Daphne Pierre Bishop

Managing Partner, Los Angeles, AWI-CH

Daphne is a Managing Partner with Van Dermyden Makus Law Corporation and heads up the firm’s Los Angeles office.

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Daphne Pierre Bishop, JD, AWI-CH, has been practicing employment law since 2001. During that time, Daphne advised small to Fortune 500 companies in various industries on how to comply with the law, and defended employers against the gamut of employment-related claims ranging from single plaintiff discrimination cases to wage and hour class actions.

Combining her litigation and counseling experience, Daphne’s practice now focuses on conducting and supervising workplace investigations as a neutral third party. Daphne’s clients trust her to investigate high-profile and complex workplace matters, including "me too" complaints, race discrimination allegations, and toxic workplace claims. When conducting investigations, Daphne is discreet and diplomatic in her evaluation and assessment of both employer and employee conduct, and her extensive experience working with employers and employees provides her with a unique advantage in assisting companies to prevent, uncover, investigate and resolve employee and institutional misconduct. Daphne received a certificate from the Association of Workplace Investigators after successfully completing the 2019 Training Institute for Workplace Investigators.

Daphne frequently writes articles, speaks, and conducts trainings on employment issues, including harassment and discrimination. Daphne regularly serves as faculty for AWI’s Training Institutes for Workplace Investigators. Daphne has been dedicated to pro bono work throughout her career, including performing criminal advocacy work on behalf of abused women, representing clients in guardianship proceedings, serving on a non-profit board of directors, and helping indigent clients become legal US residents.

Daphne is from Chicago, where she was raised by her parents, who are immigrants from Haiti. From there, Daphne attended Yale College, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and sang in the a cappella group Shades of Yale. Next, Daphne attended UCLA School of Law, where she led the Black Law Students Association and served as an editor on the UCLA Women’s Law Journal. Daphne earned her Juris Doctor in 2001.

CA State Bar 217519

+ Professional Degrees, Certifications, Awards and Organizations

  • Association of Workplace Investigators
  • AWI Certificate Holder, AWI Training Institute (AWI-CH)
  • Labor & Employment Section Executive Committee, California Lawyers Association
  • California Lawyers Association, Labor & Employment Section, Executive Committee
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section, Member
  • Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, Member
  • Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Member
  • Los Angeles Super Lawyer - Super Lawyer (2022 - 2024), Rising Star (2009 - 2012)

+ Notable Presentations and Publications

  • Ask An Investigator Anything, Presenter – CDF All Attorney Lunch Webinar, February 23, 2024
  • Ottaway, Amanda "[Juneteenth Gives Cos. Chance to 'Practice What They Preach']” Law 360, June 7, 2022
  • AWI Training Institute for Workplace Investigators, Part-Time Faculty – Association of Workplace Investigators, June 2021, April 2022, August 2022
  • Internal Investigations & the Power Dynamics in the Health Care Setting, Presenter – Hospital Association of Southern California, September 20, 2022
  • Five Years Since the Advent of #MeToo: Changes to the Legal Landscape, Panelist – Practising Law Institute, Cutting-Edge Employment Law Issues 2022: The California Difference, September 13, 2022
  • Internal Investigations & The Power Dynamics in the Healthcare Setting, Presenter – CDF Webinar, Healthcare Education Week, October 4, 2021
  • “Top Takeaways for Employers from the Andrew Cuomo Investigation Report” – California Labor & Employment Law Blog, August 5, 2021
  • “Investigating racial bias complaints in the age of ‘cancel culture’” – Daily Journal, May 18, 2021
  • Workplace Investigations Basics, Module 2: Evidence, Interviewing & Credibility, Presenter – Association of Workplace Investigators Webinar, March 2021
  • “Be Consistent in Enforcing Anti-Harassment Policies” – HR Pulse, December 2020
  • New Challenges – Investigating Racial Discrimination and Harassment in Today’s Workplace, presenter – CDF Webinar, September 2020
  • “Tips for Investigating Racial Bias Complaints” – Law360 Expert Analysis, September 2020
  • How to Effectively Conduct Internal Investigations: A Practical Guide, Co-Presenter – The Knowledge Group, August 2020
  • “The Do’s and Don’ts of Internal Investigations for Healthcare Organizations” – Compliance Today, Health Care Compliance Association, August 2020
  • “The Importance of Workplace Investigations in the #MeToo Era” – The Recorder, October 2019
  • Workplace Investigations in the #MeToo Era, Presenter – Burbank/Glendale Chapter of PHIRA, April 2019
  • Work After Weinstein: The #MeToo Movement’s Impact on Workplace Investigations, Co-Presenter – CDF Webinar, March 2018
  • DHEF Guidelines: Latest Regulations & Guidance for Employers on Effective Anti-Harassment Programs, Presenter – CDF Webinar, September 2017
  • "Nonsignatory Employer Allowed to Enforce Arbitration Agreement" - California Employment Law Letter, January 11, 2016
  • “6 Tips for Minimizing Holiday Party Liability” - California Employment Law Letter, December 7, 2015
  • ADA Master Class - Business Legal Resource, October 2012
  • Employee Leave Policies Tele-briefing - Law Seminars International, October 2012
  • Special Considerations for E-Discovery in Employment Cases, Co-Presenter - Association of Corporate Counsel, Southern California Branch, November 2010