Oppenheimer Investigations Group (OIG) congratulates managing partner Vida Thomas for being named a Top Women Lawyer by the Daily Journal, California’s largest legal newspaper. The annual “Top Women” list recognizes 100 women lawyers making an impact in California’s legal landscape.
In Vida’s award profile, the Daily Journal highlights OIG’s unwavering focus on uncovering the truth and identifying root causes of workplace conflict for corporate and public-entity clients. “We make it clear to the employer that our intention is to be open and fair and impartial and to reach reasoned findings no matter who may be pleased or displeased with them,” Vida explains. In addition to conducting thorough investigations into claims of discrimination and misconduct, the profile draws attention to the firm’s conflict resolution and training services, including conducting workplace climate assessments, which involves interviewing employees, implementing anonymous surveys and leading focus groups to identify workplace problem areas. Vida explains that by reporting findings anonymously, employers can stay “focused on solutions and not on the identities of who said what.”
Vida leverages three decades of employment law experience to lead OIG. She has conducted hundreds of workplace investigations and has served as an expert witness in numerous state and federal employment lawsuits. As managing partner, Vida oversees OIG’s operations, which includes focusing on building out the firm’s mediation and coaching services. She also dedicates a significant portion of her time to public speaking, covering topics such as best practices in conducting investigations to preventing implicit bias or sexual harassment in the workplace. Additionally, Vida serves on the diversity board at McGeorge School of Law, where she advises on ways to support next generations of lawyers, especially those coming from underrepresented populations.
In 2023, Vida was named to the Daily Journal’s Top Labor and Employment Lawyers list. Other recent accolades and recognitions include being named both a “DEI Champ” and a “Women Who Means Business” by the Sacramento Business Journal, the “Black History Month Legacy Award of Excellence” honor at this year’s 36th Annual Sacramento Black History Month Black Expo, and inclusion in Northern California Super Lawyers.
