Wilmer J. Harris, Attorney

Mr. Harris graduated from Stanford University in 1986 with an A.B. degree in Economics, with Distinction, and Honors in Humanities. Mr. Harris was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa in 1985.

Mr. Harris graduated from UCLA School of Law in 1990, earning Order of the Coif honors and American Jurisprudence Awards in Evidence, Moot Court and Remedies.

Mr. Harris worked as Law Clerk to the Honorable David W. Williams for one year after his law school graduation. He entered private practice thereafter, practicing business litigation for two years with the law firms Kaye, Scholer, Fierman, Hays & Handler and Blanc, Williams, Johnston & Kronstadt.

In January 1994, Mr. Harris joined the Law Offices of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. His practice area changed dramatically as he began representing clients in civil rights cases. In August 1995, Mr. Harris joined the firm (named Schonbrun De Simone Seplow Harris& Hoffman in 1999) where he concentrates primarily on the representation of employees in disputes with employers.

In November 1999, Mr. Harris opened the Pasadena office of the firm where he remains the resident partner. In February 2003, Mr. Harris will be one of the speakers at the Los Angeles County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Symposium, speaking on the issue of discrimination.

Since 1996, Mr. Harris has worked on cases that have resulted in approximately $13 million in total payment to his clients. Mr. Harris' practice covers the full spectrum of employment disputes as the following few examples of case recoveries illustrates:

Sex Harassment: $1,250,000
Racial Discrimination: $3,250,000
Disability Discrimination: $875,000
Age Discrimination: $235,000