SESSIONS & KIMBALL - Key Persons
Bruce G. Lee is a seasoned attorney who draws upon a wealth of legal and educational experience to advocate for individual employees at Sessions & Kimball LLP.
Bruce's experience includes externing at a prominent law firm in South Korea and working at an international law firm and smaller firms. At these firms, Bruce assisted companies with corporate needs ranging from securities filings to mergers and acquisitions to employment contracts to independent contractor agreements and equity incentive plans.
He also served as a volunteer mediator in the Utah County Small Claims Courts and has externed for both a Utah non-profit organization and a prominent Korean law firm. Bruce was featured on the inaugural edition of the Orange County Public Law Center's newsletter for his pro bono work in securing Special Immigrant - Juvenile Status for a young male client.
Prior to graduating from Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School, Bruce earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from UCLA, where he also earned his BA in Psychology and in Business Economics. Prior to attending UCLA, Bruce served for two years in Korea for an international service organization.
Bruce's interests have included choral singing, camping, Lindy Hop, and piano performance, but he currently devotes his time to his wife and four sons.
Job Titles:
- Founding and Managing Partner
Heidi L. De Groot is a Partner with our firm. Her practice focuses exclusively on employee rights claims, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and wage and hour violations. Heidi represents individual employees from all walks of life, from senior executives to minimum wage earners. She is a seasoned litigator with extensive trial and appellate experience. Heidi has recovered millions of dollars for her clients and has handled billion-dollar legal disputes.
Prior to joining Sessions & Kimball, Heidi represented Fortune 500 and other corporate clients in employment, complex business litigation, insurance coverage, general and products liability, construction, and legal and medical malpractice. She also served as a senior administrator at UC San Diego and Washington State University in the employment arena.
Heidi has taught attorneys, executives, university leadership and civic groups about issues including discrimination, sexual harassment, performance management, and organizational change. Recent speaking engagements include addressing the Orange County Bar Association's Mommy Esquire and Labor & Employment sections in September 2016 regarding "Maternity Leave for Attorneys," serving as a panelist at the Orange County Bar Association's Annual Labor & Employment Law Symposium on the topic of "What to do about Workplace Violence" in June 2016, the Orange County Bar Association Labor & Employment Section Meeting on the topic of "Navigating Joint Employer and Independent Contractor Issues" in July 2015, and the Orange County Bar Association's "Last Dash" program on the topic of "Ethics and Mediation" in January 2015. She has also published numerous articles on employment law topics, including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, overtime, and sick leave.
Heidi has received numerous professional awards and honors. She has been selected as one of the "Top 100 Labor & Employment Lawyers in the State of California" by the American Society of Legal Advocates, a "Top 100 Lawyer" by The National Advocates (a companion organization to The National Trial Lawyers), honored by Martindale Hubbell for her 35 years of service in the community, and has a perfect 10/10 rating from the online referral service Avvo.
Heidi is a 1980 graduate of USC Gould School of Law, a 35-year member of the California State Bar, past Chair of the Labor & Employment Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association, a member of OCBA's Masters Division, and a member of CELA. She was previously a member of the Washington State Bar, Certified Investigator for the State of Washington, and Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).
Heidi enjoys gardening, spin class, classic Corvettes, and her darling grandsons.
Larry E. Herrera is Partner with our firm and a tested attorney who draws upon experience in employment law as well as several other fields of law in order to advocate for employees.
Larry's experience extends beyond employment law. Prior to working with Sessions & Kimball, Larry worked in criminal prosecution as well as criminal appeals. Larry also practiced family law where he worked in asset division, as well as child custody and support. This breadth of experience allows Larry to approach a case from a unique perspective.
Larry has worked extensively with both the Legal Aid Society of Orange County as well as the Public Law Center ensuring that all members of our community have access to justice.
Larry attended California State University, Long Beach, where he earned his BA in Business Management. He then attended University of San Diego School of Law where he served on the school's Journal of Climate and Energy.
Larry's interests include playing sports, music, hiking, and spending time with family.