Areas of Practice
Labor and employment law, including advice and counseling, and representation of employers in single plaintiff, multi-plaintiff and class action litigation

Representative Experience
Successfully representing employers in jury trials, mediation and arbitrations involving claims of race, national origin, age, disability, sex, and sexual orientation discrimination, wrongful discharge, wage and hour violations and retaliation

Representing employers and individuals in non-compete and trade secret litigation, including obtaining and defending TRO’s and preliminary injunctions

Drafting personnel policies and negotiating and drafting employment contracts and severance agreements on behalf of employers and individuals

Advising clients on compliance with federal and state employment laws, including wage and hour laws, family and medical leaves, disability accommodation obligations, and on effectively handling workplace complaints and reductions in force, including WARN Act Compliance

Conducting outside investigations into allegations of employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment and retaliation

Representing employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Washington State Human Rights Commission, Seattle Office of Civil Rights, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Labor and Office of Federal Contractor Compliance Programs

Training managers and employees about employment laws, including sexual harassment, problem terminations, investigating employee complaints and dealing with injured or disabled workers

Representative Matters
Defense jury verdict on behalf of government contractor in whistleblower and wrongful termination litigation (dismissal of majority of claims on summary judgment and defense verdict on remaining claims at trial)

Favorable settlement of EEOC class action/multi-plaintiff litigation against senior care and rehabilitation facility involving claims of race discrimination under 42 U.S.C. 1981, Title VII and Washington Law Against Discrimination

Defense jury verdict on behalf of five individual manufacturing facility managers accused of state law claims of gender discrimination and sexual harassment

Defeat of plaintiff’s motion for class certification against healthcare services client involving alleged violations of Washington and Oregon wage and hour laws (300+ putative class members) for denied meal breaks and rest periods, unpaid overtime and unpaid wages; summary judgment dismissal of multiple claims brought by plaintiff

Summary judgment on behalf of national banking institution involving allegations of race discrimination in violation of federal and state law

Defense verdict in private arbitration on behalf of national banking institution involving allegations of unpaid wages in violation of Washington Minimum Wage Act

Summary judgment on behalf of numerous government contractors in wrongful discharge/whistleblower litigation involving ancillary claims of “blacklisting” and other tortious acts

Summary judgment on behalf of national banking institution and individual managers involving claims of race and gender discrimination in violation of WLAD

Summary judgment on behalf of national food service industry supplier and individual manager involving claims of race discrimination and racial harassment in violation of Title VII, 42 U.SC. 1981, and WLAD, and related tort claims

Favorable settlement of Washington wage and hour class action involving claims regarding exempt status of retail mortgage account executives employed by national banking institution client

Outside investigation of claims of systemic discrimination allegations for energy company

Publications and Presentations
Featured speaker at DWT Employment Law Seminars and Business Briefings, Washington State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education courses and National Institute of Trial Advocacy Programs

Frequent speaker on issues relating to employment law, sexual harassment, recruiting and retaining employees and litigation/trial skills

Memberships and Activities
Washington State Bar Association, American Bar Association, King County Bar Association

Selected to "Super Lawyers," Washington Law & Politics, 2002-2003, 2007

Board Member, New Beginnings for Battered Women and Their Children, 1997-2004; Board President 2002-2004

Pacific Coast Labor Law Conference Planning Committee

Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Georgia State University School of Law, 1996

• Editorial board, Georgia State University Law Review

B.S. in Management, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1989