Shannon H.P. Ward
Top rated Employment Litigation attorney in Calabasas, California
Aarons | Ward, APC
Practice Areas: Employment Litigation, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in California since: 2015
Education: Pepperdine University School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2017 - 2023 Call today:
818-946-2901
Aarons | Ward, APC
23801 Calabasas RoadSuite 2001
Calabasas, CA 91302 Visit website
Details
Shannon H.P. Ward is a trial lawyer at Aarons | Ward, APC in Calabasas. Representing clients throughout the San Fernando Valley and other parts of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, she focuses her practice exclusively on employment law matters. Admitted to practice before all California state courts, Ms. Ward is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Central and Eastern Districts of California.
Ms. Ward limits her practice to the representation of current, former, and prospective employees. One particular area of her focus is assisting people who have been the victims of discrimination that is prohibited under various federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1963, the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. In addition to her courtroom experience in this regard, Ms. Ward has helped her clients file claims with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Ward has also helped clients who have been the target of workplace sexual harassment and assault, and she has represented people who have been the victims of wrongful termination or other acts of unlawful retaliation.
As an undergraduate, Ms. Ward attended California State University, Chico, where she majored in anthropology and received a Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude along with Certificates in Forensic Identification and Forensic Archaeology. After working as a manager in the retail industry, she enrolled at Pepperdine University School of Law, where she participated in moot court competitions as well as the school's Asylum Clinic before being awarded her Juris Doctorate. An adjunct professor at her law school alma mater, Ms. Ward is a member of Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, Consumer Attorneys of California, California Employment Lawyers Association, and other professional groups.
Practice areas
Employment Litigation: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Employment Discrimination, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Retaliation, Wrongful Termination
- 90% Employment Litigation: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2015, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.aaronslawfirm.com/shannon-h-p-ward.html
Educational Background:
- California State University, Chico, magna cum laude, B.A. in Anthropology, Certificate in Forensic Identification and a Certificate in Forensic Archaeology, 2010
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Member, Los Angeles Trial Lawyers' Charities (LATLC), 2020
- Volunteer, Prevention Education Advocate for Strength United
- Public Counsel - pro bono asylum for undocumented minors, 2016
Honors/Awards:
- One consumer attorney practicing less than 10 years recognized annually for their significant achievements. Factors considered include hard-fought victories that overcame challenging obstacles, a result that achieves justice for a client who would not otherwise have a voice or an advocate to stand for them, whether the individual represents the best ideals of CAALA, service to CAALA and the organized trial bar, and the individual's standing and reputation in the community.  , Rising Star Award Recipient, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), 2022
- , Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Selected by the 2021 President of the organization to honor members of the organization whose hard work and dedication to the organization were to be recognized and appreciated., Presidential Award, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, 2021
- The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. All attorneys first go through the Super Lawyers selection process. Those who are not selected to the Super Lawyers list, but who meet either one of the Rising Stars eligibility requirements, go through the Rising Stars selection process. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2020
- The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. All attorneys first go through the Super Lawyers selection process. Those who are not selected to the Super Lawyers list, but who meet either one of the Rising Stars eligibility requirements, go through the Rising Stars selection process. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2019
- Selected as Top Women Attorneys Rising Star by Los Angeles Magazine, Top Women Attorneys Rising Star, Los Angeles Magazine, 2019
- The Street Fighter of the Year Award is given to a small practitioner (no more than 5 attorneys in the firm and less than ten years a member of the bar) that achieved a significant result in a case that exemplifies the everyday struggles of the small practitioner in California., Finalist - Street Fighter of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of California, 2019
- The Award recognizes significant achievements of a CAALA member who has practiced law for less than 10 years., Finalist - Rising Star, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles, 2019
- Selected as a Top Women Attorneys Rising Star by Los Angeles Magazine in 2018 and 2019, Top Women Attorneys Rising Star, Los Angeles Magazine, 2018
- The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. All attorneys first go through the Super Lawyers selection process. Those who are not selected to the Super Lawyers list, but who meet either one of the Rising Stars eligibility requirements, go through the Rising Stars selection process. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2018
- The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. All attorneys first go through the Super Lawyers selection process. Those who are not selected to the Super Lawyers list, but who meet either one of the Rising Stars eligibility requirements, go through the Rising Stars selection process. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list., Rising Star, Super Lawyer, 2017
- The Street Fighter of the Year Award is given to a small practitioner (no more than 5 attorneys in the firm and less than ten years a member of the bar) that achieved a significant result in a case that exemplifies the everyday struggles of the small practitioner in California., Finalist - Street Fighter of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), 2017
- For excellence in oral advocacy, Order of the Barristers, 2015
Verdicts/Settlements:
- $2.1 Million Verdict - Bidye v. UMA Enterprises, Inc. - Retaliation and Race/National Origin Discrimination, 2022
- $1.4 Million Verdict - Davis v. Ironwood State Prison - Defendant failed to provide accommodations to Plaintiff and, after he complained about the HR manager, he was retaliated against., 2019
- $11 Million Verdict - Meadowcroft, et al. v. Silverton Partners, Inc., et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No. BC633239. Two plaintiffs were sexually harassed by their supervisor and then retaliated against by the employer after making complaints, 2018
- $125,000 Verdict - Williams v. City of Los Angeles, et al. - Failure to accommodate case limited to past lost wages only because plaintiff died from unrelated illness, 2018
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- How the law changed in 2023 to revive claims for some adult victims of sexual abuse., Author, Revival of Adult Sexual Abuse Claims: AB 2777 and the updates to CCP section 340.16, The Advocate, 2023
- Discuss and demonstrate opening statements in an employment case., Speaker, Trial Skills Seminar: Opening Statements, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), 2023
- An overview of gathering evidence and handling sexual harassment cases., Speaker, Sexual Harassment Cases, CAALA Vegas Convention, 2022
- Moderated a panel on jury selection aimed at informing lawyers practicing less than ten years about the essentials of jury selection, including a live demonstration., Moderator, Jury Selection Demonstration, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Law, 2022
- Presented on different statutes regarding retaliation in the employment context as well as proving that an adverse employment action was pretext for retaliation or discrimination., Speaker, The Many Faces of Retaliation, CAALA Convention - Las Vegas, NV, Civil Litigators, 2021
- Prepared and moderated a live, abridged mock trial for thousands of attendees and facilitated a roundtable discussion on effective opening statements.  , Moderator, Mock Trial: Car Crash, CAALA Convention - Las Vegas, NV, Civil Litigators, 2021
- Described the overarching umbrella of consumer advocacy as well as providing examples of employment cases I've worked on in the last few years in order to provide law students with an idea of what it looks like to practice law in this area., Speaker, What Does it Mean to be a Consumer Advocate?, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law Luncheon Presentation, 2021
- Webinar focusing on breaking down past trials to discuss what was effective and lessons learned., Moderator, Employment Law Series: Case Analysis, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles, 2020
- Webinar focusing on preparing employment cases for trial., Moderator, Employment Law Series: Preparing for Trial, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles, 2020
- Webinar focusing on handling employment cases in the discovery phase through dispositive motion practice., Moderator, Employment Law Series: Discovery Through MSJ, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles, 2020
- Webinar focusing on handling employment cases from the first phone call with the client through filing the complaint., Moderator, Employment Law Series: Intake and Pre-Litigation, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles, 2020
- Combatting the Harvey Weinstein Defense: Knowing the Top Five Categories of Defense Attacks and Ways to Address Them in Your Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse CasesMany have lauded the skill of Mr. Weinstein’s criminal defense lawyer, Donna Rotunno, in her zealous advocacy for Weinstein.  Others have condemned her tactics.  However, her arguments are not new.  As long as there has been sexual assault and survivors brave enough to object, defendants and their lawyers have made the same arguments.  By knowing and understanding these defense attacks we can all be better advocates for survivors., Author, Combatting the Harvey Weinstein Defense: Knowing the Top Five Categories of Defense Attacks and Ways to Address Them in Your Sexual Harassment and Sexual Abuse Cases, The Advocate, Law, 2020
- Help the jury make an emotional connection to the harm and loss suffered by your client in a sexual harassment case., Co-Author, Communicating Damages in Sexual Harassment Cases, The Advocate, 2019
- Discussing how to approach evaluating potential employment cases and some red flags to look out for., Speaker, Vetting and Evaluating Your Potential Employment Case, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Law, 2019
- Spoke on a panel about being a "Young Gun" trial lawyer, Speaker/Panelist, The Young Guns, The Southern California Trial Lawyers' Conference, Law, 2019
- Summary -Â Sexual harassment and assault cases continue to be a hot topic. Take your employment cases to the next level by learning how to utilize the media to benefit your clients. This advanced employment law webinar discussed such topics as: when to utilize the media to maximize your case, where to go to get the word out, how to prepare your client, and the upsides and pitfalls of engaging the media., Moderator, Employment Law: Harassment Cases and the Media, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, Law, 2019
- Presented on a particular pro bono asylum case, how plaintiff attorneys can get involved in pro bono asylum cases, and how changes in the law/administration make it even more necessary for attorneys to donate their time to such causes., Speaker, Saving Lives on the Weekends: Helping Young Asylum-Seekers in Trump's America, Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), 2017
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Chair, 2023 CAALA Vegas Convention Committee, 2023
- Vice Chair of Education, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, 2022
- Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, teaching Honors Trial Practice, 2022
- Member of the Board of Governors, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, 2022
- Associate Editor, Advocate Magazine: Employment Law, 2022
- Associate Editor, Advocate Magazine: Law Firm Management (edition), 2021
- Vice Chair of Education Committee, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), 2021
- Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, 2021
- Chair of Law Student Outreach Committee, Consumer Attorneys’ Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), 2020
- Chair of the Law Student Outreach Committee, Consumer Attorneys’ Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), 2019
- State Bar of California
- Adjunct Faculty, Pepperdine University School of Law - Honors Trial Practice, 2019
- Consumer Attorneys’ Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Vice Chair of the Law Student Outreach Committee, 2018
- Adjunct Faculty, Pepperdine University School of Law - Honors Trial Practice, 2018
- Member, Consumer Attorneys’ Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), Education Committee
- Member, Diversity Committee for the Consumer Association of California
- American Association for Justice
- United States District Court for Central District of California
- United States District Court for Eastern District of California
- Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC)
- Member, Consumer Attorneys' Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) since 2012
- State Bar of California, Employment and Labor Division
- Adjunct Faculty, Pepperdine University School of Law - Honors Trial Practice, 2017
- Adjunct Faculty, Pepperdine University School of Law - Honors Trial Practice, 2016
- Adjunct Faculty, Pepperdine University School of Law - Honors Trial Practice, 2015
Office location for Shannon H.P. Ward
23801 Calabasas Road
Suite 2001
Calabasas, CA 91302
Phone: 818-946-2901
Selections
7 Years Rising Stars
- Rising Stars: 2017 - 2023
