Ben Webster
Business Name: Littler Mendelson P.C.
Business Category: Legal
Certifications/accreditations: B.A., Stanford University; J.D., University of Virginia Law School
Business Structure: Professional Corporation
Number of Employees: 15 lawyers in Sac (1, 500 worldwide)
Year Founded: 1942
Annual Revenue: $500M +
Services Offered: Labor/employment law (litigation, advice, counsel, training) for employer/management clients
Contact Information
Mailing Address: 500 Capitol Mall, Suite 2000, Sacramento, CA 95814
Office: 916-830-7227
Mobile: 916-761-1572
Email Address: bwebster@littler.com
Website: www.littler.com
Social Media
- LinkedIn: Ben Webster
Geographic Region Served
- Sacramento Region
- Northern California
- Western US
- National
- International
Industry Sectors Served
- Agriculture/Viticulture
- Bioscience
- Construction
- Education
- Energy
- Food and Beverage
- Government
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Nonprofit
- Professional Services
- Real Estate
- Retail
Insights
What led you to do the work you do? Inspired by my dad, who practiced law in Red Bluff, CA for 60 years. At Littler we assist employers of all sizes and in all industries navigate the challenges of labor/employment law and build productive relationships with their workforces. It is gratifying to help clients solve problems and operate their businesses to comply with the law.
Describe your ideal client: Any employer faced with a labor/employment lawsuit or the threat of litigation, or any employer who wants to avoid litigation and stay in compliance with the plethora of confusing and unforgiving workplace laws. In labor/ employment law, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.
What situation or circumstances might lead a prospective client to your services? Employee or former employee threatens legal action, or employer wants to pro-actively avoid being drawn into a lawsuit, Labor Commissioner claim, DFEH or EEOC charge of discrimination, or other proceeding. Clients call us when they want to hire, fire, discipline, or otherwise interact with employees in a way that could create liability.
What’s the best way for colleagues to refer prospective clients to you? Pick up the phone or send a text or email that lays out the concerns of the prospective clients. We will run a conflicts check before offering any legal advice, and we do not represent employees against employers.
How does a typical engagement begin? Unfortunately many begin after a client has been sued or receives a demand letter from a plaintiffs’ employment lawyer. We welcome employers who are looking for ways to stay out of court, and we can help craft policies/procedures to ensure compliance with laws re wage/hour, discrimination/harassment/retaliation, workplace violence, etc.
What services might a typical engagement include?
Defense of employment litigation (or prosecution of legal action against a client’s competitor for misappropriation of trade secrets or other unfair competition); defending claims brought by or before the government for allegations of unfair treatment based on age, sex, race, disability, religion, etc.; wage/hour and PAGA class actions.
What might you be doing if you hadn’t pursued this career?
Worked as a journalist for many years and would probably be taking pictures and writing stories for the Red Bluff Daily News if I hadn’t headed to the Bay Area for college and East Coast for law school. Worked for a Congressman in DC and then a maritime lobbying firm, and made a little pocket money playing the piano before law school.
What about your work gives you greatest satisfaction? Helping people solve problems, helping employers instill a culture of dignity and respect so that the workplace is better for employers and employees.
What might your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
Grew up with no TV and didn’t own one until I was 30 years old. I have enjoyed reading Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” more than 50 times (my dad read it to the family every Christmas when I was growing up, and we kept the tradition going with our own three boys every December).
What do you enjoy doing most when you’re not serving your clients? Love the great outdoors, and prefer to be hiking in the mountains with family whenever I can. On the board of the Lassen Park Foundation, and a commissioner on the California Travel & Tourism Commission. Wife of 30 years (Joy Wake) and I are hooked on travel, having visited most of the National Parks in the U.S. and about 30 countries.