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Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP

Mary Breffle

Associate

Oakland
mbreffle@f3law.com
D 510.550.8215
Mary Breffle

What can I solve for you?

I take pride in addressing issues for public education professionals so they can focus on their mission: helping students learn. Drawing on my legal knowledge and strong communication skills, I handle a range of matters in the areas of labor and employment, collective bargaining and governance; I also represent clients in administrative agency hearings.

What's it like to work with me?

I advocate vigorously for my clients and always work to advance and defend their best interests. At the same time, I’m a fair, ethical and approachable attorney. By forging good relationships with opposing counsel, I’m better able to resolve disputes early and reach cost-effective agreements. My clients appreciate my deep knowledge base. If I don’t initially know the answer to a more arcane question, I’ll go to the ends of the Earth to find it.

Top Issues in My Practice

  • #employeediscipline
  • #employeeleaves
  • #laborandemployment
  • #governance
  • #investigations

Overview

With an emphasis on labor and employment issues, Mary Breffle provides skillful guidance to California school districts and other education-related public agencies. She advises clients in a variety of matters, including employee discipline, employee leave and attendance, certificated and classified personnel matters and investigations. In addition, Mary has represented clients in collective bargaining sessions and looks forward to continuing to participate in these essential and high-impact negotiations.

On the governance side, Mary helps districts fulfill Public Records Act requests and Brown Act meeting procedures. She also assists governing boards in drafting and revising policies and regulations. Mary’s detail-oriented “gatekeeper” approach ensures accuracy and meets compliance obligations while protecting the privacy and confidentiality of students, parents and community members.

In administrative agency hearings, Mary litigates disputes stemming from Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) unfair labor practice charges and state Civil Rights Department (CCR) discrimination and retaliation claims and also helps protect district employees by obtaining restraining orders. Clients often find the processes confusing and stressful, and Mary is gratified to walk them through these fraught situations with calmness and competence.

Mary takes a holistic view by identifying potential issues, looking at problems and questions from many angles, exploring various paths and presenting districts and administrators with options that take into consideration both immediate consequences and long-term effects. She enjoys getting to know her clients so she can understand how they think and alleviate their concerns in accordance with their main priorities.

During law school, she externed for the Honorable Jacqueline S. Corley in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, worked as a certificated law clerk for East Bay Family Defenders and served as a law clerk for Legal Aid at Work in San Francisco through the Workers’ Rights Clinic at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Mary also interned for the Oakland Unified School District’s Office of the General Counsel and the Alameda County Family Justice Center. Prior to beginning her law career, she worked in the finance and technology industries.

Mary respects and admires the contributions of those who serve public schools. She’s proud to support them in carrying out the important mission of educating young people.

Experience Highlights

  • Executive Articles Editor for the Constitutional Law Quarterly

Internships

  • Interned for the Oakland Unified School District’s Office of the General Counsel and the Alameda County Family Justice Center

Clerkships

  • Worked as a certificated law clerk for East Bay Family Defenders
  • Served as a law clerk for Legal Aid at Work in San Francisco through the Workers’ Rights Clinic at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law

Externships

  • Externed for the Honorable Jacqueline S. Corley in the United States District Court, Northern District of California

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

  • Volunteered with the Legal Aid Association of California
  • Volunteered with the Alameda County Bar Association
  • Served as an attorney scorer for county mock trial competitions for Bay Area high school students

Recognition

  • Received a Moot Court award for excellence in oral advocacy

After School

I enjoy both playing and watching sports. My husband and I also love to hike around our area with our dog.

Education

  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law (J.D.)
  • University of California, Berkeley (B.A., Media Studies and Sociology, with distinction)

Admissions

Bar Admissions
  • California

Related Services

  • Governance & Leadership
  • Education Technology
  • Employment Law
  • Investigations
  • Labor Relations & Negotiations

Related Clients

  • Public Agencies
  • Public Education K-12

Presentations

  • Investigations, Contra Costa Legal Professionals Association, 2022
  • Ethnic Studies and Critical Race Theory: Where National Discussions Meet Local Decisions, CCSA Annual Workshop, 2021
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