Jason Gabhart joined SHRM in March 2014 as the Director, State Affairs, California. Working closely with the California State Council of SHRM, Jason advocates for SHRM’s interests in the California State Legislature, the Governor’s office, and various state agencies and departments.

Prior to joining SHRM, Jason served as external relations manager at the California Optometric Association (COA), where he assisted optometrists with third party payer issues and with matters they confronted as small business owners. Jason’s previous career experience includes advocacy positions with the Association of California Life & Health Insurance Companies (ACLHIC) and Griffin & Associates, where he was a legislative and regulatory advocate with both entities. Jason began his career as an attorney with the law firm of Rich, Fuidge, Morris & Iverson. 

Jason received a Juris Doctorate degree from UC Davis Law School, and a Bachelor in Arts degree in political science from UC Berkeley.  He resides in Loomis, California with his wife and three children.

Courtney Barksdale Perez is a senior litigation associate at Carter Scholer Arnett Hamada & Mockler. Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law, Courtney represents individuals, corporations, and government entities in all phases of commercial and employment-related litigation including administrative proceedings, state court and federal court.  Courtney has represented plaintiffs and defendants in disputes involving fraud, negligence, breach of contract, breach of covenants not to compete, tortious interference with contracts, misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement, breach of fiduciary duty and employment-related civil rights claims.

Courtney also advises clients concerning compliance with employment-related statutes such as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Federal Labor Standards Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Texas Whistleblower Act, the Texas Payday Act, the Texas Labor Code and employment agreements.  She also conducts internal investigations, reviews and prepares policies and procedures, and provides training for employers.  Ms. Perez also has experience advising government contractors with their obligations under federal contract compliance laws, developing compliance programs, drafting Affirmative Action plans and representing government contractors in administrative proceedings.

In addition, Courtney is a trained mediator and uses her dispute resolution training and experience to assist litigants in resolving employment, business, commercial, consumer, personal injury and civil rights disputes. Prior to joining Carter Scholer, Courtney maintained a solo practice. Courtney was an associate at K&L Gates, LLP from 2008-2011, and served as Law Clerk to the Honorable James A. Beaty, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina from 2007-2008.

Maury Baskin focuses his Washington, DC-based practice on national labor policy, challenging excessive government regulation on behalf of small and large businesses, while advising employers in compliance issues. He has extensive experience in dealing with labor relations and union pressure tactics, employment discrimination and wage and hour law. He has represented a variety of industry sectors, advising clients involved in construction, government contracting, higher education, telecommunications, hospitality, security, and nonprofits.

Maury has served as lead appellate counsel at all levels of the federal and state courts and before the U. S. Supreme Court, and has led successful challenges against federal agencies including the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He has long represented the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) national trade association and many of its construction industry members. On their behalf, he has been one of the leading advocates against government-mandated project labor agreements, prevailing wage expansion, and union corporate campaigns.