Our People

Steve is the Chair of the firm's Retirement, Benefits and Disability Practice Group and works to ensure that our firm stays on the cutting edge of the law related to these important areas. He has an extensive labor relations practice and unparalleled retirement law expertise. Steve has acted as chief negotiator for many public agencies in labor negotiations with their employee groups, helping them reduce payroll and other costs. He also advises clients on contract interpretation issues and represents clients in grievance matters and is frequently called on to assist agencies in times of fiscal crisis.

Arti L. Bhimani is Senior Counsel in the Los Angeles office of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore. She is a leading litigator on behalf of nonprofit institutions, having served as Deputy General Counsel and head of litigation for leading global healthcare nonprofit.  In that capacity, Arti oversaw national and international litigation and supervised the work of over 50 law firms, and personally litigated numerous matters in state and federal court involving employment discrimination, government contracting practices, writs, False Claims Act and other claims.  She manages all aspects of litigation from inception through trial, including drafting pleadings; taking and defending lay and expert witness depositions; conducting witness interviews; discovery; drafting and arguing dispositive motions, alternative dispute resolution, and trying cases before juries, judges and arbitrators.  Arti has also argued in state appellate courts in California and Ohio and appeared before the California Supreme Court on a matter concerning the Public Records Act.  She also represents clients in administrative hearings and regulatory actions before Cal-OSHA, EEOC, County and State Health Departments, the County Assessor’s Office, and the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration.  

As Manager of Legal Support Services, Janae is responsible for hiring, training and supervising the secretarial staff and the legal records department in the Los Angeles office.  She also assists in the development and application of firmwide procedures in these areas. 

Michael Blacher is the Chair of the firm's Private Education Practice Group. He represents educational institutions in all aspects of labor, employment, and education law. Michael has successfully defended claims involving alleged harassment, discrimination and retaliation, disability accommodation, First Amendment, and alleged violation of wage and hour laws. Michael also advises educational institutions in Office of Civil Rights investigations and has handled a number of Title IX cases. Michael often advises boards on governance and other issues, including updates to bylaws. He works extensively on contractual matters such as employment and enrollment agreements as well as employee and student handbooks. Michael also represents clients during arbitrations and administrative hearings.

Richard (Rick) Bolanos has an exclusive practice representing California cities, counties, community college districts and special districts in labor relations services, representation in disciplinary proceedings, arbitration, mediation, fact-finding hearings, and administrative law proceedings. Rick provides oversight of complex personnel investigations and specialized advice and counsel concerning workplace harassment, discrimination and retaliation matters. In addition, Rick is one of the firm's specialists in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) consultation and litigation.

Amy Brandt is an Associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s San Francisco office where she provides advice and counsel to clients in all matters pertaining to education, labor, and employment law. Amy works closely with school district management and leaders on various issues such as employee investigations, employee discipline, civil rights issues, student discipline, contract interpretation, contract drafting, and community partnerships. In addition, Amy represents schools and public agencies in matters including arbitrations, defending claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and advising on Public Records Act compliance. Amy regularly represents clients before the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office of Civil Rights.

Peter Brown has been involved in all areas of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's practice since 1989. His career has evolved from representing public agencies in litigation and all types of administrative hearings to now, where he spends most days -  at the collective bargaining table or in a City Council or Board meeting advising on labor negotiations. 

English Bryant is an Associate in LCW’s San Diego office, where she assists clients in all matters pertaining to labor and employment. Prior to joining LCW, English served as a legal advisor the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, handling high-level personnel issues, civil service hearings, and Pitchess motions, and overseeing Internal Affairs investigations and medical standards issues. She also served as a Senior Deputy County Counsel for San Diego where she defended the County in employment litigation through trial and appeal, represented departments at discipline hearings, provided employment law advice to numerous County departments and agencies, presented training to supervisors and managers, and drafted personnel policies in compliance with the law.

Yesenia Zamora Carrillo is an Associate in the Fresno office of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore (LCW) where she advises clients on employment law matters, including employee contracts, settlement agreements, retention policies, wage and hour compliance and employment handbooks.  She provides counsel on employment discrimination matters as well as state worker’s compensation, CFRA, FMLA, ADA, FLSA and OSHA.  Yesenia has a depth of knowledge regarding class action and PAGA cases and she provides clients guidance on sexual harassment, hostile work environments and discrimination.  Further, she counsels HR, business partners, management, and supervisors on hiring, rehire, terminations, disciplinary action and layoffs, while also tackling litigation matters related to personnel issues.

Tony G. Carvalho is an Associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's Fresno Office where his primary practice is providing advice and counsel to cities, counties, and other public agency clients in all matters pertaining to employment and labor law. His main areas of focus include police and fire investigatory/disciplinary issues, harassment and discrimination claims of all types, CA Labor Code/FLSA wage and hour issues, disability interactive process and reasonable accommodation, and labor relations.