William L. Cole - Attorneys - Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP ~ Full service entertainment law firm

Legal Expertise

Serving as lead counsel in numerous employment discrimination, whistle blower, ERISA, LMRA Section 301 and wrongful termination cases, labor arbitrations, National Labor Relations Board hearings, and other administrative proceedings. Serving as lead counsel defending multiple employers in wage and hour and employment discrimination actions. Chief negotiator in numerous private and public sector collective bargaining negotiations. Representation of multi-employer Taft-Hartley Benefit Plans. Representation of and advising employers regarding ERISA issues.

Representative Matters

Representation of major motion picture studios and producers in several industry-wide arbitrations with the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild and Writers Guild.
Ongoing representation of several significant benefit plans providing both day-to-day and litigation counsel.
Represented major motion picture and television companies in class action wage and hour and age discrimination cases.
Represented a large aerospace corporation in several wrongful discharge and employment discrimination litigation and arbitration matters.
Successfully represented major motion picture company in jury trial of Federal Section 301 action.
Successfully represented employers in numerous arbitrations including industry-wide cases for multiple employers.
Chief negotiator for a major beer distributor in talks with the Teamsters union.
Negotiating national collective bargaining agreements for a group of television producers.
Successfully represented all of the major studios and networks in a closely-watched arbitration against the WGA in which it was determined that a portion of the 2008 New Media deal is not retroactive.

Partner - Los Angeles

Email William L. Cole

Phone:

(310) 312-3140

Fax:

(310) 231-8340

Practice Area

Labor & Employment

Industry Focus

Entertainment industry, aerospace, retail, manufacturing, real estate, public employers, power generating companies, and computer hardware and software companies

Education

Stanford University, J.D., 1977; Order of the Coif
University of California Irvine, B.A., 1974; magna cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa

Court Admissions

California
USDC, Central District of California
USDC, Eastern District of California
USDC, Southern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Recognition

"Los Angeles Labor Law - Management Lawyer of the Year," The Best Lawyers in America (2012)
“Leading Labor & Employment Lawyers in California,” Chambers USA (2006, 2007, 2009-2011)
“Best Lawyers in America, Entertainment Law and Labor and Employment Law,” Best Lawyers (2006-2012)
"Top Labor & Employment Lawyers in California," Daily Journal (2011)
"100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys," Human Resource Executive (2011)
“The Nation’s Most Powerful Employment Attorneys,” Lawdragon (2008-2011)
"Top 5% of lawyers in Southern California," Southern California Super Lawyers (2004-2011)
"Top 100 Power Lawyers" list, The Hollywood Reporter (2008-2010)
"Leading Management Labor & Employment attorneys in California," Who’s Who Legal: California (2008-2010)
"Who's Who in Entertainment Law," Los Angeles Business Journal (2010)
"Top Labor & Employment Attorneys," Los Angeles Business Journal (2009)
"Top 3% of Attorneys Nationwide," The Legal News (2009)
“Who’s Who in LA Law,” Los Angeles Business Journal (2007)
AV® Preeminent™ Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

Publications and Presentations

Tidal Wave of Wage/Hour Class Action Lawsuits Puts Employers at Risk, Labor & Employment Alert (July 2001)
The California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board Says that Employees on Leave Must Receive Full Benefits -- But There Is a Way To Fight Back, Labor & Employment Alert (July 2001)
U.S. Supreme Court Holds That Most Employment Agreements Requiring Arbitration of Claims are Covered Under the Federal Arbitration Act, MS&K Labor & Employment Alert (April 2001)

Professional, Business, and Civic Affiliations

Management Co-Chair, American Bar Association Sports and Entertainment Committee, Labor and Employment Law Section (2001 - Present)
Executive Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Labor Law Section (1989-1990)
Board of Directors, PBS Foundation
Co-chair, MS&K Labor Department
MS&K Governing Board
MS&K Executive Committee
Former MS&K Managing Partner (1991-1997)