Esra A Hudson

Practice Areas

Esra Hudson leads the Firm’s Employment and Labor practice. Her work is client centered and cutting edge and focuses on all aspects of employment law and related litigation. Esra represents companies in state and federal courts, defending claims of discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, wrongful discharge and related tort claims, breach of contract, trade secrets, unfair competition, and all other employment-related matters. She has represented employers in proceedings before state and federal agencies, including the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Esra’s litigation practice also includes extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, including managing and trying dozens of simultaneous arbitration matters following the enforcement of class action waivers in arbitration agreements.

In addition to her litigation practice, Esra is a trusted advisor to her clients on a variety of employment, personnel management and operational issues. She has experience in crisis management and media relations, including in sensitive matters involving executives and high-profile individuals. Esra provides a wide array of management training on a variety of employment-related subjects, such as sexual harassment and discrimination prevention. She also provides services for companies in a diverse group of industries, including entertainment, financial services, health care, transportation, insurance, manufacturing, the service industry and nonprofits.

Professional Memberships

Admitted to practice in California; admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Board of Directors, California Women’s Law Center

Board of Trustees, Laurence School, 2008–2014

Member, American Bar Association

Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

Provides pro bono adoption services for Public Counsel and Alliance for Children’s Rights

Publications

Quoted, “Vaccine Exemption Bids for Health-Care Workers to Spark Lawsuits,” Bloomberg Law, November 30, 2021.

Quoted, “California’s Workplace COVID-19 Standards Require Strict Protocols,” SHRM, January 8, 2021.

Co-author, “Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Two New Forms of Job-Protected Paid Leave To Be Enacted,” Westlaw Journal Employment, March 24, 2020.

Quoted, “California Adds Resources for Employers and Workers Affected by Coronavirus,” SHRM, March 23, 2020.

Quoted, “Many Employers Must Offer Paid Leave Under Coronavirus Relief Law,” SHRM, March 19, 2020.

Co-author, “Coronavirus: Top 10 issues for employers,” Daily Journal, March 13, 2020.

Co-author, "Avoiding Social Networking Land Mines for Employers," Inside Counsel, November 4, 2010.