Esra A. Hudson
Esra Hudson is the leader of Manatt’s Employment and Labor practice and is widely recognized as a trusted advisor for her ability to guide clients through sensitive crisis situations involving public scrutiny and media attention. Her ability to manage high-stakes matters has made her a go-to resource for prominent figures and iconic companies, particularly in the entertainment industry.
Her practice centers on all aspects of employment law and related litigation with a client-centered, cutting edge approach. Esra has successfully protected clients in complex cases through creative and effective strategies focused on achieving client goals. Her vast experience includes Private Attorney General Act representative actions, class action defense, and state and federal litigation involving claims of discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, trade secrets, unfair competition, and other business-related issues. She is also experienced in representing clients in matters before agencies such as the California Civil Rights Department, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and has successfully handled broad classification audits by the California Employment Development Department. In addition, Esra has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution, including managing and trying complex and voluminous arbitration matters following the enforcement of class action waivers.
Esra also maintains an active pro bono practice. She played a key role in overseeing the completion of a court-ordered monitoring period for the Sweetwater Union High School District following the landmark Ollier v. Sweetwater Union High School District decision—a 17-year case establishing Title IX protections for equity in girls’ high school sports—working in partnership with Legal Aid at Work and the California Women’s Law Center, where she has been a board member for over a decade.
