Rachele Berglund

Current Position:

Rachele has been a member of the Firm since 2004 and a partner since 2013. The majority of Rachele’s law practice is dedicated to areas of employment, labor, corporate, business law, and governance. She is known for developing a deep understanding of her clients’ needs, creative problem-solving, and an efficient, no nonsense approach. Her clients include individual employees, as well as employers, nonprofits, and other business entities. It is Rachele’s steadfast approach to provide advice in a way that resolves matters before they become intractable legal problems – often before it is necessary to turn to mediation, arbitration, or the court system. When it is necessary to do so, Rachele is an effective advocate for her clients. She has been before numerous mediators and arbitrators in a variety of settings; she has been before numerous administrative hearing officers; and has been a zealous advocate for clients in court settings.

Rachele Berglund

 

Rachele’s journey to working as an attorney was inspired nearly 20 years ago when she was employed by a local community action agency. There, Rachele worked to mobilize community action in rural and unincorporated communities through education and service; Rachele also served as a primary author of numerous grant applications. She continued her efforts with a local school district and was part of a team that secured millions in grant funding to establish and manage education, community, and social programs. These experiences served to deepen her interest in effectuating equity and efficient, just resolution of disputes.

 

Rachele has successfully represented a significant number of matters throughout her career. Several of her significant representation include: successfully negotiated settlement agreements involving age discrimination, harassment, FLMA/CFRA matters, and whistleblower claims; defending employers in unfair labor practice charges; regularly draft, review and revise employee policies, employment agreements, negotiated severance packages, independent contractor agreements, and drug testing policies; representing clients in administrative matters related to harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; routinely and regularly advise clients on human resources matters; negotiating successful sale of corporate stocks, assets, and dissolution of corporate entities; and serving as Employment Counsel to public and private businesses, General Counsel to non-profits and Assistant General Counsel to public agencies.

Areas of Practice:

Employment:

  • Employment discrimination, interactive process, and reasonable accommodation
  • Employment agreements, severance packages
  • Wrongful termination
  • Medical and family leaves of absence
  • Whistleblower
  • Employment guidelines and policies
  • Director, Officer, Manager and Supervisor training
  • Compliance with collective bargaining acts
  • Negotiations and impasse procedures
  • Unfair labor practices
  • Wage and hour law
  • Industrial injuries
  • Neutral and independent fact-finding administrative investigations
  • Employee discipline and termination
  • Social media
  • First Amendment issues

Corporate and Business:

  • General Counsel
  • Nonprofits
  • Business formation and dissolution
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Business counseling

Governance

  • Board governance, consulting, and development
  • Ralph M. Brown Act
  • AB 1234 Ethics
  • Conflicts of Interest, including the Fair Political Practices Commission and Government Code
  • California Public Records Act
  • Duties of a governing body

Bar Admissions:

Rachele is admitted to the State Bar of California.

Education:

Rachele graduated with high honors from Fresno Pacific University earning her Bachelor of Arts in Management and Organizational Development December in 2002. She received the Distinguished Achievement Award in 2002 from Fresno Pacific University. In May of 2006, she earned her Juris Doctorate from San Joaquin College of Law, where she graduated as Valedictorian with High Honors. She was also a member of the San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review.

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Rachele is a member of the Tulare County Bar Association. She also serves as a Board Member for Golden State YMCA, Sequoia Lake Conference, and Tulare County Library Advisory Board. Rachele is a founding member and Board Chair for Sycamore Valley Academy.