
William Kershaw
About William Kershaw
For over 40 years, Bill Kershaw has represented clients in class actions, mass torts, and complex litigation in state and federal courts, including coordinated and multi-district proceedings. Prior to entering civil practice, he spent nine years in the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, where he tried more than 75 cases to verdict, including a seven-month jury trial resulting in the conviction of Sacramento's then-former Vice Mayor. He also supervised the Consumer and White-Collar Fraud Division and the Career Criminal Unit. Bill is a founding partner of Kershaw Talley Barlow PC (formerly Kershaw, Cook and Talley, PC) and has served as court-appointed lead class counsel, co-lead counsel, and liaison counsel in numerous class action, mass tort, and consumer proceedings across the United States. He is a Northern California Super Lawyer for 20 consecutive years (2005-2025) and has been named Best of the Bar by Sacramento Business Journal and Top Lawyer by Sacramento Magazine. Notable matters include a $330 million-plus global settlement against American Honda in a dealer antitrust MDL, an $87 million class settlement against UPS for meal and rest period violations, and a $6.8 million class settlement on behalf of California state retirees following a successful California Supreme Court appeal. He chairs Kershaw Talley Barlow's Class Action Practice Group and is a Master Emeritus of the Anthony M. Kennedy American Inns of Court.
Notable case results
Global settlement, Honda dealer antitrust and RICO class action (MDL 1069, D. Maryland)
Class settlement against UPS for meal and rest period violations, largest CA class action settlement of its kind at the time
Class settlement for California state retirees after unanimous California Supreme Court affirmance
Ford heavy-truck dealer breach of contract class action
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts.



