Esra A. Hudson

Esra A. Hudson leads Manatt’s employment and labor practice, focusing on high-stakes employment law litigation and advisory services. Her innovative strategies have saved clients hundreds of millions in complex cases involving class actions, PAGA representative actions, discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination.

Esra earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1999, where she served as Symposium Editor for the UCLA Law Review. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with distinction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which she earned in 1991. Her academic background laid the foundation for her analytical and strategic litigation skills.

Esra defends companies in federal and state court proceedings before agencies such as the EEOC, DFEH, and DLSE. Esra has particular experience handling arbitration matters, especially those involving the enforcement of class action waivers. Her expertise extends to managing classification audits and defending against a wide range of employment claims.

Beyond litigation, Esra is a trusted advisor on operational and crisis matters, including media-sensitive issues involving high-profile individuals. She advises on employment policies and executive agreements and provides customized management training on compliance, discrimination prevention, and workplace conduct.

Esra clients span industries including entertainment, finance, healthcare, transportation, insurance, and nonprofits. Esra’s creative legal solutions have resulted in favorable outcomes, such as dismissals and summary judgments, and minimized liability in multimillion-dollar disputes and regulatory matters.

Esra A. Hudson’s excellence has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition in The Best Lawyers in America (2022–2025), Chambers USA (2022–2024), Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers (2020–2025), and The Legal 500 United States. Her expertise and dedication make her a premier labor and employment law advocate.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
• Board of Directors, California Women’s Law Center
• Member, American Employment Law Council
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles

Licensed State

• California

Education

• University of California Los Angeles School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges