Dena Narbaitz is a Partner in the firm's San Francisco office.  Ms. Narbaitz’ practice focuses upon employment law, including providing counseling and litigation services to employers on a wide range of issues affecting the workplace, including wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and trade secrets claims.  Ms. Narbaitz also has expertise in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) (formerly National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)) arbitrations and commercial litigation.  Prior to joining Curiale Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP, Ms. Narbaitz clerked for The Honorable William Cahill and The Honorable David Garcia of the San Francisco Superior Court from 1994-1996.  She was an associate at Jenkins, Goodman & Neuman from 1996-1998.  She was also an associate with Steefel, Levitt & Weiss from 1998-2002, and a Shareholder with that firm from 2002-2005.

• Ms. Narbaitz litigates cases for Financial Services Industry clients in arbitration forums.  These cases are primarily arbitrated in forums before the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) and the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), which have now merged to form the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).  One such case involved claims against a former employee of a preeminent Bay Area accounting firm and its broker-dealer affiliate.  The employee was a registered representative with the NASD through the broker-dealer affiliate.  The former employee initially sued our clients in San Francisco Superior Court.  We argued that the employee was required to attend NASD arbitration and filed counter-claims against the former employee.  After a very contentious litigation, which involved an appeal to the California Court of Appeal regarding enforcement of the employee’s arbitration clause, multiple pre-hearing motion arguments and twelve days of arbitration hearings, the Bay Area accounting firm and its broker-dealer affiliate prevailed.  A significant six-figure award was secured in favor of our clients.
• Represented a major bank in a sexual discrimination and defamation lawsuit filed by one of its former employees.  After a very contentious litigation, which included numerous depositions, rounds of document production and a motion to consolidate this case with another related litigation, this case was resolved prior to trial.  This matter was resolved while the bank’s Motion for Summary Judgment was pending and in a manner very favorable to our client.  
• Represented an investment banking firm in a hotly contested trade secrets case.  This case involved a mass exodus of employees from the investment bank and recovery of hundreds of hard copy and electronic documents.  After seven rounds of applications for injunctive relief and a contentious arbitration process, this matter resolved in favor of our client.