Allegra A. Jones
Associate
Duane Morris LLP
Suite 2200
One Market Plaza, Spear Tower
San Francisco, CA 94105-1127
USA

Phone: +1 415 957 3235
Fax: +1 415 704 3451
Email: AAJones@duanemorris.com

Allegra A. Jones practices in the areas of employment law and civil litigation in both federal and state courts. She has represented individual clients and class-action defendants, and has defended employers from claims including wrongful termination, unfair competition, breach of contract, wage and hour disputes, retaliation, harassment and discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex and sexual orientation. She has also represented employers asserting claims based on trade secret violations and unfair competition.

Ms. Jones' practice includes providing advice and counseling on employment matters, such as performance and termination counseling, progressive discipline, leaves of absence, lay-offs, personnel policies, employee handbooks, arbitration agreements and other employment contracts. Ms. Jones has represented employers facing administrative claims before the California Labor Commission, the Fair Employment and Housing Commission, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In addition, she has assisted with training both employers and employees on legal issues that arise in the workplace.

Ms. Jones also practices in the areas of commercial litigation, white-collar defense and investigations, California appellate law, insurance coverage and reinsurance. She provides advice and counseling to insurers and reinsurers, and has represented reinsurers in arbitration proceedings. Ms. Jones provides pro bono legal services as an arbitrator of homeless shelter disputes, a volunteer at Project Homeless Connect and an election protection representative providing non-partisan advice to voters.

Ms. Jones is a member of the Young Professional Advisory Council of the Make A Wish Foundation and is a member of the American Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. She is a 2004 graduate of Boston College Law School, where she was note editor of the Boston College Third World Law Journal, and a graduate, with honors, of Wesleyan University.

Representative Matters

• Obtained defense decision in favor of G4S Justice Services, LLC as counsel in an action brought by the losing bidder alleging that G4S interfered with its existing contractual relations and prospective economic advantage in connection with a public safety contract to provide electronic monitoring and case management for detainees of the San Francisco Sheriff's Department. Plaintiff had sought several million dollars in damages. G4S was awarded its costs of suit, including expert witness fees. Achieved dismissal of five additional causes of action before trial.
• Represented a seller of outdoor gear and apparel in an employment action brought by a former manager. Through a series a series of demurrers, a motion to strike and a motion for summary judgment, limited what started as a seven-claim action to claims for retaliation and emotional distress. Settled the action following mediation for a nominal sum.

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• Bar Association of San Francisco

Admissions

• California
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Education

• Boston College Law School, J.D., 2004
• Wesleyan University, B.A., with honors, 1999

Experience

• Duane Morris LLP
  - Associate, 2006-present
• Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft LLP
  - Associate, 2004-2005

Civic and Charitable Activities

• Member of Young Professional Advisory Council, Make A Wish Foundation
• Volunteer Providing Legal Advice, San Francisco's Project Homeless Connect
• Advocate, Housing Negotiation Clinic, Volunteer Legal Services Program
• Arbitrator, Housing and Homeless Division of the Department of Human Services, City and County of San Francisco
• Volunteer Providing Legal Advice, Election Protection, Lawyers’ Committee

Selected Publications

• Co-author, "U.S. Supreme Court Broadens Employer Liability by Upholding "Cat's Paw" Theory in Employment Discrimination Case," Duane Morris Alert, March 2, 2011
• Co-author, "Ninth Circuit Applies California Law to Determine Independent-Contractor Status Despite Choice-of-Law Provision for Texas," Duane Morris Alert, July 27, 2010
• "The 'Mexico City Policy' and Its Effects on HIV/AIDS Services in Sub-Saharan Africa,"Boston College Third World Law Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, p. 187-222 (2004).

Selected Speaking Engagements

• Speaker, "New California Employment Laws for 2012," Duane Morris; Employment, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group; San Francisco, March 15, 2012
• Speaker, "2011 Developments in Workplace Law and Practice," Duane Morris Employment, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group, San Francisco, May 10, 2011
• Speaker, "I-9 Audits in the Dragnet: Will Other Agencies Take Notice?" Duane Morris, Immigration Practice Group, San Francisco, November 20, 2010
• Speaker, "2010 Developments in Workplace Law and Practice," Duane Morris; Employment, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group; San Francisco, May 18, 2010
• Speaker, "2009 Developments in Workplace Law and Practice," Duane Morris; Employment, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group; San Francisco, May 19, 2009
• Speaker, "2008 Developments in Workplace Law and Practice," Duane Morris; Employment, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group; San Francisco, May 2008