Jonathan Nivens - Managing Attorney

Jonathan Nivens is an attorney licensed in California. He has been working on federal employment cases since 2012, starting as a Legal Assistant and advancing through the roles of Paralegal, Law Clerk, and Provisionally Licensed Attorney. He practiced with a California provisional license throughout 2024 and was admitted to the full California Bar in January 2025. He only represents federal employees and postal workers. The exclusive nature of his practice has given him strong practical experience across multiple forums.

Jonathan graduated with distinction from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in Sacramento, CA, earning his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. At McGeorge, he served as an officer of the Employment Law Society, volunteered at the Center for Workers' Rights McGeorge Legal Clinic, and completed an externship with the Legal Services of Northern California Pension Project. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant Science from the University of California, Davis.

Jonathan has developed substantial experience in complex litigation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). He has assisted clients in filing complaints with the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) and claims with the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). A skilled appellate-level legal writer, he is committed to fiercely advocating for federal employees to protect their civil and employment rights. He finds great fulfillment in helping injured federal workers to secure necessary medical treatment and navigate the complexities of the legal system.

Nicholas Day - Legal Assistant

Since joining our firm, Nicholas has shown great enthusiasm and dedication for our mission to help federal employees and postal workers with their complex legal matters. Under the supervision and direction of Jonathan Nivens, Esq., Nicholas has gained practical experience enabling him to assist with complex litigation, as well as applications for benefits, including federal disability retirement and OWCP claims. He brings a diverse set of professional skills to Law Office of Jonathan Nivens, making him an invaluable and highly appreciated team member.

Norman F. Nivens - Attorney of Counsel

Norman F. Nivens has been admitted to the bar in California (1977), the U.S. Court of Military Appeals (1978), the District of Columbia (1979, inactive), the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California (1997), and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (1999). He obtained his J.D. from Southwestern School of Law in 1976, an LL.M. in Labor Law from the National Law Center at George Washington University in 1986, a B.S. in Business Management from California State University, Los Angeles in 1973, and an M.B.A. from Midwestern State University in 1985.

Between August 1986 and June 1991, Mr. Nivens held the position of Chief of Labor Law at McClellan AFB with the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate, overseeing four attorneys and two legal assistants. His team was responsible for managing four class-action discrimination cases before the E.E.O.C. and Federal District Court, as well as over 700 individual cases across various administrative forums. Mr. Nivens personally managed approximately 235 cases before the M.S.P.B., E.E.O.C., F.L.R.A., F.M.C.S., O.S.C., and in labor arbitrations.

From June 1991 to August 1994, Mr. Nivens served as a Trial Attorney and Chief of the U.S. Air Force Civilian Personnel Litigation Branch, representing the Air Force in 90 court litigation cases related to labor relations, equal employment opportunity, and civilian personnel law. He was part of the defense team in a $300 million dual-forum discrimination class-action case, Munos vs. Sec AF, and personally managed three cases involving multiple litigants seeking reinstatement, career status, and back pay, with a total value in the multi-million dollar range. Additionally, he oversaw the work of 14 trial attorneys and three paralegals in over 450 individual cases and 18 class-action lawsuits claiming over $2 billion. Contact us to discuss federal employment matters.

February 1995 - December 2025: Mr. Nivens has provided counsel to more than one thousand federal and U.S. Postal Service employees in his private practice, addressing issues such as removals, medical disqualifications, RIFs, retirements, discrimination, harassment, whistleblower claims, security clearances, and workers' compensation. He has represented clients in more than 225 discrimination complaints before the EEOC and adverse actions before the MSPB, among other forums. Contact us to discuss your federal employment matters.

January 2026 - Present: Norman Nivens assists his son, Jonathan Nivens, in complex litigation cases. His expertise and years of experience make him an ideal of counsel attorney. He has been an invaluable resource and mentor throughout Jonathan's legal career.