Shiva E. Stein

Civil litigator Shiva Stein draws on more than two decades of a rich and multifaceted legal career in representing California school districts, county offices of education, community colleges and school administrators in an array of matters. In addition, she applies her deep knowledge base and attention to detail to her role as general counsel for several public agencies.

Always looking for practical responses to disputes and other issues, Shiva handles matters at every stage, from pre-litigation/initial complaint to trial in state and federal courts, in mediations and arbitrations, and before federal and state administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the California Civil Rights Department (formerly DFEH) and the California Labor Commissioner’s Office.

Shiva’s broad and deep experience in a variety of litigation makes her highly effective in her practice, where she takes on “a little bit of everything” in areas such as labor and employment, torts, special education, governance, student safety issues (including drug/nicotine use), real estate and general business. She regularly defends public entities in claims including personal injury, wrongful terminations, civil rights violations, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) litigation, wage and hour compliance, construction defect and public record act litigation. She also guides clients through procedures involving record requests, restraining orders and contractual disputes.

Although Shiva enjoys the more desk-bound aspects of her practice, such as researching and writing, she truly loves the personal interaction aspects of the job. She enjoys conducting Title IX Investigations and related interviews, and representing clients in administrative/court hearings and trials. With a reputation as a hardworking, straightforward and fair-minded lawyer, Shiva puts her excellent organizational skills and tried-and-true case management methods to good use to meet deadlines and keep processes flowing smoothly. Additionally, she combines her strong competitive streak and passion for defending clients with a cordial, relatable style and an approach that emphasizes real-life considerations.

Previously, Shiva advised individuals, non-profit organizations, religious entities, public entities and corporations on both the plaintiff and defendant side for several national, regional and local civil litigation firms. During law school, Shiva worked at the San Diego District Attorney’s office (Bureau of Child Support Enforcement) and the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s office (Criminal Prosecutions Division). This extensive background gives her both big-picture and granular insights into many issues and enables her to craft creative, cost-efficient and successful legal strategies.