Background Information

English R. Bryant is the Director of the Firm’s Employment Practices Group. Ms. Bryant is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D., 1990), where she graduated in the top 10% of her class and was a member of Law Review. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the College of Charleston, South Carolina in 1987. She graduated magna cum laude. After obtaining many years of “Big Firm” experience at Gray, Cary, Ware & Freidenrich (now DLA Piper) defending businesses in employment litigation, Ms. Bryant became Senior Deputy County Counsel, for the Office of San Diego County Counsel. Most of Ms. Bryant’s almost 20 years of legal experience has been spent defending employers in the private and public sectors, in employment matters.

Accomplishments

• Successfully defended County through trial in sexual harassment/retaliation case; obtained summary adjudication of harassment claim and defense verdict on retaliation claim after 5 day jury trial
   

• Prevailed at trial in gender discrimination case filed by County Director
   

• Defended The Regents of the University of California in six plaintiff race discrimination case; successfully defeated class certification; after four week bench trial, obtained complete victory for defense
   

• Represented Chipsoft/Intuit in wrongful termination/ race discrimination case; obtained summary judgment.
   

• Defended County in wrongful constructive discharge case through appeal; successfully demurred to common law claims; obtained summary judgment on FEHA claims; decision affirmed on appeal
   

• Defended County in wrongful constructive discharge and disability discrimination case; obtained summary judgment in federal court, affirmed in part on appeal; case was transferred; obtained summary judgment; affirmed on appeal.]
   

• Represented Commission in writ petition action successfully through appeal; involved layoff decision and civil service rules governing layoffs
   

• Represented County of San Diego in highly publicized wrongful termination/retaliation case involving supervising psychiatrist [case was settled following appeal]

Legal Employment

2009- Present
TYSON & MENDES LLP
San Diego, California
Director, Employment Practices Group.
Defense of all litigated employment matters, including sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination and discrimination; counsel executive and human resources personnel regarding employment practices, including hiring, diversity, and disability considerations; present employment-related training seminars, including required harassment training; counsel and defend employers in all types of administrative law hearings, including DFEH/EEOC and OIA.

1996-2006
SENIOR DEPUTY COUNTY COUNSEL, OFFICE OF COUNTY COUNSEL, EMPLOYMENT LAW
San Diego, California

• Handled employment litigation for the County, including claims of sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and discrimination, in federal and state courts and before the FEHC, EEOC and Labor Commission and EDD, as well as writ petition appeals of Civil Service Commission decisions

• Represented County departments in disciplinary proceedings before the Civil Service Commission, and in disability retirement hearings before Retirement Board

• Advised department heads, managers and personnel officers on state and federal anti-discrimination laws, hiring practices, diversity, disciplinary considerations, disability accommodations, retirement laws, civil service rules, labor laws, and all aspects of human resources

• Implemented risk management strategies in County personnel matters; proposed solutions, changes to policy, training, and improvements in personnel practices

• Negotiated resolutions of complicated personnel issues, requiring consensus among Department Heads, CAO, Internal Affairs, County Counsel and the Board of Supervisors, as well as complainants and/or DFEH/EEOC

• Revised and updated Human Resources policies and Civil Service Rules in collaboration with County executives, including Director of Human Resources, County Risk Manager and Commission’s Executive Officer

• Developed and presented employment-related training seminars to supervisors and managers within the County, as well as for statewide County Counsel Association meetings; also, trained personnel officers to provide training seminars

• Prepared budgets for litigation services and reviewed bills from law firms and experts

• Investigated discrimination complaints and reviewed investigation reports prepared by others in response to DFEH/EEOC and OIA complaints

1990-1996
GRAY CARY WARE & FREIDENRICH (DLA PIPER)
San Diego, California

• Employment law attorney; represented public and private sector employers in federal and state court and arbitration matters

• Litigation attorney; handled construction defect litigation for developers

Education

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctor - 1990
Graduated top 10% of class and member of Law Review

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
Bachelor of Science in Political Science – 1987
Graduated magna cum laude 

Memberships

Admitted to the California Bar 1990

San Diego County Bar Association

Supervisor Academy – County of San Diego