Civil Litigation

Tia Welch Maerz has over 20 years of litigation experience and has tried over 15 cases to verdict or judgment, obtaining defense verdicts on behalf of her clients in approximately 90% of her trials. Ms. Welch Maerz handles a diverse range of civil litigation in state and federal courts with an emphasis on labor & employment, insurance coverage, bad faith, admiralty, business, public entity and personal injury. In addition to appearing in state and federal courts in all the districts of California and Hawaii, Ms. Welch Maerz has also appeared in administrative proceedings before the Labor Commissioner and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

As a senior trial deputy for the City & County of San Francisco, Ms. Welch Maerz tried over ten cases representing the Police, Municipal Railway, Public Works and Sheriff's Departments in matters involving premises liability, personal injury, civil rights, and property damage. She obtained a defense verdict or judgment in every trial. As a Deputy City Attorney, she counseled the Police, Port and City Planning Commissions. With an active litigation load of over 100 cases, she appeared in front of every state and federal judge in San Francisco in pretrial motions, settlement negotiations, trial and post-trial matters and arbitrated scores of cases.

In 1987, she joined Derby, Cook, Quinby and Tweedt and three years later, became a name and founding partner of Kelly, Cox, Wootton, Welch, Gill & Sherburne.

Employment Counsel

Ms. Welch Maerz counsels companies of all sizes in all aspects of state and federal employment law. In addition to defending harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage & hour and wrongful termination claims, she provides timely advice, performs investigations, trains executive, managerial and hourly personnel, develops company policies and handbooks, negotiates compensation agreements and mediates disputes to help her clients avoid lawsuits.

Employment History:

Of Counsel, Chan.Doi.Leal LLP 2005-present
Of Counsel, Schwartz & Cera LLP 1999-2005
Partner, Bennett & Welch LLP, 1995-1998
Partner, Kelly, Cox, Wootton, Welch Gill & Sherburne 1990-1995
Associate, Derby, Cook, Quinby & Tweedt 1987-1990
Senior Trial Deputy, San Francisco City Attorneys Office, 1985-1987

Juris Doctor, University of San Francisco School of Law, 1984
Graduate, Hastings College of Advocacy, 1985

Bachelor of Science, Conservation of Natural Resources
University of California, Berkeley, 1980
Cal Alumni Scholar

Academic Experience:
Instructor; University of San Francisco Intensive Advocacy Program,
2002-present

Admitted to Practice:
State Bar of California, State Bar of Hawaii
U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern Districts and District of Hawaii

Proctor in Admiralty, Maritime Law Association
Member and 2002 Employment Section Chair, Steering Committee, Pacific Admiralty Seminar

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