People: William M. Brown, Partner

William M. Brown

Partner

Sacramento
Direct: (916) 448-0159
Fax: (916) 558-4839
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Mr. Brown counsels businesses with cost effective, innovative and proactive advice regarding employee, organizational and litigation issues.

Mr. Brown is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.  He uses the SeyfarthLean approach to resolve problems and create processes that deliver increased value to clients.  These include driving efficiency in the management of litigation and promoting the sharing of best practices.

Mr. Brown assists several clients with issues concerning employee recruitment, engagement and retention.  He creates policies to limit liability and counsels on restructurings and workforce reductions.  Finally, he regularly conducts audits of employment policies and employee classification.

Mr. Brown has broad-based employment experience in both federal and state court.  He handles single plaintiff, multiple plaintiff and class cases involving allegations of discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability and sexual harassment.  In addition, he handles breach of contract, misclassification and wage and hour cases.

Mr. Brown counsels businesses with cost effective, innovative and proactive advice regarding employee, organizational and litigation issues.

Mr. Brown is a certified Six Sigma Green Belt.  He uses the SeyfarthLean approach to resolve problems and create processes that deliver increased value to clients.  These include driving efficiency in the management of litigation and promoting the sharing of best practices.

Mr. Brown assists several clients with issues concerning employee recruitment, engagement and retention.  He creates policies to limit liability and counsels on restructurings and workforce reductions.  Finally, he regularly conducts audits of employment policies and employee classification.

Mr. Brown has broad-based employment experience in both federal and state court.  He handles single plaintiff, multiple plaintiff and class cases involving allegations of discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability and sexual harassment.  In addition, he handles breach of contract, misclassification and wage and hour cases.

Education

  • J.D., DePaul University College of Law (1986)
  • B.S., Illinois State University (1983)

Admissions

  • California

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California

Affiliations

  • American Bar Associatoion (Labor and Employment Law Section, EEO Committee)
  • California Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section)
  • Society of Human Resource Management
  • Sacramento Cristo Rey High School (Jobs Committee)

Representative Engagements

  • Represented global technology company in a class action over the exempt status of Graphics Validation Engineers.  Case resolved on terms that were very favorable to the company.
  • Represented global technology company in a class action over the exempt status of Data Analysts.  Case resolved on terms that were very favorable to the company.
  • Represented global technology company in a class action over the exempt status of System Integrators.  Case resolved on terms that were favorable to the company.
  • Represented national retailer in a putative race discrimination class action involving employees throughout the Western United States.  Case was dismissed with prejudice by plaintiff’s counsel after three hours of the representative plaintiff’s deposition.
  • Represented global technology company in a multiple plaintiff race and age discrimination case arising out of a reduction in force.  Obtained summary judgment. 
  • Represented global technology company in a class action concerning exempt status of customer business analysts.  Motion to dismiss class allegations and motion for summary judgment were granted.
  • Represented global technology company in a class action concerning exempt status of system analysts.  Dismissal of wage and hour class action allegations.  Summary judgment was granted on the individual claims.
  • Represented large global pharmaceutical company in a wrongful termination, defamation and gender discrimination case.  Summary judgment was granted and it was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented national healthcare provider in a Title VII, disability discrimination in violation of ADA and FEHA, intentional and negligent misrepresentation case.  Summary judgment was granted and it was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented defense contractor in a race discrimination, failure to promote case.  Summary judgment was granted and it was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented large national technology company on a malicious prosecution claim.  Summary judgment was granted and it was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented financial institution in a three week jury trial sex harassment case.  Obtained dismissal of collective action under FLSA before trial.
  • Represented telecommunications construction company in a wrongful termination case based on California Family Rights Act/Family Medical Leave Act claims.  Summary judgment was granted and it was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented global technology company in a defamation and wrongful termination in violation of public policy claims.  Summary judgment was granted and it was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented national bank in an Americans with Disabilities Act and Age Discrimination in Employment Act and wrongful termination case.  Obtained summary judgment.
  • Represented sports equipment manufacturer in an alleged disability and age discrimination case.  The case resolved after the fourth day of trial.
  • Represented national bank in a breach of contract, defamation, invasion of privacy and misrepresentation claims.  Summary judgment was granted.
  • Represented national bank on former 25-year employee’s breach of contract, defamation, misrepresentation and Labor Code section 970 case.  Obtained summary judgment and it was affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented national life insurance company in the successful defense of plaintiff’s breach of contract and fraud claims.  Trial lasted approximately eight weeks.
  • Represented national title insurance company in the successful defense of an age and sex discrimination case.  Trial lasted approximately three weeks.