About Mark
Mark S. Spring has almost 30 years of experience handling labor and employment law matters throughout Northern California. Spring’s practice is focused on representation of management in union-management relations and handling litigation triggered by all types of employment related disputes. He practices out of our Sacramento and San Francisco offices.
Spring has a successful record of dealings with union locals from the Teamsters, UFCW, IBEW, Laborers, SEIU and Stationary Engineers. He negotiates union contracts, handles ULP charges, resolves grievances, represents clients at grievance arbitrations, and manages secondary picketing issues and other strike related litigation and matters. In addition, Spring assists non-union employers with union avoidance efforts, and counsels employers during union campaigns.
Spring’s reputation for litigation excellence is built upon an impressive record as lead trial counsel in high-stakes employment litigation in both federal and state court. In addition to his courtroom and trial work, he regularly represents California employers in discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and employee safety issues in administrative matters and hearings before the NLRB, DFEH, EEOC, DLSE, Cal-OSHA, CUIAB and other state and federal agencies.
Spring maintains a significant litigation prevention practice, advising national and regional clients on adopting employment policies to comply with California law. Spring has also represented public figures, elected officials, executives and athletes in high-profile sexual harassment lawsuits and investigations.
Spring is a member of the American Employment Law Council (AELC), a national invitation-only group of senior, management side employment attorneys. He is the Northern California representative for the Wage & Hour Defense Institute (WHDI) a group comprised of rigidly selected top wage and hour litigators from across the country. Spring has served for over fifteen years on the Sacramento County Bar Association’s Minority and Diversity Hiring and Retention Committee. Spring was recently named the Best Lawyers® Sacramento 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for the category of Employment Law – Management by his peers.
Spring loves to teach. He is an adjunct lecturer at California State University, Sacramento where he teaches an undergraduate course in recreation law each semester. Spring is also a frequent speaker to employment-related groups and associations on a variety of labor and employment law issues and is in charge of our firm’s monthly webinar series.
In his off-the-clock hours, Spring enjoys playing golf, white water rafting and coaching high school sports. He has served many years as a high school boys’ basketball and girls’ lacrosse coach.
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Areas of Practice
Traditional Labor Law - Unions and the NLRB
EEO Litigation
Wrongful Termination and Workplace Tort Litigation
Workplace Solutions, Advice and Training
Wage and Hour Issues
Workplace Safety and Health (OSHA)
Class Actions
Education
George Washington University Law School, J.D., with honors, 1991
- Journal of International Law and Economics, 1990-1991
- The Advocate Student Newspaper, Asst. Editor, 1989-1991
- U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Special Investigations, Law Clerk
Georgetown University, B.S. Finance, cum laude, 1988
- Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Contributions to the University, 1988
- Varsity Men’s Lacrosse Team, 1984-1985
Brasenose College, Oxford University, Summer 1987
- Comparative Business Program
Publications
"California Employers, Facing Tight Safety Rules, Need To Get Comfortable With Change," Quoted, HR Dive, August 2021
“Mandating Vaccines in the Workplace” Interview on Sacramento Fox 40 News, April 2021
“Can accounting firms mandate vaccines?” Commentary, The Journal of Accountancy, April 2021
"The PRO Act and the Future of American Labor Law," Daily Journal, March 2021
"The Challenges of Reimbursing Employees for Remote Work in California," Bloomberg Law, November 2020
"2020 Brings New Workplace Requirements," Today's General Counsel, Spring 2020 Edition
"Are You Prepared for California’s Sweeping Labor Law Changes?" TLNT.com, December 2019
"Lyft Sexual Assault Suit Alleges Inadequate Background Checks, Investigations," Contributor, HR Dive: Human Resources and Workforce Management News, September 2019
"California’s Battle over Worker Classification - Punching In: Acosta Hunkers Down, EEOC Eyes ‘Other’ Harassment," Contributor, Bloomberg’s Law’s Punching In Podcast, February 2019
"Doing Business In California? Be Sure You Comply With These New Employment Rules," Talent Management and HR, January 2018
"New Laws Beginning Jan. 1 Impact California Employers," Northbay Business Journal, December 2017
The Employer Survival Guide for the Hospitality Industry, Co-authored with Jeremy Naftel, 2003
Written Opinions
Medic Ambulance Service, 370 NLRB No. 65 (2021)
Kulshestha v. First Union Commercial Corp., 33 Cal. 4th 601 (2004)
English v. IKON Office Solutions, Inc., 94 Cal. App. 4th 708C (2001)
Ho v. IKON Office Solutions, Inc., 143 F.Supp. 2d 1163 (N.D. Cal. 2001)
