William E. Hester III
Shareholder
Email: weh@kullmanlaw.com
Office:
504-596-4116

Personal

EDUCATION

  • University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 1974
    • Editorial Board Member of the Mississippi Law Journal
  • University of Mississippi, B.B.A., 1969

Admissions

  • Louisiana, 1975
  • Mississippi, 1974

Memberships

  • Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Mississippi Bar Association
  • New Orleans Bar Association

thought leadership

Recognition

overview

"As one of the top labor lawyers in the country, I bring a deep well of knowledge, many years of experience, and a skill set that very few other attorneys possess. Companies hire me because they want to maximize their chances of winning. I try to learn the businesses of my clients and the facts of their particular matters so that I can provide legal, practical solutions to their issues with the idea that those solutions will provide the best-possible outcome for the client."

Practice Overview

For almost five decades, William Hester has provided outstanding representation nationwide to employers in a full-range of labor and employment issues, with a particular focus on union organizing and elections. Since joining the firm in 1975, Bill has advocated for management in federal and state courts and before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the U.S. Department of Labor, including in the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division and its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Bill applies his legal and business acumen to advise organizations in many industries, among them manufacturing, healthcare, housing, retail, food processing, and wholesale distribution. These companies rely on Bill to walk them through issues arising under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)—union decertification, contract negotiations, arbitration, defense of unfair labor practice charges and complaints, and preparation for and operations during strikes.

Always looking ahead to avoid trouble for his clients, Bill adroitly assists them in union avoidance, management training, and human resources administration. He also ensures businesses stay compliant with the complex matrix of requirements under relevant legislation, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), as well as myriad state laws and regulations.

Bringing candor, resolve, and a forthright approach, Bill steers clients down the paths that make the most sense for their circumstances and goals. He balances his highly competitive nature with an affable, professional manner—an approach that helps companies put their best foot forward. In return, his clients build strong relationships with Bill and return to seek his advice and counsel over years and decades.