Bio

Curriculum Viate

Joelle Ryssemus Sullivan is an experienced employment attorney, trainer, mediator and expert witness. She has helped both large and small companies in employee policies and procedures, discrimination and harassment investigations. She is accomplished at analyzing litigation strengths and weaknesses and possesses strong conflict resolution, conflict management and leadership skills. She has a firm grounding in facilitative mediation and litigation management experience. She began her career at the California Supreme Court as a judicial clerk for Justice Joyce Kennard, allowing her the unique opportunity to see the entire litigation process from the high court perspective.

She then moved her practice in-house, primarily for technology companies, where she honed her employment law skills and experience, including the management of litigation. She also developed strong human resource skills at the executive level through her responsibilities. Her combination of judicial experience and practical employment representation —recognizing and respecting each side – couple with her mediation process training make Ms. Sullivan keenly able to maintain control of negotiations and facilitate resolution of cases. Her mediation style assures the parties assess the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s case, and then weigh the costs, risks and benefits of proceeding to trial, versus settlement. Oftentimes, she is able to assist the parties in creating or recognizing options not previously considered. Additionally, based on her strong education and experience in both the employment law and human resources area she is well suited as a excellent litigation ally, assisting with planning and preparation, identifying areas for investigation and acting as a powerful expert witness.

And beyond her legal background, Ms. Sullivan also has a strong background in the areas of human resources, human behavior, employee skill development and change management. She has investigated hundreds of complaints in the areas of sexual harassment, sex/gender harassment, pregnancy discrimination, age discrimination, race discrimination, religious discrimination, wrongful action and all issues related to DFEH/DOL/EEOC cases.

Legal Education and Bar Membership

University of San Francisco School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1996 cum laude. California State Bar, 1996-present.

ADR Training

• Intensive Mediation Training Program, The Center for Mediation in Law, Gary Friedman, Esq. November 2007.
• Advanced Expert Witness Tactics, National Business Institute, January 2009