Attorney Profiles

San Jose, California, Employment Law Attorney

At Mesirow & Fink, Steven Fink and his partner combine more than 70 years of legal experience in California. With our reputation for successful outcomes and zealous advocacy, we are confident that we can provide you with the employment law representation you need and deserve. Mr. Fink is assisted with employment law matters by attorney Charles Mesirow and our knowledgeable, well-trained staff.

Steven Fink has been selected nine times as one of the top employment lawyers in the Silicon Valley by San Jose Magazine. He leads our team in protecting employees' civil rights in the workplace and fighting against discrimination, wrongful termination and labor law violations. We offer a traditional approach to legal services by providing personalized, attentive services in every employment law matter.

To learn more about our employment law team's experience and qualifications, contact our office at 408-286-1200 or click on our attorneys' names below.

Steven M. Fink

San Jose, California
Partner
phone (888) 312-2293
(408) 286-1200
fax (408) 286-1211
email Email Me

The legal barriers which any employee faces are daunting, if not downright scary. "Most of the time I feel like David, battling Goliath", adds Mr. Fink. The employer is usually represented by large, talented, well equipped and highly paid lawyers. Overcoming those odds is no small task, but it is the stuff on which he thrives, and--sometimes to the dismay of his family and friends--enjoys.

Examples of Cases:

• Employment Law
• Civil Rights in both state and federal courts
• Discrimination
• Labor Code violations
• Business and Civil Litigation
• Sexual harassment
• Whistle-blower
• Wrongful termination claims

Mr. Fink also represents employers.

Though he began his career practicing Entertainment Law in Los Angeles, Mr. Fink and his wife traded the glamour of Hollywood for the San Jose area' s charms. That early exposure to big city, high-pressure civil cases has served him well, particularly when dealing with the complex issues involved in contemporary employment cases.

Mr. Fink is a partner in Mesirow & Fink, a small but energetic and creative law firm founded in 1976. Mr. Fink is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley's Boalt Hall, and he has six times been selected by San Jose Magazine as one of the top lawyers in Employment Law. His longtime partner, Charles M. Mesirow, a board Certified Criminal Law Specialist, has served as a member of the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office and the chairman of the Criminal Law Section of the State Bar of California.

"The best way that I can put it is that when faced with an Employment Law problem, pretend that you are dealing with an illness. The bad news is that you have an illness. The good news is that with the help of a good lawyer, and the legal tools available to him or her, those problems are often treatable, if not curable."

Areas of Practice:
Employment Law
Civil Rights in Both State and Federal Courts
Discrimination
Labor Code Violations
Business and Civil Litigation
Sexual Harassment
Whistle Blower
Wrongful Termination Claims

Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:
California, 1971
U.S. Federal Courts, 1971

Education:
University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, Berkeley, California, 1970
J.D.

University of California, Los Angeles, California, 1967
B.A.
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

Honors and Awards:
"One of Silicon Valley's Top 100 Lawyers" Six Times by San Jose Magazine

Fraternities/Sororities:
Alpha Epsilon Pi

* Board certification by California State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization

Charles "Chuck" M. Mesirow

San Jose, California
Partner
phone (888) 312-2293
(408) 286-1200
fax (408) 288-9409
email Email Me

Mr. Mesirow received his B. A. degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1968. In 1971, Mr. Mesirow was awarded a J. D. degree from California Western Law School. Mr. Mesirow has been a Certified Criminal Law Specialist, Board Certified by the California State Bar since 1977. He was a former Senior Prosecutor with the District Attorney's Office for the County of Santa Clara from 1971 to 1977, handling major felonies. He headed a fraud unit for the District Attorney's office during part of his tenure. He has represented over 7,000 cases and tried over 125 felony and misdemeanors cases.

His criminal practice has included practice in state and federal courts throughout California, as well as Florida, Nevada and Arizona. He has many criminal jury trials including high profile homicides, fraud matters, drug cases, rapes, robberies, child molestations as well as misdemeanor matters.

In addition to over 35 years experience as a criminal lawyer, Mr. Mesirow's criminal defense practice also includes litigation of civil matters which are based upon or intrinsically related to criminal law issues, such as claims involving embezzlement, theft of property, and personal injury matters related to criminal conduct. He has represented victims of crimes in civil actions in seeking recovery for damages and losses. For example, he represented a major non-profit organization as a special prosecutor in their actions to recover over $20,000,000 in embezzled funds.

Mr. Mesirow is admitted to practice in California, the United States District Court for the Northern District, and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Areas of Practice:
Criminal Law

Litigation Percentage:
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Certification/Specialties:
Criminal Law, California State Bar, 1977

Bar Admissions:
California, 1971
U.S. District Court Northern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Education:
California Western School of Law, San Diego, California, 1971
J.D.

University of California at Berkeley, 1968
B.A.
Major:  Political Science 

Published Works:
State Bar of California Criminal Law Newsletter, 1989

Classes/Seminars Taught:
Instructor, Criminal and Constitutional Law

Honors and Awards:
Special Recognition of Experience, Criminal Defense and Trial Lawyer

California Trial Lawyers Association

One of Silicon Valley's Top 300 Lawyers, San Jose Magazine

Professional Associations and Memberships:
State Bar of California
Advisor, 15-Member Criminal Law Executive Committee

State Bar of California, Criminal Law Section
Former Chairman

Santa Clara County Criminal Law Section
Former Chairman

Santa Clara County Conflicts Administration
Former Chairman and Member, Board of Directors

California Trial Lawyers Association
Member

Santa Clara County Criminal Justice and Correctional Reform Committee
Member

Santa Clara County Bench/Bar/Media/Police Committee
Member

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Member

National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Member

American Bar Association
Member

Past Employment Positions:
District Attorney's Office for the County of Santa Clara, Former Senior Prosecutor, 1971 - 1977

Fraternities/Sororities:
Phi Delta Phi

At the San Jose, California, criminal defense firm of Mesirow & Fink, we represent clients in communities throughout Santa Clara County, Silicon Valley and the South Bay in communities such as San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Milpitas, Cupertino, Gilroy, Campbell, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, Los Gatos, San Mateo, Los Altos, Redwood City, Santa Cruz and Fremont.