Sandra R. McCandless

Sandra R. McCandless is a Partner and head of Dentons' Employment and Labor practice in California. Her primary practice area is Employment Law, and she represents management in all aspects of labor and employment, including class action and individual litigation, arbitration, mediation and the provision of employment-related advice.

She has a highly successful track record of representing employers across industries in both unionized and non-union sectors — technology, banking, insurance, hotels, manufacturing, automotive, food, trucking, retail, garments, maritime and trade, among others — in matters ranging from employment contract drafting and collective bargaining negotiations to wrongful termination and discrimination litigation. She has a long track record of winning employment cases on summary judgment and representing employers before government agencies.

She is one of a handful of employment lawyers in the United States experienced in representing Indian tribes, tribal casinos and other tribal businesses. She has also practised internationally throughout her career, representing Asian and European companies doing business in the US and assisting multinational companies on labor and employment issues involving Asian, European, Middle Eastern, African and North American operations.

Earlier in her career, she was a lawyer for the Appellate Court Litigation Branch of the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, DC. She recently completed a three-year term on the board of governors of the American Bar Association and as chair of its Finance Committee, and is chair of the Employment and Immigration Committee and a council member of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association.

Her recognition includes being selected as one of the "Top Labor & Employment Lawyers" by the Daily Journal (2019), listed in Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law – Individuals and Employment Law – Management (2018–present), ranked in Chambers USA for Labor & Employment in California (2015, 2018–present), and recognised in Legal 500 for Labor and Employment – Workplace and Employment Counseling (2019–2022). She was also selected as one of the "Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business" by the San Francisco Business Times (2014) and is a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

She holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA in Government, with honors, from Harvard University.