Carolyn Witherspoon

Carolyn Witherspoon is a Director of Cross, Gunter, Witherspoon & Galchus, a majority female-owned firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. In practice since 1978, Carolyn primarily represents public and private employers in defending employment-related matters. She’s also supported and founded organizations that serve women, including the first domestic violence shelter in Little Rock.

Carolyn is a groundbreaking female leader in Arkansas, proudly serving as the first female president of the Pulaski County & Arkansas Bar Associations, and the William R. Overton Inn of Court.

Community service is extremely important to Carolyn–she served on the Arkansas Real Estate Commission as its first Public Commissioner; the Little Rock Sister Cities Commission; as president of the Arkansas Association of Women Lawyers; on the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault Organization board; as president of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas & Arkansas Women Executives; on the Arkansas Women’s Leadership Forum; and on the Little Rock Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. Carolyn currently serves on the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and has chaired the Personnel Committee.  She is involved with VOCALS (Volunteer Organization, Center for Arkansas Legal Services).

Nationally, Carolyn has served the American Bar Association, including the House of Delegates; the House of Delegates Steering Committee of the Nominating Committee; chaired the Commission on Interests on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts; and chaired the Arkansas Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. She was active in the NCBP and a member of its Executive Counsel. She was appointed by the governor to the Commission for Uniform State Laws.  Carolyn serves as a member of the American Law Institute and was an Executive Committee member for the Transportation Lawyers Association and member of the American Employment Law Counsel. She is a fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Law.

Internationally, Carolyn has served as an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, FINRA, the UFC. She is a member of the prestigious Union Internationale des Advocats, recognized before the United Nations.

Carolyn has received professional recognition by Chambers USA, MidSouth Super Lawyers, and the Arkansas Business “Arkansas 250” where she was recognized as a “Living Legend” in 2021. In 2019, Carolyn was inducted into the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2020, Carolyn received recognition from Legal Services Corporation for her commitment to providing equal access to justice through her pro bono work with the Center for Arkansas Legal Service.