Jessica J. Thomas is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Los Angeles office. She focuses her practice on complex litigation, including healthcare-related cases, breach of contract cases, and class action lawsuits.
Jessica has represented clients in Federal Court, California State Court, and administrative proceedings in a wide range of matters, including:
- Acting as lead trial counsel in a breach contract matter, and successfully obtaining damages in Los Angeles Superior Court
- In a purported class action alleging various state law statutory violations, with a putative class of over 10,000, defeating the matter in its entirety prior to class certification
- Successfully defending a large corporation in an ERISA matter brought in Federal Court, and obtaining attorneys’ fees for the client
- Successfully representing various California hospitals in writ actions
- Defending various corporations, including several California hospitals, in wrongful termination, discrimination, and harassment claims
- Sitting second chair in various administrative hearings and arbitrations
- Representing corporations in class actions, including for labor code violations
Jessica is actively involved in pro bono matters, and has served as a member of the employment panel for Public Counsel.
Jessica was named as a Southern California Rising Star by Law and Politics Magazine in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. In 2008, she successfully completed the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Trial Advocacy Program. While in law school, she had an externship with the U.S. Department of State.
Education
- University of California-Los Angeles School of Law, J.D.
- Westmont College, B.A. (magna cum laude)
