Shawn Holley ‘88 will serve as the Commencement Speaker for Southwestern Law School’s 111th annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Rose Bowl. Holley will deliver the commencement address and receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws. 

Holley is a nationally recognized trial attorney and partner at Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir, where her practice spans entertainment and business litigation, criminal defense, and high-stakes advocacy for some of the most visible figures in entertainment, sports, and public life. 

A Los Angeles native, Holley began her legal career as a Los Angeles County Public Defender and later joined the Law Offices of Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., practicing civil litigation and criminal defense and becoming a highly visible member of the O.J. Simpson defense team. 

Over the course of her career, Holley has represented a wide range of prominent clients, including Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Kathy Griffin, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, the Kardashian/Jenner family, Mike Tyson, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Lamar Odom, Reggie Bush, Charlamagne tha God, and members of the Black Lives Matter Movement. She also serves as co-executive producer of a scripted television series inspired by her life and career, currently in its third season on Hulu.  

“Shawn is one of Southwestern’s most accomplished and recognizable graduates. She has built a career that reflects exceptional advocacy, professional judgment, and command of the law,” said Southwestern President and Dean Darby Dickerson. “We are proud to welcome her back to Southwestern and recognize her achievements with an Honorary Doctor of Laws.” 

“Southwestern helped give me the foundation to become the lawyer I am today,” Holley said. “It is a tremendous honor to return for commencement and to receive an honorary degree from a law school that means so much to me. I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 as they begin their own careers in the law.”