Whitney Williams

Whitney Williams is an associate in the Labor and Employment Practice Group in the firm's Los Angeles office.

Areas of Practice

Whitney’s practice focuses on employment litigation, representing employers across various industries in state and federal courts, and in arbitration. She defends against a broad range of claims, including harassment, retaliation, discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, PAGA representative actions, and class actions. Whitney also defends employers in connection with charges and investigations before administrative agencies including the California Labor Commissioner, the California Civil Rights Department, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Labor.

Before joining Sheppard Mullin, Whitney defended and advised Fortune 500 companies in employment disputes at a global boutique labor and employment firm and a large law firm. Notably, she also represented the plaintiffs in a landmark antitrust college sports case, securing a $200 million settlement for current and former college athletes nationwide. Whitney has represented entertainment talent at SAG-AFTRA in labor and employment-related contractual disputes and has worked in the Business and Legal Affairs Department at FOX Sports. She has also advised professional sports leagues and global social media platforms on legal risks.

During law school, Whitney was an Associate Editor of the Pepperdine Law Review, Volume XLVII, and was actively involved in the Black Law Students’ Association, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and OUTLaw. Her law review article explored the intersection of employment law and sports, analyzing whether a sitting president, in his executive branch capacity, could legally influence the NFL’s employment of Colin Kaepernick. Whitney took courses toward the School of Law’s Certificate in Entertainment, Media, and Sports Law and served as a Research Assistant to a former Associate Dean and Entertainment Law professor. During and after law school, Whitney served as a judicial extern for the Honorable André Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California.

In her spare time, Whitney enjoys fashion, exploring new cuisines, watching and attending sporting events, and spending time with her Cavapoo puppy, Wynona.

Memberships

Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

Black Entertainment & Sports Lawyers Association

The National LGBTQ+ Bar Association

John M. Langston Bar Association

The Sports Lawyers Association