Charles O. Thompson

Charles Thompson is a dynamic and creative trial lawyer serving national and global clients in high-stakes litigation. He focuses his practice on employment litigation and counseling representing clients through all phases of Class Actions and Single Plaintiff cases. Charles has wide-ranging experience litigating employment-related issues for public and private companies, having handled over 1,000 employment matters for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to Silicon Valley startups. He has tried employment, commercial, and professional liability cases to verdict and directed verdict, has litigated and appealed cases from California State Courts to the United States Supreme Court, and is a fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. His case load includes cutting edge technology companies, air and space and retail.

Charles represents employers in wage and hour cases, as well as EEOC class actions, in state and federal courts across the United States and has broad experience appearing before the California Civil Rights Department, the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, the Employment Development Department, and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Labor.

In addition to his trial and counseling work, Charles serves as a private and judicial mediator and arbitrator, and has acted as a pro-tem judge upon request of the court. He has broad experience in binding arbitrations and trial. He has taught trial advocacy, diversity, employment cross border conflicts and substance abuse to clients and industry organizations.

Throughout his career, Charles has been a champion for diversity and has served on the Executive Committee of the board of Directors for the Justice & Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco. He actively supports and promotes diversity efforts and collaborates with clients on diversity issues.

Concentrations

•Class Action
•Americans with Disabilities Act
•Sexual harassment
•Discrimination and wrongful termination matters
•Sexual assault
•Wage and hour
•Catastrophic cases

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
•Six Sigma Greenbelt
•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Labor & Employment, 2025-2026
•Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense, 2021-2024
•Listed, Benchmark Litigation, 'Labor & Employment Star,' 2020-2024
•Recognized, National Law Review, 'Go-To Thought Leader,' 2020
•fellow, American Bar Foundation