Erika M. Barbara
Senior Employment Law Counsel

Erika M. Barbara rejoined the CalChamber team in April 2024 as senior employment law counsel, continuing her career of helping employers navigate the ever-changing landscape of California employment law.

She will be co-presenting seminars and webinars, conducting in-person harassment prevention training, and providing guidance to employers on employment issues through the CalChamber Labor Law Helpline and compliance publications. Barbara fulfilled similar responsibilities while serving as CalChamber employment law counsel from 2015 to 2019.

Barbara has almost two decades of experience at employment law firms in Sacramento and San Francisco, where she defended employers in California and federal employment law litigation, including class action and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lawsuits involving a range of workplace-related issues, including wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims, and investigated and responded to administrative complaints before federal and state agencies. She also provided advice and counseling, handbook reviews and conducted employment law training seminars.

Barbara holds a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds a J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Legal Affairs

The Legal Affairs Department reviews and participates in court cases having a broad impact on California’s economy and business climate.