J. Gary Gwilliam - Employment Law/Discrimination and Harassment profile photo

J. Gary Gwilliam

Gwilliam Ivary Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer • Oakland, CA
Employment Law/Discrimination and HarassmentSerious Motor Vehicle and Construction AccidentsProduct LiabilityBad Faith InsuranceCivil Rights (Including Police Misconduct)

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Contact

Email
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Phone
510-823-0323
Address
Oakland, CA, 94612, US

Professional

Bar Admissions
California

About

Gary Gwilliam is considered one of the best consumer trial attorneys in the state. His reputation and skill in representing seriously injured plaintiffs is well known. He has tried over 180 jury cases, of which almost 150 were plaintiff civil personal injury cases. He has handled major cases in every area of consumer law, including serious automobile and construction accidents, products liability, bad faith insurance, civil rights (including police misconduct), wrongful termination and employment discrimination and harassment, and has recently concentrated more in employment law. A noted lecturer and motivational speaker, he has conducted seminars and workshops around California and the United States for many years. He is the author of numerous articles on California consumer law and is frequently called upon to serve as an expert witness on the standard of care for lawyers' conduct. He frequently lectures on the topics of substance abuse, stress reduction, improving the quality of life as well as topics related to his practice. Notable Cases

Credentials

Education
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, Berkeley, California, 1962 | LL.B. | Honors: Phi Delta Phi | Honors: Member, Boalt Hall Moot Court Board, (1961-1962) | Honors: Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, (1995-1996) | Pomona College, Pomona, California, USA, 1959 | B.A. | Major: Psychology
Certifications
Civil Trial AdvocateNational Board of Trial Advocacy1982

Recognition & Involvement

Awards
J. Gary Gwilliam and Randall E. Strauss Colombo, et al. vs. BNC Mortgage, Inc., et al.JUSTICE FOR WOMEN WHO BLEW THE WHISTLE ON FRAUDULENT LENDINGSix women who worked at the Sacramento branch of BNC Mortgage, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lehman Brothers that specialized in sub-prime mortgages, eachcomplained to their 770 L STREET, SUITE1200, SACRAMENTO CA 95814916-442-6902915-442-7734 FAXWWW.CAOC.COMsuperiors about fraudulent lending practices in 2005. Each of them was told to look the other way and when they persisted in expressing their concerns, these women were subjected to retaliation, sexual harassment and other forms of abuse that was designed to force them to quit. The sexual harassment was inflicted by a supervisor as a direct response to their whistleblowing about fraudulent loan packages and was sanctionedby company officials as a way to force the women either to resign or to approve falsified loans in order to get the harassment to stop. These women were sounding an alarm that went unheeded. Lax and fraudulent underwriting packages led to the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market, helping to precipitate the downfall of Lehman Brothers and with it the worldwide economy. Rather than being lauded as heroes for reporting practices that ultimately led to financial ruin for many thousands of Americans, each of these women were instead victimized by the company they were trying to protect. BNC closed its doors and Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy in January 2008. After nearly 14years of litigation, with bankruptcy imposing a threat that no compensation would be possible, these six womenreceived a significant settlement. Each of them would say that they battled this corporate behemoth for so many years because of the harm caused to the public by BNC and Lehman Brothers’ actions.This case vindicated the rights of whistleblowers who were forced to resign after shedding light on corporate greed and wrongdoing, upheld the rights of sexual harassment victims in the workplace, and shed light on the fraudulent lending practices of one of the largest financial institutions in the world., 2020 | 1-23-2025 Gwilliam Ivary Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer was selected as the Law Firm of the Year by the Alameda County Bar Association. The firm supports the bar association, participates as section leaders and beyond committee involvement partnered and hosted the first Mocktail Mix & Mingle social event. This alcohol-free event was a huge success., 2025 | 1-16-2025 The Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association awarded Gary Gwilliam the first ever, "Legend of the Law" Lifetime achievement award for his exceptional advocacy for the industry, his clients and his track record at trial., 2025 | Esteemed Lawyers of America, 2014 | Trial Lawyer of the Year, Finalist, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, 1995 - 1996 | California Lawyer Attorney of the Year for Employment Law, 2001 | Alameda County Lawyers Club, Lawyer of the Year Award, 1986 | Public Justice, Champion of Justice, 2009 | Consumer Attorneys of California Presidential Award, 1994 | Northern California Super Lawyers, 2004-Present | Consumer Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) for Employment, 2001 - 2002 | Super Lawyers: 2004 - 2005, 2007 - Present
Associations
Alameda-Contra Costa County Trial Lawyers Association, 1974 - 1975 (President) | Alameda-Contra Costa County Trial Lawyers Association, 1970 - Present (Member, Board of Governors) | American Board of Trial Advocates | American Bar Association (Member) | American Board of Trial Advocates, 1976 (Diplomat) | American Association for Justice | Consumer Attorneys of California (Formerly California Trial Lawyers Association), 1988 (President) | Consumer Attorneys of California (Formerly California Trial Lawyers Association), 1983 - Present (Member, Board of Governors) | Consumer Attorneys of California (Formerly California Trial Lawyers Association), 1990 - 1994 (Chairman, Long Range Planning Committee) | Consumer Attorneys of California (Formerly California Trial Lawyers Association), 1987 (President-Elect) | Consumer Attorneys of California (Formerly California Trial Lawyers Association), 1986 (Parliamentarian) | Faculty Member, Hastings College of Trial Advocacy, 1981 | National Board of Trial Advocacy | National Employment Lawyers Association | Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Board, 2003 - 2004 (President) | Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Board, 1996 - Present (Member, Board of Directors) | Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Board, 1999 (Executive Committee) | Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Board, 2000 (Secretary) | Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Board, 2002 (Vice President) | Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Board, 2001 (Treasurer) | Trial Lawyers for Public Justice Board, 2002 - 2003 (President-Elect) | California Trial Lawyers Association, 1986 (Chairman, Political Action Committee) | American Arbitration Association (Member, Panel of Arbitrators) | The State Bar of California (Member)
Speaking
San Mateo Bar CLE, 2015 | McGeorge Annual Alumni MCLE, 2015 | ABOTA Civility Matters Presentation, 2014 | CAOC Specialty Credits Presentation, 2014 | Ethics CLE, 2014 | Trial Techniques in Employment Litigation, 2014 | Frequent Presenter for Attorney Credits, Continuing Education Your Way: “Ethical Advice from a Trial Lawyer”, CLE Program | Frequent Presenter for Attorney Credits, Continuing Education Your Way: “Inebriation, Intervention and Insight: A Trial Lawyer Finds His Soul”, CLE Program | Stress Management, “How to Get a Winning Verdict in Your Personal Life” PLI, 2000 – 2002
Updated: Apr 26, 2026