William A. Kershaw

Practice areas

Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Consumer Law, Employment Litigation: Plaintiff, Personal Injury – General: Plaintiff

Focus areas

Class Actions, Toxic Torts

Managing partner at Kershaw Talley Barlow, Attorney William A. Kershaw, leads the firm with offices in both Sacramento and Chico, California. With an extensive legal career spanning over 48 years, Mr. Kershaw holds a prominent national rank as a trial lawyer. He extends unparalleled legal guidance and assistance to clients across various counties including Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer, Yolo, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Butte, and Yuba. His expertise covers a range of legal matters:

• Personal injury and wrongful death claims
• Mass torts
• Class actions
• Complex civil litigation

Throughout his profession, Mr. Kershaw has managed numerous intricate injury cases in federal and state courts across the nation. Noteworthy achievements include his pivotal role in securing a settlement exceeding $330 million from a major automobile manufacturer due to RICO violations, and a $180 million settlement from a leading chemical company for the emission of toxic gases.

His accomplishments extend further to multimillion-dollar settlements and judgments against some of America’s largest corporations. These cases encompass disputes related to wage and hour concerns, breaches of contract, misleading advertising, and other questionable corporate practices.

Recognized for his unwavering professionalism and exceptional ethical standards, Mr. Kershaw holds an AV Preeminent peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Moreover, he garnered the title of Best of the Bar by the Sacramento Business Journal consecutively from 2014 to 2018. He has maintained a consistent position as a Top Lawyer according to Sacramento Magazine, and has been honored with the CCTLA Mort Friedman Humanitarian Award. His peers have bestowed upon him numerous top-tier rankings and endorsements.

Mr. Kershaw’s journey in law commenced with his graduation from Santa Clara University in 1969. He later obtained his Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1972. Within the legal community, he has held several leadership roles within the Sacramento County Bar Association, including president, chairman, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. He has also contributed as a director and board member of the California District Attorneys Association.

Furthermore, Mr. Kershaw is an active member of The State Bar of California, the Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and his local Rotary Club. His affiliations and accomplishments collectively portray a distinguished legal career marked by expertise, ethical standards, and leadership within the legal community.