Sherry Lawrence

Ms. Lawrence currently specializes in employment law, representing law enforcement officers in disciplinary matters. She prepares clients for, and accompanies them to, their Internal Affairs interviews, negotiates settlement with command staff, and defends officers through Civil Service Commission and Arbitration proceedings.

Sherry H. Lawrence began her legal career defending the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, and local police departments, in civil litigation. She has defended civil rights and other cases from inception through jury trial in State, Federal, and Criminal Court, including the very high-profile case of People v. Officer Alfred Skiles. Ms. Lawrence has taken and defended conducted hundreds of depositions and is highly experienced in propounding and responding to written discovery, and handling arbitrations and trials. She has defended law enforcement officers against allegations of civil rights violations, excessive force, false imprisonment, and false arrest. She also successfully briefed and argued the appellate issues in Hackett v. Superior Court, a published opinion which protects peace officer personnel records. Ms. Lawrence is also experienced in cyber-security litigation, qui tam actions, insurance defense, municipality defense, and attorney misconduct.

Sherry is a panel attorney for the Fraternal Order of Police, and Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. She responds to critical incidents involving officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths, and represents officers in Shooting Review Boards. She has vigorously represented peace officers from all over Southern California in internal affairs investigations during their interrogations.

Admission

• U.S. District Courts (S.D. Cal.)
• 9th Circuit Court of Appeals

Education

• University of Colorado Boulder (1986)
  Bachelor of Science, Political Science
• Santa Clara University School of Law
  Juris Doctor