Biography

Mr. Burns is a partner in the San Francisco office representing employers in all aspects of traditional labor and employment law.  He specializes in the practice of traditional labor and employment law on behalf of management including litigation in federal and state court, and before the National Labor Relations Board and National Association of Securities Dealers. He also specializes in handling wage and hour and employment related class actions. He has experience with private and public sector collective bargaining, union elections and strike related activities, and has conducted over one hundred administrative or labor arbitration hearings. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Burns was a judicial clerk for the National Labor Relations Board, Division of Judges in San Francisco.

Mr. Burns also practices commercial and intellectual property litigation, and has experience with corporate, transactional and complex high-technology issues including Internet law, trademarks, copyrights, sports law, unfair competition, rights of publicity, and general corporate governance matters.

He drafts and enforces trade secret and non-compete agreements, as well as negotiates and drafts licensing, affiliate, and strategic partnership agreements.

Prior to entering law school, Mr. Burns taught high school in Kingston, Jamaica as part of the International Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Education

J.D., University of San Francisco (1994)

Maritime Law Journal, Article Editor

B.A., Boston College (1990)

Admissions

• California

Courts

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