Yen P. Chau Partner (510) 451-3300 ychau@donahue.com Download vCard LinkedIn
Yen P. Chau
A member of the firm’s Employment and Litigation practice groups, partner Yen Chau handles virtually all aspects of employment-related matters and complex commercial litigation. Yen is also a registered patent attorney and is based in our Oakland office.
A Valuable Asset to Employers
A seasoned employment law litigator, Yen handles claims involving alleged FEHA/Title VII violations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, and wrongful termination. She also represents her clients in cases involving trade secret misappropriation and wage and hour violations. She litigates in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative boards and the appellate courts. She has significant experience advising clients on performance management, disability accommodation, non-competes, and other issues associated with the terms and conditions of employment. A guiding force and advocate for her employer clients, Yen provides advice and guidance to avoid potential pitfalls, drafts employment handbooks, and designs processes to ensure legal compliance while minimizing risk and expense.
Letters of the Law
As a knowledgeable author and speaker, Yen frequently presents and writes on labor and employment topics. In 2021 Yen was appointed to the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association, Labor and Employment Section. Yen is also currently a Board of Director for the Alameda County Bar Association, since 2019. Previously, she served on the Board of the Contra Costa County Bar Association Employment Section, and in 2017, was President of the Board.
Before Donahue Fitzgerald
Prior to joining the firm, Yen handled a wide range of employment and commercial litigation cases including corporate dissolution, will and trust contests, professional malpractice, toxic torts, and personal injury and wrongful death actions. She has a strong scientific background and has worked in biotech as a research associate for a gene therapy company.
Professional & Community Affiliations
- Executive Committee Member, Labor and Employment Section, California Lawyers Association, present
- Director, Board of Directors, Alameda County Bar Association, 2019-present
- Member, Asian American Bar Association
- President, Employment Section, Contra Costa Bar Association, 2017
Recent Articles/News
- Congratulations to Yen Chau on her CLA Labor and Employment Law Section Executive Committee Appointment, August 12, 2021
- Donahue Fitzgerald Elects New Partner, May 19, 2021
- New Emergency Regulations With Covid-19 Paid Leave Benefits Enacted By Cal OSHA, December 15, 2020
- California Family Rights Act Expansion Impacts All Employers with Five or More Employees, October 9, 2020
- A New Bill Loosens Strictures for Some Musicians and Other Freelancers, San Francisco Classical Voice, September 9, 2020
- What You Need to Know: Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020, July 15, 2020
- New Law Related to COVID-19 on Paid Sick Leave and Family Emergency Care Leave Effective April 1, 2020, March 19, 2020
- Doing the Right Thing: Avoiding the Risks Inherent in Correcting Misclassification of Independent Contractors, Contra Costa Lawyer Magazine, March 2020 Edition
- Congratulations to Yen Chau and Jonathan Wong on their ACBA Recognitions, January 24, 2020
- Key Changes to California Employment Law for Businesses in 2020, December 18, 2019
Past Articles/News
- Tips to Hiring and Managing Employees, July 16, 2019
- Berkeley, Emeryville, SF, and San Leandro Employers: Don’t Forget Mid-Year Minimum Wage Increases, June 25, 2019
- Employment Agreements: New Restrictions on Non-Disparagement, Release of FEHA Claims, and Sex Harassment Confidentiality Provisions, October 4, 2018
- Partner Yen P. Chau Joins Donahue Fitzgerald
- “California’s Wage Equality Law: Will a Rise in Social Awareness and Litigation Lead the
Way to a Rise in Pay?” Contra Costa Lawyer Magazine, July 2017 - “Admissibility of Immigration Status in Employment and Personal Injury Cases,” Contra
Costa Lawyer Magazine, September 2014
Recent Speaking Engagements
December 08, 2020 | Webinar
2021 Annual Employment Law Update
December 03, 2020 | Webinar
2021 Annual Employment Law Update
May 28, 2020 | Webinar
CCCEAC 2020 Employment Law News & Update: Adjusting To A New Normal
Contra Costa County Employer Advisory Council
May 26, 2020 | Webinar
Preparing Your Business and Employees for Reopening
May 17, 2020
Making A Difference with Sheetal Ohri Radio Talk Show
Bolly92.3FM
March 11, 2020 | Oakland, CA
NCHRA 2020 HR West Conference
Next Concept HR Association (NCHRA)
February 19, 2020
Independent Contractor vs Employee Classification
Law Firm Alliance
December 12, 2019 | San Rafael, CA
2020 Annual Employment Law Update
December 10, 2019 | Walnut Creek, CA
2020 Annual Employment Law Update
December 05, 2019 | Oakland, CA
2020 Annual Employment Law Update
Past Speaking Engagements
- Anatomy of an Employment Lawsuit, Part I: Intake and Response, Contra Costa County Bar Association, November 22, 2019, Walnut Creek, CA
- Sexual Harassment Prevention – #MeToo and #TimesUp Continue, CCC Employer Advisory Council, October 24, 2019, Concord, CA
- Employment Law for Non-specialists, Alameda County Bar Association, October 9, 2019, Oakland, CA
- Life Pro Tip for Small Businesses: Hiring and Managing Your Employees, Small Business Majority, June 18, 2019, Webinar
- Life Pro Tip for Small Businesses: Paying Yourself and Paying Your Employees, Small Business Majority, May 14, 2019, Webinar
- Getting Ready to Hire a New Worker? How to Start the Process, Better Business Bureau, May 02, 2019, Webinar
- Anti-Harassment Training For Small Businesses, April 11, 2019, Oakland, CA
- Making A Difference with Sheetal Ohri Radio Talk Show, March 10, 2019, Radio
- 2019 Employment Law News and Update – CA State and Federal, January 24, 2019, Concord, CA
- Your Business, Your Employees: Classifying Your Workforce and Workforce Benefits, January 17, 2019, Webinar
- 2019 Annual Employment Law Update, December 13, 2018, San Rafael, CA
- 2019 Annual Employment Law Update, December 11, 2018, Walnut Creek, CA
- 2019 Annual Employment Law Update, December 06, 2018, Berkeley, CA
- Association of Legal Administrators, East Bay, Yearly Update, January 2018
- 2018 Annual Case and Statutory Update, January 2018
- CCBA MCLE Spectacular on CA and Federal Leave Laws, November 2017
- Retaliation in the Workplace: 2014 Statutory Updates, Speaker, March 6, 2014