Rupert A. Byrdsong

RUPERT A. BYRDSONG began with Ivie, McNeill, & Wyatt as a law clerk in 1994, became an associate in 1995, and has been a partner in the firm since 2001.

Mr. Byrdsong received his undergraduate degree in Political Science with Honors from Morehouse College in 1991. He graduated magna cum laude, made the National Dean's List and earned membership into Phi Beta Kappa.

Mr. Byrdsong received his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1994.  At Vanderbilt, he was on the Executive Board of the Black Law Students Association, Phi Alpha Delta, and worked as a Research Assistant researching employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and civil rights issues.  Mr. Byrdsong is listed in the Acknowledgments in the casebook EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW - CASES AND MATERIALS ON EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE (6th ed. 1999).

At Ivie, McNeill, & Wyatt, Mr. Byrdsong initially handled numerous civil rights cases representing the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department involving claims for police misconduct, excessive force, false arrest and imprisonment, warrantless searches, and trespass.  He also handled general liability matters, including premises liability cases. 

After several years of primarily handling civil rights, cases, Mr. Byrdsong anchored the firm's employment litigation practice, with  substantial experience in the area in both state and federal courts. He has handled claims for sexual harassment, race discrimination, wrongful termination, disability discrimination, religion and age discrimination, and emotional distress.  Mr. Byrdsong is frequently sought as a speaker on employment issues throughout the state.  From 2003 to 2006,  he sat on and also served as an advisor for the Executive Committee of the Labor and Employment Section for the State Bar of California.

Mr. Byrdsong is a fierce advocate in the courtroom and has been recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer, 2010 and Southern California Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2005 to 2008. In 2006, he was listed in the Daily Journal as "Ones To Watch" describing the top employment lawyers in the greater Los Angeles area.  In addition to his excellent trial work, Mr. Byrdsong is involved in his community, conducts a  legal clinic at La Puente Church of Christ, is a past president of the John M. Langston Bar Association, and has served on the Board of the California Association of Black Lawyers.