Bruce D. May is a founding partner of Stuart Kane LLP, and practices in the Employment group.
Experience
Mr. May has represented employers for nearly 43 years. Since 1979, he has devoted his practice exclusively to advising and defending companies of all sizes in every aspect of employment litigation and employment counseling. His expertise spans the entire spectrum of employment law from recruitment and hiring to termination and post-employment misconduct, and everything in between.
Mr. May provides expert counseling to management on day-to-day personnel issues, with an emphasis on minimizing the risk of employee lawsuits while protecting the employer’s right to manage the workplace. But he is also a highly effective trial lawyer who defends employers in everything from small wage claims before the Labor Commissioner to multi-million class action lawsuits in state and federal court.
This dual role as counselor and litigator has enabled Mr. May to master the best strategies for dealing with the toughest personnel issues. Knowing how a workplace dispute will play out at trial provides powerful insights in how to prevent that dispute from getting to court in the first place.
Employment Counseling: Mr. May’s expertise in counseling employers includes every aspect of the employment relationship, from before the employee is recruited and hired to after the employee leaves the company and starts competing. Here is a partial list of the subject matters that he has mastered:
- Recruiting practices and background checks
- Immigration compliance
- Overtime exemptions and wage and hour compliance
- Drafting offer letters, employment contracts, and bonus and commission plans
- Creating employee handbooks and personnel policy manuals
- Leaves of absence
- Accommodation of disabilities
- Workplace safety
- Unionism and collective bargaining
- Unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints
- Employee discipline and termination
- Layoffs and reorganizations
- Negotiating and drafting severance agreements
- Return of company property
- Post-employment competition, trade secrets, and non-competes
Employment Litigation: Mr. May also has nearly 42 years of experience representing employers in litigation and at trial in State and federal court in both individual and class action lawsuits. His expertise includes all of the following types of claims:
- Employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
- Wrongful termination and “whistleblower” claims
- Overtime, meal and rest period, and other wage and hour claims
- Commission and incentive compensation claims
- Accommodation of the disabled
- Occupational safety and health
- Unfair competition and trade secrets
Public Speaking: Mr. May is also a highly effective public speaker and educator. He has developed an enlightening and entertaining workshop for management called Unlawful Harassment 101 which satisfies the requirements for anti-harassment training in California and which he has presented to hundreds of companies and trade groups over the years. He is also a regular speaker before the National Human Resources Association, OCTANE OC (formerly TechAmerica and the American Electronics Association), and numerous networking groups including Vistage and Trusted Advisors.
Pro Bono Work: Throughout his career, Mr. May has devoted significant time to charitable and pro bono causes. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and has previously served as President of the Board for Providence Speech and Hearing Center, a leading non-profit speech and hearing clinic based in Orange County.
Mr. May also provides free legal representation to a variety of charitable and religious organizations, including:
- The AIDS Services Foundation of Orange County
- THINK Together
- Crean Lutheran High School
Prior to becoming a founding partner of Stuart Kane LLP, Mr. May was a shareholder at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth.
News About Bruce May
Stuart Kane Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2025
Five Stuart Kane Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers 2024
Five Stuart Kane Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers 2023
Nine Stuart Kane Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2023
Five Stuart Kane Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Southern California Super Lawyers List
Seven Stuart Kane Partners Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2022
Five Stuart Kane Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers
Seven Stuart Kane Partners Recognized by Best Lawyers in America 2021
Stuart Kane Supports Providence Speech and Hearing Center’s 54th Annual Gala
Six Stuart Kane Partners Recognized by Best Lawyers® in America 2020
Five Stuart Kane Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® 2019
Employment Law Update: A Workshop for Management 2018
Bruce May Named “Lawyer of the Year” for Labor and Employment Litigation in Orange County
Bruce May Named One of Best Lawyers in America for 2018
Bruce May Presents “A Top Ten List For Employers” at OC Tech Alliance HR Roundtable
Bruce May and Shane Criqui Present OCTANe 2017 Employments Law Update