Nomination Deadline Approaching for the United Kingdom – Nominate today!

Best Lawyers logo
  • Lawyers
  • Methodology
  • Client Solutions
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In
  • Lawyers
    • Advanced Search
    • Lawyer of the Year
    • Highlighted Lawyers
    • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Methodology
    • Overview
    • Editorial Timelines
    • Practice Areas
    • Publicizing Guidelines
    • FAQ
  • Publications
    • Business Edition
    • Regional Editions
    • Partnerships
    • Become a Contributor
  • Legal Insights
    • Featured Articles
    • In the News
    • Advisory Board
    • Meet the Board
    • Press & Events
  • About
    • Global Presence
    • Founders
    • Company History
    • Leadership
  • Client Solutions
  • Partnerships
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In Log In
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Log In

Lawyer Profile

Image of Shawn Holley

Shawn Holley

Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP
  • Recognized Since:
    2013
  • Recognized in:
    Criminal Defense: General Practice
    Criminal Defense: White-Collar...
  • Website:
    http://www.kwikalaw.com
  • Location:
    808 Wilshire Boulevard, Third Floor
    Santa Monica, CA 90401

Shawn Holley is a partner at Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP, a boutique entertainment and business litigation firm in Santa Monica. She began her career as a Los Angeles County Public Defender, handling hundreds of serious criminal cases from inception to trial. She was the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of The Cochran Firm and the head of its national Criminal Defense Section.

With more than sixty trials to her credit, Ms. Holley is the rare trial attorney who practices in the areas of both civil and criminal litigation. She was a highly visible member of the O.J. Simpson defense team and worked closely with Mr. Cochran on a number of high-profile civil and criminal cases when the firm was known as The Law Offices of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.

Among others, Ms. Holley has represented or currently represents Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Michelle Rodriquez, the Kardashian/Jenner family, Katt Williams, Shemar Moore, accused Symbionese Liberation Army bomber Sara Jane Olson, celebrated Black Panther leader Geronimo Pratt, Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Axl Rose, Mike Tyson, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Lamar Odom and Reggie Bush.

Ms. Holley was chief legal correspondent for the E! Network and was a featured legal analyst on its nightly coverage of the Michael Jackson trial which was broadcast internationally. Ms. Holley was the on-air legal analyst for KABC Eyewitness News in Los Angeles for several years and has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, PrimeTime Live, Court TV, Fox News and CNN. She was a featured lawyer on Fox TV’s Power of Attorney for two seasons and the judge on MTV’s The Verdict.

For the past 20 years, Ms. Holley has taught trial advocacy at Cardozo Law School’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at Yeshiva University in New York City. She is a frequent speaker on high-profile litigation, women in the law and the representation of “celebrity” clients.

Ms. Holley was named a “Power Lawyer” in 2011 and 2012 by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers in 2014, one of the Daily Journal’s Top Women Lawyers in 2012, 2014 and 2017 and one of the Daily Journal’s 2015 Top Entertainment Lawyers. She was also named Southwestern Law School’s 2013 Outstanding Alumnus by the Black Law Students Association.

Ms. Holley is a Los Angeles native who attended the University of California, Los Angeles and Southwestern University School of Law. She is married to Dorian Holley, a prominent and well-known vocalist and vocal director. They have three daughters Nayanna, Sasha and Olivia. She is a lover of books, music and SoulCycle.

  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details
  • News & Media
  • Case History

Lawyer Bio

Shawn Holley is a partner at Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP, a boutique entertainment and business litigation firm in Santa Monica. She began her career as a Los Angeles County Public Defender, handling hundreds of serious criminal cases from inception to trial. She was the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office of The Cochran Firm and the head of its national Criminal Defense Section.

With more than sixty trials to her credit, Ms. Holley is the rare trial attorney who practices in the areas of both civil and criminal litigation. She was a highly visible member of the O.J. Simpson defense team and worked closely with Mr. Cochran on a number of high-profile civil and criminal cases when the firm was known as The Law Offices of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.

Among others, Ms. Holley has represented or currently represents Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Michelle Rodriquez, the Kardashian/Jenner family, Katt Williams, Shemar Moore, accused Symbionese Liberation Army bomber Sara Jane Olson, celebrated Black Panther leader Geronimo Pratt, Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Axl Rose, Mike Tyson, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Lamar Odom and Reggie Bush.

Ms. Holley was chief legal correspondent for the E! Network and was a featured legal analyst on its nightly coverage of the Michael Jackson trial which was broadcast internationally. Ms. Holley was the on-air legal analyst for KABC Eyewitness News in Los Angeles for several years and has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, PrimeTime Live, Court TV, Fox News and CNN. She was a featured lawyer on Fox TV’s Power of Attorney for two seasons and the judge on MTV’s The Verdict.

