Ms. Vu is a Senior Counsel in Buchalter’s Sacramento office, and a member of the Firm’s Labor and Employment, Trade Secrets and Employment Mobility, and Litigation practice groups.

Her practice focuses on representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including the defense of claims involving wrongful termination, harassment, whistleblowing, class action wage and hour disputes, as well as the investigation of workplace complaints including harassment, failure to reasonably accommodate, and discrimination and retaliation. Her experience extends to counseling employers on a variety of personnel matters including family and medical leave issues, disability accommodation, classification/independent contractor issues, wage and hour compliance, background checks, employee handbooks and contracts, discipline, and terminations.

Ms. Vu’s practice also includes defending business entities, start-ups, and individuals in cases involving trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, employee mobility disputes, customer and employee non-solicitation covenants, and litigation arising from breaches of confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements. Her experience has involved litigating cases under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the Unfair Competition Law, Business and Professions Code sections 17200 et seq., and Business and Professions Code section 16600 and 16601 among others.

In addition to her employment practice, Ms. Vu also represents financial institutions and business entities in commercial litigation and business disputes, including lender-liability actions, loan workouts and restructuring, receiverships, creditors’ rights, banking and mortgage fraud, bankruptcy, collection and recovery actions, real estate disputes, partnership and joint venture disputes, shareholder derivative actions, and litigation involving business torts and breach of contract actions. Her clients have included banking and financial institutions, mortgage companies, receivers, national and international business, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and individuals.

Ms. Vu also has extensive experience in administrative law and gaming law, representing cardrooms in licensing and disciplinary proceedings before state agencies, including the California Gambling Commission, California Bureau of Gambling Control and Office of Administrative Hearings. She has counseled and defended individuals and gambling establishments on licensing, regulatory, and complex compliance issues for state gambling licenses, key employees, and third party proposition player services, negotiating and structuring business arrangements, and litigation involving alleged violations of the Gambling Control Act.

Ms. Vu was named to the Best Lawyers 2021 – 2024 “Ones to Watch” list for her work in Labor and Employment Law: Management Litigation, and Labor and Employment. Ms. Vu was recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of Northern California’s “Rising Stars” from 2020-2022. Most recently, Ms. Vu  has been recognized as one of Sacramento Magazine’s 2023 Top Lawyer in the field of Employment & Labor.

Bar Admissions

• California

Education

• University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
• University of California, Santa Barbara

Significant Accomplishments

• Represented a national non-profit organization in actions alleging same-sex sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination claims
• Represented a financial institution in complex wage and hour class action lawsuits alleging meal, rest period and overtime claims
• Obtained summary judgment dismissing lawsuits alleging sexual harassment, racial harassment, age discrimination, retaliation and negligence claims against electrical contractor
• Conducted workplace investigations for employers for complaints involving harassment, failure to investigate, threatened workplace violence, and discrimination and retaliation
• Represented HVAC contractor in trade secret misappropriation action involving claims for breach of employment contract and unfair competition and cross-complaint for declaratory relief, including the preparation of multiple motions for summary judgment
• Testified before the California Joint Legislative Audit Committee resulting state audit of California gaming regulatory agencies, including the Bureau of Gambling Control and the California Gambling Control Commission.
• Represented cardrooms and gambling establishments in licensing and disciplinary matters, including defending against Accusations filed by the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control before the Office of Administrative Hearings
• Represented and counseled sole proprietor in obtaining approval of state gambling and key employee licenses from the California Gambling Commission, including the filing of a writ petition and ultimate approval of California card games, and assisting with the opening of the cardroom for business.
• Represented court-appointed special master in contested trust litigation action involving multimillion real estate trust alleging breach of fiduciary duty and misconduct concerning trust administration
• Represented vehicle license and registration provider in federal court action alleging violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, trade secret misappropriation, fraud, conspiracy, and interference with prospective business advantage
• Represented lenders and financial institutions in actions alleging wrongful foreclosure, unfair business practices, fraud, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims