RUTTER LAW GROUP
Labor and Employment Law
About
Rutter Law Group is focused on building strategic partnerships with companies to address the myriad of employment issues that arise in the workplace.
Donna M. Rutter
Principal
As a trial attorney, Donna concentrated her practice on wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation and trade secret litigation before federal and state courts and agencies. She tried to verdict more than a dozen bench and jury trials – and is one of the few attorneys in California who has taken a wage and hour class action to trial. Donna built an extensive trade secret, unfair competition, employee mobility practice, based on over 35 years of litigation and advising on trade secret matters. She currently represents Executives in negotiating employment contracts and/or severance agreements. Donna has also developed a niche practice in conducting high level, sensitive workplace investigations and has served as an Expert Witness in conducting workplace investigations. Since 2024, Donna has served on the employment roster of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) as an Arbitrator on employment matters.
Donna is a sought after speaker on a myriad of issues involving employment law and is AV-Preeminent Rated by Martindale Hubbell. She has been selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers list every year since 2007. She served as Northern California Chair of the Women Lawyers Alliance (WLA), a network of prominent women lawyers in private practice throughout North America. In 2024-2025, Donna served as the President of the McFetridge Inn of Court.
Education
J.D. – University of San Diego; San Diego, CA
B.S. – Michigan State University; Lansing, MI
Bar Admission
California 1989
Professional Recognition
Member of The College of Labor and Employment Attorneys since 2025
Selected to the San Francisco “Women Leaders in the Law” list by American Lawyer Media (ALM) in partnership with Martindale-Hubbell and The San Francisco Chronicle
AV Preeminent Rated by Martindale-Hubbell since 2003
Northern California Super Lawyer since 2007
Professional Activities
Adjunct Professor, Golden Gate University Law School
Northern California Chair, Women Lawyers Alliance (WLA)
Master – James J. McFetridge American Inn of the Court (Member of Executive Board)
Queen's Bench
Kristen L. Williams, Esq.
Of Counsel
Kristen Williams has devoted her practice over the past decade to advising management and human resources professionals in all aspects of employment law, including claims of discrimination, harassment or disability laws, wage and hour compliance, disciplining and terminating employees and administering leaves of absence under state and federal laws. Kristen also assists employers in responding to audits from and appearing before the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. She has successfully represented employers before administrative agencies, and consistently works towards early resolution of all claims.
In addition to Kristen's advice and counsel practice, she is an experienced investigator conducting a variety of workplace investigations surrounding allegations of discrimination and/or harassment claims.
Education
J.D.– University of San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
B.A.– University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA
Bar Admission
California 2004
Professional Activities
Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI)
Rotary of San Rafael, Member
Geoff has practiced employment law since 2003, working in several areas including litigation, negotiation, dispute resolution, advice, investigation, and training. He has litigated many employment matters in both the bench and jury trial contexts, before tribal, state, and federal courts.
Currently, Geoff is focused on providing day-to-day counsel to clients spanning a wide spectrum of industries, sizes and organizational structures, including non-profits, start-ups, family-held businesses, and corporate entities, regarding managing within the law, performance management, terminations, EEO issues, threatened litigation and severance negotiations. In addition, Geoff serves as an arbitrator and mediator in various employment disputes.
Education
J.D. – University of San Francisco; San Francisco, CA
B.A.– University of California at Davis; Davis, CA
Bar Admission
California 2003
Professional Recognition
Northern California Super Lawyer – Rising Star, 2011-2014 Northern California Super Lawyer, 2023 to Present
Professional Activities
Sacramento Professional Advisors Network Sacramento Venture Philanthropy
Geoffrey M. Hash, Esq.
Of Counsel
Megan Hutchinson has practiced employment law for nearly two decades litigating for and advising employers on the full arc of the employment relationship, from hiring, workplace policies, discipline, leaves of absence, accommodations, wage and hour compliance, and termination. In addition to the daily advice and counsel work, Megan frequently drafts employer handbooks and conducts negotiation workshops and anti-harassment trainings.
In addition to practicing law, Megan is a Professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she co-directs the Legal Research, Writing and Analysis program, teaches Employment Discrimination Law, Legal Writing, and Negotiation. She leads the law school's integration of artificial intelligence and is a frequent presenter on AI and the law. Megan also serves as a Senior Scholar in Residence at the UCLA School of Law, where she teaches Employment Discrimination Law.
Education
J.D. – UCLA School of Law; Los Angeles, CA
B.A. and M.A. – Stanford University; Palo Alto, CA
Bar Admission
California 2008
Professional Recognition
USF's University-Wide Innovation in Teaching with Technology Award in 2025
Professional Activities
Currently serves as a trustee on the Miller Creek School District Board, San Rafael, CA
Megan Hutchinson, Esq.
Of Counsel
