Fern M. Steiner got her start in labor law while working at a hospital in Illinois while attending Northwestern University. Her mother was involved in social justice issues while she was growing up in New York and New Jersey and instilled in her daughter the values she has continued to use throughout her working life. The hospital was not paying employees overtime pay to which the employees were entitled. Ms. Steiner met with the Hospital Administration and successfully obtained proper overtime for the employees. When she went to law school she was able to clerk at the National Labor Relations Board where she gained experience in labor law in the private sector. Ms. Steiner practiced representing labor unions in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa from 1977-1984 when she moved to San Diego. She expanded her labor representation to public sector employment when she joined her present law firm Smith Steiner Vanderpool in 1987. She has been a shareholder in the firm since 1993.

She works on water issues for the region and leads tours of the State Water Project and the Colorado River to help educate people on where their water comes from.

Ms. Steiner continues to represent labor unions in the public and private sector including Teamsters, Firefighters, Sheriffs, Bus Drivers and Teachers. She represents the labor unions and their members in labor and employment matters providing advice on union matters, grievances, Civil Service hearings and other administrative hearings, contract administration and negotiations. She also represents individual employees in employment matters including wage and hour issues, the Fight for Fifteen, discrimination, terminations and negotiation of severance agreements. She also has litigated on behalf of unions and employees. Ms. Steiner also is a member of the American Arbitration Association panel of employment arbitrators. Ms. Steiner believes that she should also give back to the community. She was appointed as a Director to the San Diego County Water Authority in 2003 and as a delegate to the Metropolitan Water District in 2009. She works on water issues for the region and leads tours of the State Water Project and the Colorado River to help educate people on where their water comes from. Ms. Steiner also serves on the Board of San Diego Youth Services working with at risk youth in San Diego County. Ms. Steiner has been elected as a Fellow by the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, a national, invitation-only group of the finest labor and employment attorneys in the United States. She has been named in The Best Lawyers in America, in labor law, since 1986; Chosen as a Southern California SuperLawyer in labor and employment law since 2007; Chosen as Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year in Employment Law for Individuals in San Diego in 2012 and Lawyer of the Year in Labor Law-Union in 2014; Named in Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers in 2013 Ms. Steiner speaks regularly at forums and seminars on collective bargaining, discipline and labor law, including, but not limited to the California State Bar, San Diego County and Orange County Labor Employment Relations Association, Stewards Seminars for Unions, Law Enforcement Associations When Ms. Steiner is not working or doing her community service, she likes to walk and hike with her dog Lily, a Labrador/Border Collie mix from Labrador Rescuers.

 Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Industrial Relations Research Association
• AFL-CIO Lawyers Coordinating Committee
• National Lawyers Guild and its Labor & Employment Committee San Diego Bar Association
• State Bar of California

Author

“Interference with Rights of Employees,” Labor Law for the General Practitioner, Chapter 4, 1984.

Of Note

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1986 (Employment and Labor); Chosen as a Southern California SuperLawyer since 2007 (Employment and Labor); Named Southern California Lawyer of the Year Employment Law – Individuals in 2012; Named in Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers in 2013; Elected to the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in 2011; Member of the Board of Directors of San Diego Youth Services working with at risk youth; Appointed to the Board of Directors of San Diego County Water Authority in 2003 and Metropolitan Water District in 2009; 2005 Honored as a Voice of Justice by the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice; 3/9/2002 Presenter for CEB on Employment Law Practice; 11/6/2008 Presenter to the County Counsels of California Association; 1/16/2013 presenter at San Diego Labor Employment Association; 5/25/2011 presenter at the National Academy of Arbitrators; 9/21/2011 presenter to the American Constitution Society; 7/19/2012 presenter at the NLRB Division of Judges Conference; Annual presenter to the California Association of Labor Relations Officers; Annual presenter at the Orange County Labor Employment; Association Annual Meeting in Conjunction with the NLRB and FMCS; Annual presenter at CTA UCLA Training Session; Presenter to the California State Bar 2008 and 2011; Presenter to the Teamsters International Lawyers Conference 2009; Trainer for stewards, site representatives and business agents.