Diane Aqui is the head of the Labor & Employment Division at Smith Dollar. Ms. Aqui counsels employers regarding employee related issues, wage-and-hour disputes, and provides state mandated training for sexual harassment and bullying. She has successfully defended discrimination and class action wage and hour suits in both State and Federal Court. And she represents employers before numerous federal and state administrative agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board, Workers Compensation Appeals Board, Department of Labor, Labor Commissioner, FEHA, EEOC and the EDD.

Diane serves as general counsel to many local businesses. In this role, she advises on business formation and transaction issues, reviews, revises, and negotiates contracts, and helps guide principals and decisionmakers when operational and financial concerns overlap with legal and fiduciary responsibilities. 

Diane holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Marine Engineering from Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, New York and was also a licensed Third Assistant Engineer in the United States Coast Guard. Her background as an engineer performing risk evalutations and safety inspections of power and production plants lends a unique real world perspective to managing the risks employers face in today’s marketplace.