Kelly M. Dermody

San Francisco, CA Directions

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010

Awarded Practice Areas

Employment Law - Individuals Litigation - Labor and Employment

*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in San Francisco.

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Employment Law - Individuals

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Awarded Practice Areas

Employment Law - Individuals Litigation - Labor and Employment

*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in San Francisco.

Works at

Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP

28 Best Lawyers awards

Biography

Kelly is Managing Partner of the San Francisco office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. She is Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Labor and Employment Law, and a member of the ABA’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council. Kelly specializes in civil rights and employment class and collective actions on behalf of plaintiffs, and individual cases addressing sexual abuse, harassment, and trafficking. Kelly is a nationally-recognized advocate in the areas of pay equity, #metoo, and diversity and inclusion. She has prosecuted numerous cases challenging unfair hiring, promotion, compensation, and performance systems.

The Daily Journal has observed that Kelly’s

"values have translated into real workday value for lots of people — people who have won better job opportunities from companies like Abercrombie & Fitch, Home Depot, and Smith Barney, or monetary damages from banks that have engaged in predatory lending and servicing.”

In 2012, Kelly served as President of the Bar Association of San Francisco. She is a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and the American Law Institute. The Daily Journal has selected Kelly as one of the top 100 attorneys in California, top 75 labor and employment lawyers in California, and top 100 women litigators in California. In 2016, The Recorder awarded her the “Giant Slayer” award for her litigation work. She is a Board member of the Equal Justice Society, a national non-profit focused on transforming the nation’s consciousness on race and racial equity.

Locations

San Francisco, California

415-956-1000

275 Battery Street, Suite 2900
San Francisco, CA 94111

Education

University of California Berkeley, J.D., graduated 1993
Harvard University, A.B. (Magna Cum Laude), graduated 1990

Bar Admissions

New York, New York State Bar Association, 2025
California, The State Bar of California, 1994
Washington, District of Columbia, 2025

Court Admissions

U.S. Supreme Court, 2013
U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit, 2012
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit, 2010
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit, 2001
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, 2008
U.S. Court Of Appeals, 5th Circuit, 2020
U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit, 2008
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 2006
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 2007
U.S. Court Of Appeals, 11th Circuit, 2018
U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2005
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, 2012
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, 1995
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 2007
U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico, 2017

Affiliations

American Bar Association, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council - Member
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section - Governing Council, 2009-present; Current Chair; Chair-Elect, 2020-2021; Co-Chair, Section Conf., 2008-2009; Vice-Chair, Section Conf., 2007-2008; Co-Chair, Comm. on Equal Opportunity in the Legal Profession, 2006-2007)
American Bar Association, Section of Litigation (Attorney Client Privilege Task Force, 2017-2018) - Member
American Law Institute - Elected Member, 2019
Bar Association of San Francisco - Board of Directors, 2005-2012; President, 2011-2012; President-Elect, 2010-2011; Treasurer, 2009-2010; Secretary, 2008-2009; Litigation Section; Executive Committee, 2002-2005
Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom - Member
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area - Board of Directors, 1998 - 2005; Secretary, 1999 - 2003; Co-Chair, 2003 - 2005; Member, 1997-Present
Carver Healthy Environments and Response to Trauma in Schools - Steering Committee, 2007
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers - Fellow, 2015
Consumer Attorneys of California - Member
Equal Rights Advocates - Litigation Committee, 2000 - 2002
National Association of Women Judges - Independence of the Judiciary Co-Chair, 2011-2014; Resource Board, Co-Chair, 2009-2011; Member, 2005-2014
National Center for Lesbian Rights - Board of Directors, 2002 - 2008; Co-Chair, 2005 - 2006
National Employment Lawyers' Association - Member
Northern District of California Historical Society - Board of Directors (2015-Present)
Northern District of California Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference - Member, 2007-2010
Pride Law Fund - Board of Directors, 1995 - 2002; Secretary, 1995 - 1997; Chairperson, 1997 - 2002
Public Justice Foundation - Member
State Bar of California - Member

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

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

Employment Law - Individuals, San Francisco (2026)
Litigation - Labor and Employment, San Francisco (2023)
Litigation - Labor and Employment, San Francisco (2020)
Employment Law - Individuals, San Francisco (2018)
Employment Law - Individuals, San Francisco (2014)
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, San Francisco (2013)

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2026 for work in:

Employment Law - Individuals
Litigation - Labor and Employment

Additional Areas of Practice:

Litigation - ERISA
Product Liability Litigation

Special Focus:

Employment
Individuals

Awards:

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Selected for inclusion by peers in The Best Lawyers in America in fields of “Employment Law-Individuals” and “Litigation-Labor and Employment,” 2010-2026
“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2023-2026
“Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers,” Lawdragon, 2026
“Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2010-2017, 2019-2026
“Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2026
“Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Employment & Civil Rights Lawyers in America,” Lawdragon, 2018-2025
“Legends of the 500,” Lawdragon, 2019
“Lawdragon Finalist,” Lawdragon, 2007-2009
“Band 1 Ranking in Labor & Employment: Mainly Plaintiffs,” Chambers USA, 2025, 2026
“Lawyer of the Year for Labor and Employment Litigation,” San Francisco Bay Area, Best Lawyers, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2023, 2026
“Top 100 Northern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2007, 2009-2025
“Top 50 Women Northern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2007-2025
“Super Lawyer for Northern California,” Super Lawyers, 2004-2025
“Top California Women Lawyers,” Daily Journal, 2007, 2010, 2012-2018, 2025
“Labor & Employment Litigator of the Year,” ““Impact Case Award,” “Labor & Employment Star,” “Litigation Star,” ” “Top 50 Labor & Employment Litigator,” Benchmark Litigation, 2024
“Top 250 Women in Litigation,” Benchmark Litigation, 2016-2020, 2024
“California Litigation Star,” Benchmark Litigation, 2013-2017, 2024
“Top Labor & Employment Lawyers,” Daily Journal, 2016, 2018-2020, 2024
“Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar,” Law360, 2024
“Elite Women of the Plaintiffs Bar,” National Law Journal, 2024
“Class Action & Employment MVP of the Year,” Law360, 2023
“Award of Merit,” Bar Association of San Francisco, 2007, 2022
“Top Plaintiff Lawyers,” California Daily Journal, 2022
“Class Action MVP of the Year,” Law360, 2021
“Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award,” American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession, 2019
“Judge Learned Hand Award,” 2019, American Jewish Committee
“Outstanding Private Practice Antitrust Achievement,” American Antitrust Institute, 2019
“Employment Law Trailblazer,” National Law Journal, 2019
“Litigation Trailblazer,” The National Law Journal, 2018
“Giant Slayer,” The Recorder, 2016
“Top 100 Attorneys in California,” Daily Journal, 2012-2015
“Top 75 Labor and Employment Attorneys in California,” Daily Journal, 2011-2015
Distinguished Jurisprudence Award, Anti-Defamation League, 2014
“Top 10 Northern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2014
“Dolores Huerta Adelita Award,” California Rural Legal Assistance, 2013
“Recommended Lawyer,” The Legal 500 (U.S. edition, 2013)
“Women of Achievement Award,” Legal Momentum (formerly the NOW Legal Defense & Education Fund), 2011
“Irish Legal 100” Finalist, The Irish Voice, 2010
“Florence K. Murray Award,” National Association of Women Judges, 2010
“Community Service Award,” Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, 2008
“Community Justice Award,” Centro Legal de la Raza, 2008
“California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) Award,” California Lawyer, 2007
“Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist,” Public Justice Foundation, 2007
“Consumer Attorney of the Year” Finalist, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2006
“California’s Top 20 Lawyers Under 40,” Daily Journal, 2006
“Living the Dream Partner,” Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, 2005
“Top Bay Area Employment Attorney,” The Recorder, 2004

News & Media

Publications

Northern California 2026

Northern California 2025

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