William Carroll

William John Carroll has focused his practice on labor and employment law. He puts his extensive experience to work representing employers in trial and appellate courts, and before a wide range of state and federal agencies.

He represents clients from a variety of industries — including high technology, financial, manufacturing, transportation, higher education and retail – who benefit from his knowledgeable advice and effective counsel.

Will has successfully tried jury and non-jury trials alleging discrimination, retaliation, and other employment claims. He has argued on behalf of employers before the California Supreme Court on several occasions, and has a distinguished record of appellate advocacy in both state and federal courts of appeal.

While Will’s practice encompasses all aspects of employment law, he is especially experienced in litigating complex wage and other class and collective actions.

Beyond the litigation context, Will routinely advises California employers regarding preventive personnel practices, wage and hour issues, employee terminations, internal harassment and retaliation complaints, reductions in force and all other aspects of the employment relationship. He also conducts workplace investigations and compliance audits.

Will also regularly counsels companies on employee mobility and trade secret misappropriation issues, such as employee raiding and solicitation matters, the interpretation and enforceability of non-compete agreements, and counsels clients seeking to minimize the risks associated with hiring competitors’ employees.

EXPERIENCE:

• Will defeated a class certification sought by a putative class of hair models who alleged that a cosmetics company misclassified them as independent contractors.
• When a putative class of workers brought donning and doffing wage and hour claims against a large pharmaceutical manufacturer, Will succeeded in achieving a favorable class-wide settlement.
• Will obtained summary judgment on Fourth Amendment claims brought by a putative class alleging civil rights violations against a public university.
• Will argued before the California Supreme Court in seeking affirmation of summary judgment in the employer’s favor in a class action seeking imposition of “waiting time” penalties for failure to pay temporary workers within 24 hours of completion of their work. Smith v. Superior Court, 39 Cal.4th 77 (2006).

EDUCATION:

• University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1982
• University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1979

BAR ADMISSIONS:

• California
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

• American Bar Association, Section of Labor and Employment Law
• Bar Association of San Francisco
• National Association of College and University Attorneys, Committee on Legal Education
• State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Law Section