Atty. Charles S. Birenbaum
Charles S. Birenbaum serves as the firm’s Chair of Northern California.
Profile Summary
About Charles S. Birenbaum at a glance
Charles S. Birenbaum is a Shareholder; Chair, Northern California based in San Francisco, California, practicing at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. They have 44+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1982. Their practice focuses on employment, trade secrets, and litigation. Admitted to practice in California (1982). Educated at Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 1982) and Oberlin College (B.A. Government, 1979). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serands clients in San Francisco, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Charles S. Birenbaum serves as the firm’s Chair of Northern California
- Chuck is an experienced labor and employment attorney who focuses his practice on traditional labor and employment law matters, and has wide-ranging experience litigating in state and federal courts as well as various administrative agencies
- He has testified on proposed legislation impacting entire industries before state legislative committees, and has interfaced and negotiated with labor organizations, politicians, regulators, and industry leaders to resolve complex issues for his clients in the health care, energy, construction and other industries
- Chuck is an experienced trial lawyer, having tried race harassment class actions, noncompetition trials, unfair labor practice hearings before the National Labor Relations Board, and multiple arbitrations
- His appellate work includes decisions from the U.S
- Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit under the National Labor Relations Act, Labor Management Relations Act, and the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act
- In the area of traditional labor law, Chuck has a broad array of experience in collective bargaining, union organizing and trust fund litigation for employers in the construction, energy, health care, manufacturing, and service industries
- He has first chaired collective bargaining for all bargaining units at a health care system
- first chaired collective bargaining over a bargaining unit of registered nurses at a dialysis provider
- first chaired collective bargaining for construction agreements covering billions of dollars of heavy infrastructure development
- and first chaired collective bargaining for a steel manufacturer and fabricator
- Chuck has been honored by numerous organizations for his labor and employment practice
- Since 2013, he has continuously been listed with Chambers USA Guide for his work in labor and employment law, as well as being listed as one of the nation’s top 100 most powerful employment lawyers with Human Resources Executive magazine each year
- Chuck is also recognized by The Legal 500 United States for both Labor-Management Relations and Labor and Employment Disputes - Defense
- Concentrations •Labor and employment class actions •Traditional labor law •Appellate advocacy •Employment law advice, counseling and training •Unfair competition, restrictive covenants and trade secrets Recognition & Leadership Awards & Accolades •Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Labor & Employment Law - Management, 2007-2026 •Listed, Chambers USA Guide, Labor & Employment Law, 2013-2025 •Listed, The Legal 500 United States •Labor and Employment - Labor-Management Relations, 2016-2017, 2019-2025 •'Leading Partners,' 2025 •'Leading Lawyer,' 2023-2024 •Labor and Employment - Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions) - Defense, 2019 •Listed, Benchmark Litigation, 'Labor & Employment Star,' 2020-2024 •Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Northern California Super Lawyers, 2004-2025 •Listed, Lawdragon, '500 Leading U.S
- Corporate Employment Lawyers,' 2020-2026 •Listed, Lawdragon and Human Resources Executive magazine, 'The Nation's Most Powerful Employment Lawyers - Top 100,' 2013-2019 •Listed, The Daily Journal, 'Top Labor and Employment Attorneys in California,' 2016 •Listed, The Daily Journal, 'Top 75 Labor Attorneys in California,' 2013-2016 •Team Member, Law360, 'Employment Practice Group of the Year,' 2013
Practice Areas Explained
Charles S. Birenbaum's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Charles S. Birenbaum 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 S. Birenbaum is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in California →
Charles S. Birenbaum is one of 6,644 trade secrets attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trade secrets attorneys in California →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Charles S. Birenbaum 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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