Hilary
Weddell

Partner

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Phone: 408.279.8700

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Hilary’s inquisitive mind, experience, and dependability make her an excellent trial lawyer.

Hilary primarily represents individuals and companies in civil matters. When faced with conflicts between business partners, between a company’s owners and its employees, or among multiple companies, Hilary utilizes her business acumen to counsel and strategize for her clients. She has experience in a broad range of commercial actions, including contract and employment disputes, business torts, fraud, commercial real estate actions, class actions, and shareholder and partnership disputes. She represents clients in Federal and State courts, as well as private arbitrations.

Hilary has extensive experience in employment litigation, which only adds to her perspective. Her work in this area of the law includes cases concerning wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour cases, employee misconduct, and theft of trade secrets, among others.

As a published author of numerous articles and blogs, Hilary’s affinity for writing began while serving as a judicial extern for the Honorable Michael Coyne, Boston Municipal Court, and as editor-in-chief of the Boston College Journal of Law & Social Justice. A member of McManis Faulkner since 2001, Hilary brings her commitment and passion for the law to every matter she handles.

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Credentials
Admissions
- State Bar of California
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
- U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Education
- J.D., cum laude, Boston College Law School
- B.S., Business Administration Honors Program, San Jose State University
Experience
- Obtained seven-figure arbitration award against multiple Florida-based defendants. The defendants originally refused to arbitrate, but we obtained a federal court order requiring them to do so.
- Successfully defended leading semiconductor manufacturer against patentholder claiming hundreds of millions in damages for patent infringement and antitrust violations.
- Won unanimous jury verdict for a woman against her abuser.
- Won unanimous jury verdict against County defendants for violation of client’s constitutional rights.
- Negotiated a favorable settlement for employer in an alleged overtime and missed meal break case before the California Labor Commissioner.
- Obtained class certification and defeated summary judgment in action against local municipality for misappropriating tens of millions of dollars from taxpayers.
- Defended student in Title IX investigation by prominent university.
- Successfully represented defendants in a multi-million dollar breach of contract and fraud case, class action and shareholders suit, obtaining dismissal of the lawsuit.
- Advised employers on various employment issues, including layoffs, terminations, and misclassification issues.
Awards & Honors
Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, in the area of Commercial Litigation and Civil Rights Law, 2024, 2025
- Northern California Super Lawyers, 2024
- Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2017-2023
- Named a quarter-finalist and received the Top Ten Brief Award in the Wendell F. Grimes Moot Court Competition
Honors
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (limited to top one-half of one (1) percent of trial lawyers)
Articles & Blogs
Articles
- “SB 700: Prohibits employment discrimination for past cannabis use” Daily Journal
- “Penalizing for Off-the-Job Cannabis Use May Go Up in Smoke” Daily Journal
- “AB 1041: California expands family leave protections” Daily Journal
- “Understanding Hazard Pay during the Covid-19 Crisis” Daily Journal
- “California Employers’ Ability to Test for Marijuana Post-Proposition 64” The Recorder
- “California Can No Longer Ignore Federal Classification Rules” Daily Journal
- “Ruling Should Give Employers Pause with Arbitration Agreements” Daily Journal
- “Amendments to Family Rights Law Set to Take Effect” Daily Journal
- “Welcome Guidance on Paid Sick Leave” Daily Journal
Blogs
Speaking Engagements
- “The ABCs of Worker Classification: California’s Legal Landscape Post-AB5”, McManis Faulkner Employment Law Webinar, 2020
- “Best Practices in the COVID-19 World”, Northern District Practice Program – Case Management, 2020
- “Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace”, McManis Faulkner Employment Law Seminar, 2019
- “Don’t Let #MeToo Become #YouToo, Effectively Handling Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaints”, McManis Faulkner Employment Law Seminar, 2018
Professional & Community Contributions
- Executive Committee Member, Real Property and Business Law Section, Santa Clara County Bar Association (SCCBA)
- Professor of Remedies, Lincoln Law School, San Jose
- Former Member, Honorable William A. Ingram Inn, American Inns of Court
- Former Member of the Board of Trustees, Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation (2014-2019)

Hilary Weddell

Partner

Admissions

Education

Awards

Honors

Articles

Blogs

Hilary
Weddell