Our People

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. 

Tony G. Carvalho is an Associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore’s Fresno Office where he provides assistance to clients in matters pertaining to employment law, wage and hour, and litigation.  His main areas of focus include: harassment and discrimination of all types, wage and hour claims, the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) class actions, interactive process and reasonable accommodation, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Tony has experience in drafting pleadings, motions, memoranda, written discovery, mediation briefs, labor arbitration briefs, and responses to Department of Fair Employment & Housing complaints.

Dan Cassidy is among the most experienced and accomplished practitioners in the fields of public sector labor relations, negotiations and employment law.  For more than 30 years, he has effectively advocated on behalf of counties, cities, special districts, community colleges and school districts in negotiations, arbitrations and in civil service commission and other administrative hearings.  Dan, a founding partner of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore, has negotiated hundreds of labor agreements for his public agency clients, and various public safety, general, professional, and supervisory units.  He has also represented public agencies as a presenter and panel member in numerous interest arbitrations and factfinding proceedings.

Grace represents educational institutions in all aspects of education and employment law. Grace works extensively in handling various employment and student issues, such as drafting employment agreements, employee handbooks, enrollment agreements and student handbooks, defending claims of alleged harassment, discrimination, retaliation and disability accommodation issues, and advising on employee discipline, wage and hour issues, leaves, student discipline and expulsion, tuition disputes, and contract claims. 

Melanie represents and regularly advises cities, counties, community college districts, school districts, public safety departments and special districts regarding employee and labor relations matters.  The breadth of her experience as both a negotiator and a litigator informs her practical approach to the myriad of labor and employment issues faced by public entities.

Lisa represents cities, counties, and special districts throughout the state as a negotiator, litigator, and trusted advisor in all matters pertaining to labor and employment law.  She has extensive experience in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and wage and hour compliance, the Public Safety Officers' and Firefighters' Procedural Bill of Rights Acts, disciplinary matters, and labor relations.  She also works with the firm's school clients on wage and hour matters.

Kevin Chicas is an experienced Associate in Liebert Cassidy Whitmore's San Diego office where he provides advice and representation to the firm's clients in labor, employment, and litigation matters. As a member of the firm’s Labor Relations practice group, Kevin regularly advises and represents clients in navigating their various meet and confer obligations under the MMBA, EERA, and TEERA.  Kevin also regularly represents agencies before PERB on matters such as unfair practice charges, representation issues, and requests for injunctive relief.  Additionally, as part of Kevin’s continuing practice in bargaining unit representation matters, Kevin served a lead role in advising clients in complying with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Janus v. AFSCME and Senate Bill 866.  Kevin also represents clients at the bargaining table, negotiating matters such as compensation, mandatory access under A.B. 119, employee communication, and other terms and conditions of employment.