Employment‑law counsel for California startups
practice overview
Employment counsel for California innovators
Grey Ocean provides strategic guidance built for the way modern businesses operate.
We help founders, executives, and HR leaders build strong employment foundations, manage compliance, and plan for growth. Our work combines deep California employment-law expertise with a practical understanding of how innovative companies run day to day.
Whether you’re addressing a high-stakes issue or looking for an ongoing legal partner, Grey Ocean delivers clear, structured counsel that helps your team move forward with confidence.
services snapshot
Key Employment Services
AI and automation compliance
Grey Ocean helps employers assess the risks of using automated tools in hiring and workforce management. We review systems for bias and regulatory exposure, build documentation frameworks, and advise on emerging California laws governing automated employment decisions.
Policy and compliance audits
A strong workplace starts with clear, compliant policies. We conduct comprehensive audits and develop customized handbooks, privacy notices, and wage-and-hour policies that align with California law and your operational realities.
Hiring and contracts
Attract and protect talent with precise, well-drafted agreements. We prepare executive employment contracts, confidentiality and IP assignments, offer letters, and undertake independent contractor audits that ensure compliance and minimize misclassification risk.
Workforce restructuring and risk management
Sensitive transitions require careful planning. We guide employers through reductions in force, WARN Act compliance, and risk assessments, providing practical strategies for implementation and communication.
Performance and leave advising
Support managers and employees with sound guidance on performance, discipline, and leave administration. We provide training and help ensure your policies meet both legal and cultural standards.
Compensation and equity strategies
Design competitive, compliant compensation programs. Grey Ocean advises on stock options, RSUs, and pay-equity audits to help you build fair, sustainable systems that attract and retain top talent.
Investments and M&A employment due diligence
For investors and acquirers, Grey Ocean conducts targeted reviews of employment practices, worker classification, and compliance risks to support informed decision-making throughout the transaction process.
Remote workforce compliance
As teams expand across states and borders, Grey Ocean helps companies maintain consistency and compliance. From remote-work policies to cross-border contractor assessments, we deliver clear guidance to keep your workforce aligned and risk-ready wherever it operates.
outside counsel
Fractional Employment Counsel
Your dedicated legal partner, without the full-time cost.
Grey Ocean’s subscription-based model provides continuous access to experienced employment-law guidance, calibrated to your company’s stage of growth and operational complexity. Each tier delivers predictable monthly support and proactive legal insight, so you can plan confidently and stay ahead of risk.
Essential plan
Ideal for early-stage teams that need regular guidance. Includes a foundation of monthly advisory hours and quarterly reviews to keep policies and practices current.
Growth plan
Built for scaling businesses that require consistent strategic input. Expands availability and includes planning sessions focused on compliance, culture, and workforce growth.
Scale plan
Designed for established organizations with frequent, complex needs. Offers priority access, comprehensive advisory support, and tailored compliance roadmaps aligned with your long-term objectives.
employment defense
Select disputes and litigation
Grey Ocean represents employers in a limited number of disputes, leveraging deep employment-litigation experience. The firm handles charges before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), as well as demand-letter responses, pre-litigation negotiations, and select cases involving discrimination, harassment, wage-and-hour issues, and other employment-law claims.
Litigation engagements are intentionally selective and secondary to the firm’s advisory practice. Only a small number of matters are accepted each year.
For defined stages, such as agency charge responses or discrete litigation milestones, flat-fee or hybrid arrangements may be available.
Modern employment counsel built for growth
Grey Ocean delivers practical, high-caliber employment guidance that aligns with your business today and evolves with it tomorrow.