Honoree: Frances Hernandez

(Gittings Photography)

Partner
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sheppard Mullin’s Orange County offices boast strong female leadership, and as office managing partner of the OC office, Frances Hernandez is a testament to that. Since joining Sheppard Mullin as an associate, she has proven herself to be a standout at the firm and impressively made partner before turning 35. A member of Sheppard Mullin’s 2020 partnership class, Hernandez demonstrated outstanding client service and contributed to the growth of the firm. She was elected office managing partner of the Orange County office on April 1, 2023. As a mother of three, Hernandez also co-founded and co-leads Sheppard Mullin’s OC Families Group.

The OC Families Group recognizes the challenges faced by professionals with caregiving responsibilities and provides a forum for members of the company’s OC office to benefit from invaluable support and mentorship in that regard. The OC Families Group regularly hosts family-friendly networking events where its members spend quality time forging deeper professional relationships while enjoying quality time with their families. Within her thriving legal practice, Hernandez represents employers in all areas of employment law, including wage and hour; class and representative actions; discrimination and harassment; retaliation; wrongful termination; disability; leaves of absence; employment policies; and government agency audits, investigations and charges. She represents clients in matters like claims of discrimination and harassment, wage and hour violations, retaliation, wrongful termination, and breach of contract; before the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement; in wage and hour class actions and representative actions under the Private Attorneys General Act; and before the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Hernandez also advises clients on developing proactive compliance solutions and litigation avoidance strategies, assisting them with matters such as auditing wage and hour policies and practices; updating and developing employee handbooks, personnel policies and procedures, and employment and severance agreements; conducting internal investigations of employee complaints; and advising human resources.