Rebecca Stuart

Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Rebecca Stuart is a partner in Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s employment law practice. Rebecca represents employers in federal and state court litigation and before administrative agencies regarding discrimination (including race, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, and disability), harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, wage and hour, wrongful termination, and numerous other types of employment law matters.

In addition to her litigation practice, Rebecca consults with human resources professionals, executives, and board members on a daily basis regarding all aspects of the employment relationship. These issues include preventive personnel practices, enforceability of covenants not to compete, hiring practices, employee classification issues, employment contracts, wage and hour matters, independent contractor audits, family and medical leaves, workplace investigations (including those involving sexual harassment), terminations, and reductions in force.

She also routinely advises companies on trade secret misappropriation issues—including employee raiding and solicitation matters and anti-competitive activity by former employees or company competitors—as well as counsels clients with respect to preventive measures designed to minimize the risks associated with hiring competitors’ employees or addressing those employees who are leaving to join a competitor. She has reviewed and drafted numerous employment policies, including employee handbooks, vacation policies (both traditional and “unlimited” time off policies), and family and medical leave policies, as well as other standard employment documents, such as employment, release, and confidentiality agreements.

In addition, Rebecca has considerable merger and acquisition experience, assisting clients in structuring corporate transactions to minimize employment-related risks and maximize the value of the transaction from an employment perspective, and has advised on more than 500 transactions ranging in value from $20 million to $19 billion. Her merger and acquisition practice consists of representing both buyers and sellers in large and small transactions, including cross-border and other complex transactions. Her practice includes mergers, acquisitions, IPOs, asset purchases, and financing. Rebecca also has significant international experience pertaining to employment issues in the M&A context, and she regularly represents buyers and sellers in transactions involving non-U.S. employees.

Rebecca is a frequent speaker on employment matters, routinely providing training for clients and organizations on matters such as anti-harassment, bias in the legal and technology sectors, use of social media in employment, general management skills, and employment law in the M&A context.