William H. Littlewood

Experience

Prior to joining the Commercial and Business Litigation Practice Group of McCormick Barstow in June 2002, Mr. Littlewood practiced for nearly three years with a large Bay Area law firm in Palo Alto, California. Mr. Littlewood has managed and litigated numerous complex civil cases. Mr. Littlewood’s representative cases include, but are not limited to:

• Defended and settled on favorable terms contractual indemnity dispute seeking in excess of $20 million dollars involving issues of patent infringement on behalf of a large Singaporean-based capital equipment manufacturer;
• Defended and settled on favorable terms trade dress infringement, trade dress dilution, and unfair competition dispute on behalf of a compact tractor manufacturer and its U.S. distributor;
• Obtained a temporary restraining order and writ of possession on behalf of a local business in connection with an action against a former employee who had taken customer lists, equipment and had attempted to open a competing business with a confusingly similar name;
• Obtained dismissal of class action claims by defeating class certification resulting in favorable settlement on behalf of a local hospital.
• Obtained judgment in favor of a plaintiff lender in excess of $4.9 million for breach of guarantee by way of an affirmative motion for summary judgment;
• Obtained a complete dismissal and judgment in favor of an employer for claims brought by a former employee for gender and race discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination in violation of public policy by way of a motion for summary judgment;
• Obtained a 12-0 plaintiff’s verdict in excess of $365,000.00 as lead trial counsel in favor of client who was wrongfully denied the right to exercise an option to purchase property contained in a lease agreement.
• Obtained a dismissal of all claims on behalf of a defendant client by way of a motion to strike pursuant to California’s Anti-SLAPP statute.
• Obtained a dismissal and judgment in favor of a defendant employer for claims asserted by a former employee for racial discrimination, retaliation and harassment by way of a successful motion for summary judgment; Successfully defended trial court’s ruling at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals handling all aspects of the appeal, including briefing and oral argument, resulting in the judgment being affirmed.
• Successfully litigated, defended and positioned for settlement favorable to employer/client disability discrimination and failure to accommodate claims asserted by a former employee.

Mr. Littlewood is admitted to practice law before all California State Courts, all U.S. District Courts in California, and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Honors and Awards

In 2009 Mr. Littlewood earned the Hands Across the Valley Leadership Award which recognizes individuals and organizations for their volunteer efforts throughout California’s San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Littlewood was selected for inclusion in the Northern California Rising Stars list (2009-2010) for his primary area of practice in Employment Litigation: Defense.

Professional Associations

Mr. Littlewood is a member of the State Bar of California and Fresno County Bar Association.

Publications & Lectures

Community Involvement

Mr. Littlewood is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Community Food Bank (Feeding America). Mr. Littlewood currently serves as a Member At-Large on the Community Food Bank Board Development Committee.

Education

Juris Doctor, 1999 (with great distinction)
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Order of the Coif, Dean’s Honor Roll, Traynor’s Society
Staff Writer and Comment Editor, McGeorge Law Review

Bachelor of Arts, 1996
California State University, Fresno