Melissa Jo Kendra
- San Francisco
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Jo helps businesses navigate the complexities of employment law by combining proactive counseling with strategic defense when disputes arise.
Melissa (Jo) Kendra represents companies, executives, and human resources personnel in a range of matters, including, but not limited to, those involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage-and-hour issues. She approaches each case from a litigator’s perspective while considering the practical implications for her clients. Jo has represented clients in a variety of industries, including the technology, retail, service, hospitality, and legal sectors.
Jo also advises clients regarding risks associated with sensitive decisions including potential discipline and termination, ensures employers are well-informed and compliant with their obligations, and assists in the preparation of employment handbooks and policies. In so doing, Jo’s goal is simple: to provide her clients with clear, actionable advice that protects their organizations and gives leaders the confidence to focus on running their businesses.
Prior to joining the firm, Jo served as a criminal prosecutor at both the local and state levels. Her extensive courtroom background—both in trial and appellate courts—further enhance her ability to handle intricate legal issues with confidence.
Areas of focus
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, Executive Articles Editor, 2013
- University of Texas at Austin, B.A., English, with honorscal, 2010
Bar and Court Admissions
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California
Related Employment
- Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Associate, 2023-2025
- Jackson Lewis P.C., Associate, 2022-2023
- Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP, Senior Counsel, 2020-2022
- California Attorney General’s Office, Deputy Attorney General, Appeals, Writs, and Trials Section, 2018-2020
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Member
