Atty. Charles O. Thompson
Charles Thompson is a dynamic and creative trial lawyer serving national and global clients in high-stakes litigation. He focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling representing clients through all phases of Class Actions and Single Plaintiff cases.
Profile Summary
About Charles O. Thompson at a glance
Charles O. Thompson is a Shareholder based in San Francisco, California, practicing at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. They have 37+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1989. Their practice focuses on employment, m&a, wage & hour, and litigation. Admitted to practice in California (1989). Educated at Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D., 1988) and University of San Francisco (B.S., 1983). Recognitions include Peer Reviewed. Serands clients in San Francisco, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Charles Thompson is a dynamic and creative trial lawyer serving national and global clients in high-stakes litigation
- He focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling representing clients through all phases of Class Actions and Single Plaintiff cases
- Charles has wide-ranging experience litigating employment-related issues for public and private companies, having handled over 1,000 employment matters for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to Silicon Valley startups
- He has tried employment, commercial, and professional liability cases to verdict and directed verdict, has litigated and appealed cases from California State Courts to the United States Supreme Court, and is a fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
- His case load includes cutting edge technology companies, air and space and retail
- Charles represents employers in wage and hour cases, as well as EEOC class actions, in state and federal courts across the United States and has broad experience appearing before the California Civil Rights Department, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Employment Development Department, and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor
- In addition to his trial and counseling work, Charles serves as a private and judicial mediator and arbitrator, and has acted as a pro-tem judge upon request of the court
- He has broad experience in binding arbitrations and trial
- He has taught trial advocacy, diversity, employment cross border conflicts and substance abuse to clients and industry organizations
- Throughout his career, Charles has been a champion for diversity and has served on the Executive Committee of the board of Directors for the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco
- He actively supports and promotes diversity efforts and collaborates with clients on diversity issues
- Concentrations •Class Action •Americans with Disabilities Act •Sexual harassment •Discrimination and wrongful termination matters •Sexual assault •Wage and hour •Catastrophic cases Recognition & Leadership Awards & Accolades •fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers •Six Sigma Greenbelt •Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Labor & Employment, 2025-2026 •Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense, 2021-2024 •Listed, Benchmark Litigation, 'Labor & Employment Star,' 2020-2024 •Recognized, National Law Review, 'Go-To Thought Leader,' 2020 •fellow, American Bar Foundation
Practice Areas Explained
Charles O. Thompson's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Charles O. Thompson handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Charles O. Thompson is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in California →
Charles O. Thompson is one of 49,731 m&a attorneys indexed nationally. Browse m&a attorneys in California →
Charles O. Thompson is one of 4,935 wage & hour attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wage & hour attorneys in California →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Charles O. Thompson is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in California
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in San Francisco are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in San Francisco or all attorneys in California.
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