Valeria Balfour, Esq.

Of Counsel

Attorney Valeria Balfour

Valeria Balfour is a seasoned labor and employment attorney. She focuses her practice on advising employers on how to comply with federal and state wage and hour laws and anti-discrimination laws. She also has expertise in California WARN issues. Ms. Balfour drafts and reviews employee handbooks, employee new hire documents, employee termination/exit documents, employment agreements, and release and separation agreements. She also advises employers on leaves of absence and termination decisions as well as reasonable accommodation issues. She counsels employers regarding investigations of allegations of harassment and discrimination and also conducts them. Ms. Balfour has experience as an anti-harassment trainer and has given talks on discipline and discharge matters.

As an employment litigator, Ms. Balfour ran single-plaintiff lawsuits for the defense. Typically, these involved issues of discrimination, harassment, privacy, breach of contract, and defamation, among other claims.

Ms. Balfour's litigation practice also includes wage and hour class actions, federal jury trials and appellate work. In addition to state and federal court litigation experience, Ms. Balfour has represented clients in labor and employment matters before the Department of Fair Employment and Housing ("DFEH"), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") and the Department of Labor Standards and Enforcement ("DLSE").

Prior to joining NEWHOUSE | SEROUSSI, Ms. Balfour worked as an attorney for a major national law firm with a marquis employment practice.

Ms. Balfour received her undergraduate degree from Duke University. Additionally, she received a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Duke University with honors for her thesis on racial diversity. Ms. Balfour received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has studied at the London School of Economics and served as a White House Intern.

Ms. Balfour currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks.