PRACTICE
Dennis J. Hayes has extensive experience in litigation involving
public employee associations and private sector labor unions.
Serving as General Counsel for these unions, he also
negotiates collective bargaining agreements in both the public
and private sector. He is also very experienced in arbitration,
personnel commissions, hearings and administrative board
hearings. Mr. Hayes also has extensive experience in appellate
work before the California Court of Appeals and the California
Supreme Court.
Dennis J. Hayes has extensive experience in litigation involving
public employee associations and private sector labor unions.
Serving as General Counsel for these unions, he also
negotiates collective bargaining agreements in both the public
and private sector. He is also very experienced in arbitration,
personnel commissions, hearings and administrative board
hearings. Mr. Hayes also has extensive experience in appellate
work before the California Court of Appeals and the California
Supreme Court.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to California Bar on June 14, 1986
U.S. District Court, Central and Southern District
San Diego County Bar Assn. Labor & Employment Law
California Bar Association Labor & Employment Law
LERA, San Diego County Chapter
Public Employee Staff Organization (PESO)
Admitted to California Bar on June 14, 1986
U.S. District Court, Central and Southern District
San Diego County Bar Assn. Labor & Employment Law
California Bar Association Labor & Employment Law
LERA, San Diego County Chapter
Public Employee Staff Organization (PESO)
| Dennis J. Hayes |
| Adam E. Chaikin |
PRACTICE
Mr. Chaikin represents public employee associations and
labor unions in lawsuits and arbitrations, including Federal
and state court litigation at the administrative, trial and
appellate court levels under various labor and employment
laws and regulations, from inception through trial. Mr. Chaikin
also regularly represents clients in the areas of federal and
state civil rights laws, wrongful termination, wage and hour
violations, unlawful discrimination, and defamation. Mr.
Chaikin has substantial experience with the
Meyers-Milias-Brown Act and the Public Safety Officer
Procedural Bill of Rights, including litigation of: unfair practices
before the Public Employment Relations Board; and petitions
for writ of mandate. In addition, Mr. Chaikin regularly
represents individuals and organizations in complicated
business and real estate disputes and has extensive
experience with injunctions, attachments, restraining orders
and other forms of preliminary relief, motion practice,
discovery, trial, appeal, arbitration, mediation, and
post-judgment remedies.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to California Bar on December 8, 1998
Admitted in U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern and Southern
Districts
EDUCATION
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Los
Angeles, CA
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, Lawrence, KS
Mr. Chaikin represents public employee associations and
labor unions in lawsuits and arbitrations, including Federal
and state court litigation at the administrative, trial and
appellate court levels under various labor and employment
laws and regulations, from inception through trial. Mr. Chaikin
also regularly represents clients in the areas of federal and
state civil rights laws, wrongful termination, wage and hour
violations, unlawful discrimination, and defamation. Mr.
Chaikin has substantial experience with the
Meyers-Milias-Brown Act and the Public Safety Officer
Procedural Bill of Rights, including litigation of: unfair practices
before the Public Employment Relations Board; and petitions
for writ of mandate. In addition, Mr. Chaikin regularly
represents individuals and organizations in complicated
business and real estate disputes and has extensive
experience with injunctions, attachments, restraining orders
and other forms of preliminary relief, motion practice,
discovery, trial, appeal, arbitration, mediation, and
post-judgment remedies.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to California Bar on December 8, 1998
Admitted in U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern and Southern
Districts
EDUCATION
SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Los
Angeles, CA
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, Lawrence, KS
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PRACTICE
Lauren M. Arens has worked with Dennis J. Hayes since 2001,
which has provided her with broad experience in both private
and public sector unions, and preparing for litigation and
administrative agency matters. After graduating Cum Laude
from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in May of 2008 and
passing the California bar, Mrs. Arens joined the firm as an
Associate Attorney.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to the California Bar on January 6, 2009
US District Court, 9th District
EDUCATION
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Juris Doctor, Cum Laude,
2008
Lauren M. Arens has worked with Dennis J. Hayes since 2001,
which has provided her with broad experience in both private
and public sector unions, and preparing for litigation and
administrative agency matters. After graduating Cum Laude
from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in May of 2008 and
passing the California bar, Mrs. Arens joined the firm as an
Associate Attorney.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to the California Bar on January 6, 2009
US District Court, 9th District
EDUCATION
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Juris Doctor, Cum Laude,
2008
| Lauren M. Arens |
PRACTICE
Ms. Butler’s practice focuses on all areas of labor law and
employment-relations law, with an emphasis on
representation of employees concerning discipline and
termination, fair employment practices and contract rights and
violations. Ms. Butler has represented union members on
claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of
contract and overtime and other wage/hour issues.
Ms. Butler’s past work experience includes collective
bargaining, with an emphasis on law enforcement and public
safety, and advising on wage and hour issues.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to the California Bar on June 1, 2007
Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, 9th District
and Supreme Court of Texas
EDUCATION
St. John’s University School of Law, Jamaica, NY
Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Public Affairs and
Citizenship, Syracuse, NY
Ms. Butler’s practice focuses on all areas of labor law and
employment-relations law, with an emphasis on
representation of employees concerning discipline and
termination, fair employment practices and contract rights and
violations. Ms. Butler has represented union members on
claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of
contract and overtime and other wage/hour issues.
Ms. Butler’s past work experience includes collective
bargaining, with an emphasis on law enforcement and public
safety, and advising on wage and hour issues.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to the California Bar on June 1, 2007
Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, 9th District
and Supreme Court of Texas
EDUCATION
St. John’s University School of Law, Jamaica, NY
Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Public Affairs and
Citizenship, Syracuse, NY
| Donna M. Butler |
PRACTICE
Ricardo Ochoa has represented unions and their members
before state and federal trial courts, the Ninth Circuit, and
various state and federal labor boards (such as the NLRB,
ALRB, and PERB). Mr. Ochoa regularly represents clients in
federal and state wage and hour cases, class actions,
grievance/arbitration matters, organizing drives, and contract
negotiations. Mr. Ochoa has particular experience with
construction and public sector unions. He has conducted
numerous trainings and workshops for Union leaders and
representatives.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to California Bar on April 2000
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Northern, Central, Eastern and
Southern Districts of California
Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeal, Ninth Circuit
Labor and Employment Section, State Bar of California
San Diego County Bar Association, Labor & Employment
Section
California Employment Lawyers Association
National Employment Lawyers Association
Lawyers’ Coordinating Committee of the AFL-CIO
EDUCATION
Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley
University of California Santa Cruz
Ricardo Ochoa has represented unions and their members
before state and federal trial courts, the Ninth Circuit, and
various state and federal labor boards (such as the NLRB,
ALRB, and PERB). Mr. Ochoa regularly represents clients in
federal and state wage and hour cases, class actions,
grievance/arbitration matters, organizing drives, and contract
negotiations. Mr. Ochoa has particular experience with
construction and public sector unions. He has conducted
numerous trainings and workshops for Union leaders and
representatives.
AFFILIATIONS
Admitted to California Bar on April 2000
Admitted to U.S. District Court, Northern, Central, Eastern and
Southern Districts of California
Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeal, Ninth Circuit
Labor and Employment Section, State Bar of California
San Diego County Bar Association, Labor & Employment
Section
California Employment Lawyers Association
National Employment Lawyers Association
Lawyers’ Coordinating Committee of the AFL-CIO
EDUCATION
Boalt Hall School of Law, UC Berkeley
University of California Santa Cruz
| Ricardo Ochoa |
Jim Cunningham is a partner with the law firm of Hayes and
Cunningham. Jim is a licensed attorney admitted to practice
law in the State of California since 1987. His litigation practice
has taken him from Superior Court, the Fourth District Court of
Appeals, the Department of Labor, Washington D.C., Federal
District Court, the California Supreme Court, the Workers
Compensation Appeals Board, as well as appearing at
retirement boards throughout the State. Specializing in the
protection of the rights of Police and Fire Union members, Jim
was instrumental in drafting California Labor Code § 4850.4,
which provides for the expeditious handling of disability
pension applications. During his long career, Jim was a
Certified Specialist in Workers Compensation Law, the co-
chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Workers
Compensation Section, and a statewide lecturer and author
on the rights of California workers. Jim frequents the
California State Capital where he advocates and testifies
before the State Senate and Assembly on Public Safety
issues. While serving as the Executive Director for one of the
nation’s largest Deputy Sheriffs’ Associations, Jim was also
the Legal Defense Trust and Medical Benefits Trust
Administrator. Jim sits on the Boards of the Leukemia
Lymphoma Society, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit
System, San Diguito River Park JPA. Jim is married with four
children.
Cunningham. Jim is a licensed attorney admitted to practice
law in the State of California since 1987. His litigation practice
has taken him from Superior Court, the Fourth District Court of
Appeals, the Department of Labor, Washington D.C., Federal
District Court, the California Supreme Court, the Workers
Compensation Appeals Board, as well as appearing at
retirement boards throughout the State. Specializing in the
protection of the rights of Police and Fire Union members, Jim
was instrumental in drafting California Labor Code § 4850.4,
which provides for the expeditious handling of disability
pension applications. During his long career, Jim was a
Certified Specialist in Workers Compensation Law, the co-
chair of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Workers
Compensation Section, and a statewide lecturer and author
on the rights of California workers. Jim frequents the
California State Capital where he advocates and testifies
before the State Senate and Assembly on Public Safety
issues. While serving as the Executive Director for one of the
nation’s largest Deputy Sheriffs’ Associations, Jim was also
the Legal Defense Trust and Medical Benefits Trust
Administrator. Jim sits on the Boards of the Leukemia
Lymphoma Society, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit
System, San Diguito River Park JPA. Jim is married with four
children.
| James J. Cunningham |