Benjamin L. Webster has extensive experience handling trials, binding arbitrations, and mediations in a variety of complex disputes. He has defended countless lawsuits in state and federal courts involving allegations such as:
- Discrimination based on race, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability and immigration status
- Sexual harassment
- Retaliation
- Invasion of privacy
- Defamation
- Breach of contract
- Workplace violence
- Unfair competition and other business torts
Additionally, Ben has prosecuted and defended numerous trade secret cases, winning and defeating requests for injunctive relief in high stakes, time-sensitive disputes. He also has handled the defense of class action lawsuits, including wage and hour and discrimination claims arising under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
Another focus of Ben’s practice is conducting complex workplace investigations (involving claims of harassment, retaliation, and other alleged misconduct) for public and private employers, as well as advising companies in connection with internal investigations and discipline resulting therefrom.
A frequent speaker at employment seminars and training programs, Ben has worked with various local, regional, and national clients involved in:
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Retail
- Finance
- High-tech
- Energy
- Telecommunications
- Real estate
- Insurance
- Health care
- Lobbying
- Restaurant and grocery store chains
He has made numerous labor/employment presentations for various audiences, e.g., The Executive Employer Conference; Sacramento Area Human Resources Association; National Business Institute; Employer Resource Institute; ELT, Inc.; Stockton Business Resource Group; State Fund; Paychex; Sacramento Trusted Advisors Group; Loggers’ Association of Northern California; Financial Service Industry Roundtable; Rotary Club; Foothill Employer Advisory Council; SHRM Redding Chapter, Sacramento Professional Advisors Network.
Ben is the office managing shareholder of Littler Mendelson's Sacramento office. Prior to joining Littler, he practiced commercial litigation, with an emphasis in labor and employment law, for another national law firm where he served as managing partner of the Sacramento office for the eight years preceding his departure. Between college and law school, he worked as a reporter for the daily newspaper in Red Bluff, California; as a legislative correspondent for Congressman Harold T. "Bizz" Johnson in Washington, D.C.; and, later, as a legislative and policy analyst and newsletter editor for the Joint Maritime Congress.
In law school, Ben was on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review. Thereafter, he clerked for the Hon. Pasco M. Bowman, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.