Best Lawyers logo
  • Lawyers
  • Methodology
  • NEW! Ones to Watch
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In
  • Lawyers
    • Advanced Search
    • COVID-19 Assistance
    • Featured Ones to Watch
    • Lawyer of the Year
    • Highlighted Lawyers
    • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Methodology
    • Overview
    • Ones to Watch
    • Editorial Timelines
    • Practice Areas
    • Publicizing Guidelines
    • FAQ
  • Publications
    • Pennsylvania
    • New England
    • Connecticut
    • Injury & Malpractice
    • Georgia
    • Colorado
    • Real Estate
    • Family Law
    • Canada
    • New York Area
    • Southern California
    • South Florida
    • Northern California
    • Tampa
    • Global
    • Midwest
    • Washington, D.C.
    • Litigation
    • Australia
    • Employment Law
    • Texas
    • Women in the Law
  • Legal Insights
    • Featured Articles
    • In the News
    • Advisory Board
    • Meet the Board
    • Press & Events
  • About
    • Global Presence
    • Company History
    • Leadership
  • Ones to Watch
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In Log In
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In

Lawyer Profile

Image of Bruce D. May

Bruce D. May

Stuart Kane LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    2015
  • Recognized in:
    Employment Law - Management
    Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Lawyer Page:
    https://www.stuartkane.com/att...
  • Website:
    https://www.stuartkane.com
  • Location:
    620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 200
    Newport Beach, CA 92660
  • LinkedIn

Bruce D. May is a founding partner of Stuart Kane LLP, and practices in the Employment group.

Mr. May has represented employers for 38 years. Since 1979, he has devoted his practice exclusively to advising and defending companies of all sizes in every aspect of employment litigation and employment counseling. His expertise spans the entire spectrum of employment law from recruitment and hiring to termination and post-employment misconduct, and everything in between.

Mr. May provides expert counseling to management on day-to-day personnel issues, with an emphasis on minimizing the risk of employee lawsuits while protecting the employer’s right to manage the workplace. But he is also a highly effective trial lawyer who defends employers in everything from small wage claims before the Labor Commissioner to multi-million class action lawsuits in state and federal court.

This dual role as counselor and litigator has enabled Mr. May to master the best strategies for dealing with the toughest personnel issues. Knowing how a workplace dispute will play out at trial provides powerful insights in how to prevent that dispute from getting to court in the first place.

Employment Counseling

Mr. May’s expertise in counseling employers includes every aspect of the employment relationship, from before the employee is recruited and hired to after the employee leaves the company and starts competing. Here is a partial list of the subject matters that he has mastered:

  • Recruiting practices and background checks
  • Immigration compliance
  • Overtime exemptions and wage and hour compliance
  • Drafting offer letters, employment contracts, and bonus and commission plans
  • Creating employee handbooks and personnel policy manuals
  • Leaves of absenceAccommodation of disabilities
  • Workplace safetyUnionism and collective bargaining
  • Unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints
  • Employee discipline and termination
  • Layoffs and reorganizations
  • Negotiating and drafting severance agreements
  • Return of company property
  • Post-employment competition, trade secrets, and non-competes

Employment Litigation

Mr. May also has nearly 35 years of experience representing employers in litigation and at trial in State and federal court in both individual and class action lawsuits. His expertise includes all of the following types of claims:

  • Employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliationWrongful termination and “whistleblower” claims
  • Overtime, meal and rest period, and other wage and hour claims
  • Commission and incentive compensation claims
  • Accommodation of the disabled
  • Occupational safety and health
  • Unfair competition and trade secrets

Public Speaking

Mr. May is also a highly effective public speaker and educator. He has developed an enlightening and entertaining workshop for management called Unlawful Harassment 101 which satisfies the requirements for anti-harassment training in California and which he has presented to hundreds of companies and trade groups over the years. He is also a regular speaker before the National Human Resources Association, OC Tech Alliance (formerly TechAmerica and the American Electronics Association), and numerous networking groups including Vistage and Trusted Advisors.

Pro Bono Work

Throughout his career, Mr. May has also devoted significant time to charitable and pro bono causes. Since 2010, he has served as President of the Board of Directors of Providence Speech and Hearing Center, a leading non-profit speech and hearing clinic based in Orange County.

Mr. May also provides free legal representation to a variety of charitable and religious organizations, including:

  • The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
  • The Discovery Science Center
  • The AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County
  • THINK Together
Continue Reading
  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Lawyer Practice Areas
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media

Lawyer Bio

Bruce D. May is a founding partner of Stuart Kane LLP, and practices in the Employment group.

Mr. May has represented employers for 38 years. Since 1979, he has devoted his practice exclusively to advising and defending companies of all sizes in every aspect of employment litigation and employment counseling. His expertise spans the entire spectrum of employment law from recruitment and hiring to termination and post-employment misconduct, and everything in between.

Mr. May provides expert counseling to management on day-to-day personnel issues, with an emphasis on minimizing the risk of employee lawsuits while protecting the employer’s right to manage the workplace. But he is also a highly effective trial lawyer who defends employers in everything from small wage claims before the Labor Commissioner to multi-million class action lawsuits in state and federal court.

This dual role as counselor and litigator has enabled Mr. May to master the best strategies for dealing with the toughest personnel issues. Knowing how a workplace dispute will play out at trial provides powerful insights in how to prevent that dispute from getting to court in the first place.

Employment Counseling

Mr. May’s expertise in counseling employers includes every aspect of the employment relationship, from before the employee is recruited and hired to after the employee leaves the company and starts competing. Here is a partial list of the subject matters that he has mastered:

  • Recruiting practices and background checks
  • Immigration compliance
  • Overtime exemptions and wage and hour compliance
  • Drafting offer letters, employment contracts, and bonus and commission plans
  • Creating employee handbooks and personnel policy manuals
  • Leaves of absenceAccommodation of disabilities
  • Workplace safetyUnionism and collective bargaining
  • Unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints
  • Employee discipline and termination
  • Layoffs and reorganizations
  • Negotiating and drafting severance agreements
  • Return of company property
  • Post-employment competition, trade secrets, and non-competes

Employment Litigation

Mr. May also has nearly 35 years of experience representing employers in litigation and at trial in State and federal court in both individual and class action lawsuits. His expertise includes all of the following types of claims:

  • Employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliationWrongful termination and “whistleblower” claims
  • Overtime, meal and rest period, and other wage and hour claims
  • Commission and incentive compensation claims
  • Accommodation of the disabled
  • Occupational safety and health
  • Unfair competition and trade secrets

Public Speaking

Mr. May is also a highly effective public speaker and educator. He has developed an enlightening and entertaining workshop for management called Unlawful Harassment 101 which satisfies the requirements for anti-harassment training in California and which he has presented to hundreds of companies and trade groups over the years. He is also a regular speaker before the National Human Resources Association, OC Tech Alliance (formerly TechAmerica and the American Electronics Association), and numerous networking groups including Vistage and Trusted Advisors.

Pro Bono Work

Throughout his career, Mr. May has also devoted significant time to charitable and pro bono causes. Since 2010, he has served as President of the Board of Directors of Providence Speech and Hearing Center, a leading non-profit speech and hearing clinic based in Orange County.

Mr. May also provides free legal representation to a variety of charitable and religious organizations, including:

  • The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
  • The Discovery Science Center
  • The AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County
  • THINK Together
Read more on firm website
  • Award List
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Litigation - Labor and Employment

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Orange County (2018)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Employment Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
 

Lawyer Client Comments

-

Lawyer Practice Areas

Key: Awarded in Best Lawyers Not Currently Awarded for this Area in Best Lawyers

Firm Details

Stuart Kane LLP
https://www.stuartkane.com
 
620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 200
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-791-5100
View Firm Profile

News & Media

Featured Publications

Cover for our publication
 
Add Comment
In making your comments, please do not refer to a pending legal matter.
(*) Required Fields
There was an error during saving, please try again.
If you continue to get this message, please contact us at info@bestlawyers.com or 803.648.0300 for assistance.
Please complete the captcha then submit.
Your comment was saved successfully!
Thank you for your feedback.
  • Find a Lawyer
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Legal Insights
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
Lawyers 
  • Advanced Search
  • COVID-19 Assistance
  • Featured Ones to Watch
  • Lawyer of the Year
  • Highlighted Lawyers
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Find a Lawyer
Methodology
  • Overview
  • Ones to Watch
  • Editorial Timelines
  • Practice Areas
  • Publicizing Guidelines
  • FAQ
Publications
  • Business Editions
  • Regional Editions
  • Partnerships
  • Become a Contributor
Legal Insights
  • Featured Articles
  • In the News
  • Advisory Board
  • Meet the Board
  • Press & Events
  • Best Law Firms
About
  • Global Presence
  • Company History
  • Leadership
  • Founders
  • Press Releases
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
My Account
  • Log In
  • Store
  • Marketing Guidance
Best Lawyers Best Lawyers logo +1-803-648-0300
801 Broad Street, Suite 950 Augusta, GA 30901
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Lawyer Directory
  • Best Law Firms

© 2010-2022 Best Lawyers — All Rights Reserved.