Marie DiSante

I am a Founding Partner and the Firm Managing Partner of CDF Labor Law LLP, where I’ve guided the firm since its inception in 1994. I co‑founded CDF with a vision: to create an entrepreneurial, California‑focused labor, employment, and business immigration firm that delivers big‑firm experience with boutique flexibility and value‑driven service For over 30 years, CDF has grown to over 50 attorneys across five strategic California offices—Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County/Irvine, and San Diego—allowing us to serve employers wherever they operate in the state. With over 35 years of experience representing and advising employers, I combine a litigator’s rigor with the perspective of a business owner—helping clients from startups to Fortune 500s proactively resolve disputes and mitigate risk. A highlight of my litigation career includes neutralizing five concurrent putative class actions filed across California counties on behalf of a national telecommunications retailer—including meal/rest‑break, misclassification, overtime, expense reimbursement, and minimum wage claims Beyond litigation, I regularly advise on personnel policy implementation, performance management, reductions‑in‑force, EEO compliance, and workplace investigations—focusing on pragmatic, crisis‑averting strategies. I’m deeply committed to advancing diversity and women’s leadership in law. As an active founding member of organizations such as the Women Presidents’ Organization (OC Chapter), ProVisors, the Orange County Women Lawyers Roundtable, and the OC Law Firm Leadership Roundtable, I champion inclusive mentorship, equal opportunity, and professional growth within the legal community.