Rains v. Criterion Systems, Inc., 80 F.3d 339 (9th Cir. 1996)
Presentations
Sampling of Recent Presentations:
"Everything You Really Need to Know, Right Now, About the Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards," Moderator, CDF Webinar Series, June 2021
"How the New Biden/Harris Administration is Likely to Affect California Employers,” Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, January 2021
"COVID-19 Related Wage and Hour Issues," Co-Presenter, CDF COVID Education Week, December 2020
"The Tidal Wave of Litigation California Employers Should Expect From the COVID-19 Crisis," CDF Webinar Series, July 2020
"Return to the Workplace - A Comprehensive Review of What California Employers Need to Know," Moderator, CDF Webinar, June 2020
“California Employment Law Review & Tips to Prepare for 2020 for Healthcare HR Professionals,” American Society for Health Care HR Administration (ASHHRA), February 2020
“CA Labor & Employment Law Year in Review – Key Developments from 2019 & Tips To Prepare for 2020,” Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar, November 2019
"Complying with Prop 11 - Managing and Preventing Workplace Violence and Disability-Related Issues," Co-Presenter, California Ambulance Association (CAA), 2019 Annual Convention, September 2019
"Important NLRB/Traditional Labor Law Developments," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, August 2019
"Dynamex – One Year Later: A Survey of Post Dynamex Developments and Issues In The Year Since It Was Published," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, June 2019
“What You Need To Know About Union Organizing Drives,” California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), April 2019
"California Labor & Employment Law Year in Review - Key Developments from 2018 & Tips to Prepare for 2019," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, December 2018
"Key Updates In Traditional Labor Law," CDF Webinar Series, August 2018
"Work After Weinstein: The #MeToo Movement’s Impact on Workplace Investigations," CDF Webinar Series, March 2018
"California Labor and Employment Law Year in Review – Key Developments from 2017 and Tips To Prepare for 2018," Co-Presenter, CDF Webinar Series, November 2017
“How to Avoid Liability When Hiring and Firing Employees,” American Academy of Attorney CPAs 2017 Fall Meeting & Education Conference, November 2017
"Predicting the Direction Under President Trump: Insight for California Employers," CDF Webinar Series, March 2017
Professional Affiliations/Leadership/Awards
Listed, Top Lawyers, Sacramento Magazine, 2018 - 2021
Listed, Best Lawyers®, "Lawyer of the Year," Employment Law - Management, Sacramento, CA, 2021
Listed, Best Lawyers®, Employment Law - Management, Sacramento, CA, 2018 & 2022
Listed, Best Lawyers®, Litigation, Labor and Employment, Sacramento, CA, 2018 & 2022
Listed, Northern California Super Lawyers, 2008 - 2009 and 2013 - 2021
Listed, Super Lawyers, Top 25 Lawyers in Sacramento, 2020
Listed, Best of the Bar, Sacramento Business Journal, 2015 & 2019
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ Rated
Wage and Hour Defense Institute (WHDI), Northern California Representative, 2015 - present
Blog Editor, CDF's California Labor & Employment Law Blog, January 2021 - present
American Employment Law Council (AELC), Member, 2007 - present
Sacramento County Bar Association Diversity Hiring and Retention Committee, Member, 2003 - present
California State University, Sacramento - Adjunct Lecturer - Introduction to Recreation Law, 2014 - present
Sacramento No Glass Ceiling Task Force, Board of Directors, 2005 - 2007
University of Phoenix, Sacramento Campus, Employment law/Business law Adjunct Lecturer, 1998 - 2001
Sacramento Area Human Resources Association, Legal and Legislative Director/Board of Directors, 1998 - 2000
Civic Activities
Mark Spring featured in the December 15, 2017, Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal, In Recess Column Article "Coaching Advocate" - recognizing his coaching efforts since law school.
Volunteer Basketball Coach – Georgetown University/U.S. State Department Balkan Basketball Diplomacy Project – Bar, Montenegro, August 2011 and August 2012
Assistant Boys Basketball Coach - Folsom High School, 2000 - 2002; 2006 - 2009; 2012 - 2013; 2015 - 2019
JV and Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach, Oak Ridge High School, 2011 - 2014
Rolling Hills Middle School, Head girls basketball coach, 2010 - 2011
El Dorado Hills Youth Lacrosse Club, Youth girls coach, 2007 - 2010
Temple Or Rishon, Board of Directors, 1996 - 1998
Folsom Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Folsom Program Graduate
Pro Bono
Provides pro bono services to a variety of non-profit organizations in Sacramento, including Shalom Jewish School, UC Davis Hillel, Sacramento Jewish Federation, and Temple Or Rishon Congregation. Counsel includes representing these organizations in employee disputes, negotiations with their executives, and providing general guidelines on employment policies and situations.
Spring is also on an attorney panel for the ABA Military Pro Bono Project. The program provides pro bono representation for members of our armed services.
Chair, CDF Pro Bono Committee, 2015 - 2017
