do first?

Before acting, we review the employee’s history and documentation, any protected activity, leave or accommodation issues, and contractual rights that could affect risk. We then advise on timing, documentation, severance, and how to handle the conversation.

An employee made a harassment, discrimination, or misconduct complaint. What should we do?

Act promptly. We help determine the immediate steps, whether an investigation is warranted and who should conduct it, and how to preserve privilege. Our investigations team can step in when a matter needs a fully independent investigation.

We’re hiring or parting ways with an executive or an employee with equity. Can you help?

Yes. We advise on executive agreements, compensation, restrictive covenants, severance, and what happens to equity on departure, including vesting, exercise deadlines, and repurchase rights. Because we also handle corporate and equity matters, we address the employment and equity issues together.

An employee filed an agency charge, sent a demand letter, or is threatening to sue. What should we do?

Involve counsel early, and don’t respond on your own. We assess the allegations and your exposure and determine whether early resolution makes sense. If the claim proceeds, we have experience defending employers in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and agency proceedings, including class and collective actions.

Employment & Workforce