About
A San Francisco native, Chambord Benton-Hayes’ passion for the law was ignited at age eleven when she met famed attorney Johnnie Cochran in Oakland, California. Mr. Cochran encouraged her to pursue a legal career as a litigator, and thereafter, Chambord worked towards this goal, graduating from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law at the age of twenty-four.
Chambord finds enjoyment in zealously advocating for her clients because she loves protecting others and believes in holding companies accountable for their actions. She compassionately explains complex legal issues, empathizing with the discomfort often created by confusion and uncertainty.
Before launching Benton Employment Law, Chambord practiced law in the San Francisco office of an international law firm. During the Pandemic, she left “Big Law” and started representing individuals. Her ten years of experience defending some of the world’s largest corporations in employment matters and advising C-suite leadership on litigation avoidance contributed to her astute insight on workplace dynamics.
Chambord takes great pleasure in oral advocacy. She has litigated cases from pre-litigation negotiations all the way through trial, and regularly represents clients in litigation and arbitration involving allegations of sexual harassment; discrimination based on gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and pregnancy; retaliation; wrongful termination; and harassment on both an individual and class basis. She also negotiates executive compensation and severance agreements. Whether a matter requires strategic negotiation or aggressive litigation, Chambord has the relevant experience.
Chambord has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers (an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40), “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” (awarded for outstanding professional excellence in private practice), and multiple "40 under 40" lists. NBA’s Women Lawyers Division also named her “2022 Outstanding Women Lawyer in a Solo/Small Firm.” Super Lawyers Magazine featured her life and career in a July 2022 article. In April of 2024, she was awarded the San Francisco Business Times "40 under 40" award highlighting her leadership, civic engagement, and thriving law practice.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her Maltipoo, winning at dominoes, and cheering on her favorite basketball team, The Golden State Warriors.
Admissions:
- California
- U.S. District Court, Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California
- California Court of Appeals, 3rd Appellate District
- California Supreme Court
Externships:
- Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James of the United States District Court
- Judge Teri Jackson of the San Francisco County Superior Court
Professional Activities:
- Black Women Lawyers Association of Northern California (President (2020 -2021) & Board Member (2015 - present)
- California Association of Black Lawyers
- National Bar Association
- Charles Houston Bar Association
- The Bar Association of San Francisco - Solo/Small Firm Committee Chair
- California Employment Lawyers Association
- State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Alameda County Bar Association
- Sacramento County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section
- Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
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Employment
- Trained thousands of executives, managers, doctors, attorneys, and employees on ADA compliance, anti-harassment and discrimination, and other labor and employment law issues. (2016 - 2020)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Assisted with obtaining defense verdict in a month-long jury trial where plaintiff alleged race discrimination, gender discrimination, age discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and constructive discharge for a public entity. (2015)
- Assisted employers with obtaining multiple "no cause" findings from the DFEH and the EEOC. (2011 - 2020)
- Achieved settlement on a contentious matter on behalf of a technology company and a former executive. (2020)
- Achieved settlement on contentious matter on behalf of vehicle company and employee alleging racial and disability discrimination related to medical marijuana. (2020)
- Achieved settlement on contentious matter on behalf of multinational chain of coffeehouses and an employee alleging disability discrimination.(2020)
- Achieved settlement on a contentious matter against EEOC and Plaintiff-intervenor alleging disability discrimination on behalf of a healthcare organization. (2020)
- United States District Court, N.D. Cal.— Successfully compelled enforcement of arbitration agreement on behalf of multinational chain of coffeehouses and an employee alleging disability discrimination. (2020)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Obtained summary adjudication on behalf of insurance company on action alleging disability discrimination, racial discrimination, harassment, failure to prevent discrimination, failure to engage in the interactive process and punitive damages. (2019)
- Defended manager exempt status from overtime wages for national retailer obtaining a "take nothing" Order, Decision, and Award from the DLSE. (2018)
- United States District Court, N.D. Cal.— Obtained partial summary judgment on action alleging failure to provide reasonable accommodation, failure to engage in the interactive process, disability discrimination, age discrimination, wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and punitive damages for a technology company. Likewise, opposed Plaintiffs cross-motion for summary judgment that was denied. (2018)
- Achieved settlement on alleged systemic sexual harassment class action with EEOC for 3.5 million on behalf of call center employer. (2018)
- Achieved settlement disability discrimination case six figure case with EEOC 0n behalf of healthcare organization. (2018)
- United States District Court, E.D. Cal.— Obtained summary judgment on action alleging age discrimination, and retaliation for a public entity. (2017)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Assisted with obtaining summary judgment on action alleging breach of contract for a HOA. (2017)
- United States District Court, E.D. Cal.— Obtained voluntary dismissal of lawsuit after initial discovery for a public entity. (2016)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Obtained summary adjudication for two wage and hour causes of action against a public entity. (2016)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Assisted with obtaining summary judgment on action alleging disparate treatment, failure to engage in interactive process, failure to accommodate retaliation, race discrimination, failure to take immediate corrective action, and recession for a public entity. (2016)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Obtained summary judgment on action alleging premises liability, general negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress based upon trivial defect defense for a sports facility. (2016)
- United States District Court, E.D. Cal.— Obtained summary judgment on action alleging wrongful termination based upon age, disability and labor union activities in violation of ADA, ADEA, FEHA and Labor Code sections 922 and 923 for a healthcare organization. (2015)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Obtained summary judgment on action alleging race discrimination, retaliation, disability discrimination, and harassment for a public university. (2015)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Obtained dismissal after the filing of an Anti-SLAPP motion for a healthcare organization. (2015)
- Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento — Obtained summary judgment on action alleging race discrimination, retaliation, disability discrimination, and harassment for a public entity. (2015)
Memberships
- Black Women Lawyers Association of Northern California (President (2020 -2021) & Board Member (2015 - present))
- California Association of Black Lawyers
- National Bar Association
- Charles Houston Bar Association
- The Bar Association of San Francisco - Solo/Small Firm Committee
- California Employment Lawyers Association
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers
- State Bar of California (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Alameda County Bar Association
- Sacramento County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section