For the past 20 years, Ms. Holley has taught trial advocacy at Cardozo Law School’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at Yeshiva University in New York City. She is a frequent speaker on high-profile litigation, women in the law and the representation of “celebrity” clients.

Ms. Holley was named a “Power Lawyer” in 2011 and 2012 by The Hollywood Reporter, one of the Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers in 2014, one of the Daily Journal’s Top Women Lawyers in 2012, 2014 and 2017 and one of the Daily Journal’s 2015 Top Entertainment Lawyers. She was also named Southwestern Law School’s 2013 Outstanding Alumnus by the Black Law Students Association.

Ms. Holley is a Los Angeles native who attended the University of California, Los Angeles and Southwestern University School of Law. She is married to Dorian Holley, a prominent and well-known vocalist and vocal director. They have three daughters Nayanna, Sasha and Olivia. She is a lover of books, music and SoulCycle.

Read more on firm website
  • Education
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Education:

  • University of California Los Angeles, BA

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Los Angeles (2017)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for work in:

  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television
 

Awards:

  • "Top 100 Lawyers in California," Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal (2014)
  • "Trinity Praeses Elit Award," Dublin University Law Society (2013)
  • "Outstanding Alumnus," Southwestern Law School Black Law Students Association (2013)
  • "Power Lawyer," The Hollywood Reporter (2011, 2012)
  • "Top Women Lawyers in 2012," Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal (2012)

Areas of Expertise:

  • Litigation
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Image for Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP View Firm Profile
Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert LLP
http://www.kwikalaw.com
 
Headquarters
808 Wilshire Boulevard, Third Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 566.9800

News & Media

Featured Publications

Cover for our Southern California publication Cover for our Southern California publication

Lawyer Case History

Lindsay Lohan

  • Represented actress Lindsay Lohan in three very high profile criminal cases arising out of an alleged altercation with her vehicle, alleged theft of jewelry, and allegedly leaving the scene of a vehicle accident.
  • Represented actress Lindsay Lohan in an alleged hit and run in front of a popular nightclub.  KWIKA successfully persuaded prosecutors in New York not to file charges against Ms. Lohan.

Nicole Richie

Represented actress Nicole Richie effectuated in her second-time DUI case, in which Ms. Richie was accused of driving on the wrong side of the freeway. KWIKA effectuated a jail sentence of 82 minutes for Ms. Richie.

Michelle Rodriguez

Represented Lost star, Michelle Rodriguez, in her second-time DUI case.

Shemar Moore

Represented Criminal Minds star, Shemar Moore, for whom DUI charges were dismissed upon the successful negotiation of a simple “speeding” charge.

The Game

Represented rapper The Game in a felony case in which the rapper was charged with using a firearm on a school ground.

Minor

Represented the minor son of a famous recording artist. The mother of the girlfriend who caught the couple in bed together accused the son of raping his girlfriend. KWIKA obtained dismissal of all charges.

Sara Jane Olson

Represented Symbionese Liberation Army “soccer mom” Sara Jane Olson, including the filing of a writ of habeas corpus on her behalf, arising out of the “miscalculation” of Ms. Olson’s prison time credits which sent her back to prison days after having been released.
 
Add Comment
In making your comments, please do not refer to a pending legal matter.
(*) Required Fields
There was an error during saving, please try again.
If you continue to get this message, please contact us at info@bestlawyers.com or 803.648.0300 for assistance.
Please complete the captcha then submit.
Your comment was saved successfully!
Thank you for your feedback.
  • Client Solutions
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Legal Insights
  • Contact Us
Lawyers 
  • Lawyers of the Year
  • Highlighted Lawyers
  • Nominate a Lawyer
  • Find a Lawyer
Methodology
  • Overview
  • Editorial Timelines
  • Practice Areas
  • Publicizing Guidelines
  • FAQ
Publications
  • Business Editions
  • Regional Editions
  • Partnerships
  • Become a Contributor
Legal Insights
  • Featured Articles
  • In the News
  • Advisory Board
  • Meet the Board
  • Press & Events
  • Best Law Firms
  • Subscribe
About
  • Global Presence
  • Founders
  • Company History
  • Leadership
  • Press Releases
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
Client Solutions
  • Specialized Research
  • Marketing Guidance
  • Log In
  • Store
Best Lawyers Best Lawyers logo +1-803-648-0300
237 Park Avenue SW, Suite 101 Aiken, SC 29801
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Lawyer Directory
  • Best Law Firms

© 2010-2018 Best Lawyers — All Rights Reserved.

BL Icon

LEGAL INSIGHTS

by Best Lawyers®



Get the latest insights on the news, trends, and people that shape the global legal field with our weekly email digest.

Subscribe

Please enter a valid email address.

You have already subscribed.





PRIVACY POLICY

Thank you for subscribing.