Admitted to Practice | Washington | | U.S. District Court Western District of Washington | | U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington | | U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit | | U.S. Supreme Court |
| Mike Killeen focuses on counseling and defending employers regarding employment law issues and related litigation, including class actions, with particular emphasis on wage/hour and OSHA/WISHA compliance. He also represents employers in courtroom litigation and appeals in a wide range of wrongful discharge, discrimination and breach of contract matters. Mike is the author of several key employer reference books on employment law, and has lectured extensively on employment law subjects to industry groups, seminars for HR professionals and in-house counsel, and employment law practitioners. He regularly advises employers on preventive best practices, HR policy reviews and collective bargaining issues.
Mike's clients include: AutoNation, Columbia Legal Services, Emerald Performance Materials Ltd., Pressco Products, Seattle Goodwill, Seattle Tennis Club, Shell (Equilon), Twin City Foods, Tyson Foods, Waste Management, and Universal Language Services. Selected Experience Volt Information Sciences, Inc. 2010 Secured summary judgment on behalf of Volt Information Sciences in a class action suit involving allegations that the vesting provisions in the company's 401(k) plan violated ERISA. Residential drywall contractor 2008 Defended residential drywall contractor in wage and hour class action litigation involving alleged underpayment of wages and overtime. Case settled after discovery, motion practice and court-ordered mediation. National retailer (Fortune 100) 2008 Defended national retailer employer in the largest wage and hour class action in Washington State history involving alleged underpayment of shift differential. Case removed to federal court. Class never certified. Case settled with individual claimants during court-ordered mediation. American Trucking Association 2007 Prepared amicus brief to Washington Supreme Court on behalf of the American Trucking Association regarding application of Washington Minimum Wage Act to hours worked by interstate truck drivers outside the State of Washington. Farmer Bros. Co. 2003 Affirmed summary judgment in a wage and hour employment class action. Public School Employees of Washington, Inc. 2003 Represented union as case certified to Washington Supreme Court, which held that accrued lead time is not "salaried" under the wage and hour law and that a single improper deduction or a requirement that employee “make up” absences that occurred during normal business hours do not per se preclude employer from preserving the salaried employee exemption from the Washington Minimum Wage Act overtime pay requirements. National retailer Defended an employer in the largest wage and hour class action in Washington history. Additional Qualifications
- Law Clerk, Hon. Vernon R. Pearson, Chief Justice, Division Two of the Washington State Court of Appeals (later Chief Justice, Washington Supreme Court) 1977-1979
- 1st Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, Honors Graduate, Medical Materials School, 1971-1974
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Professional and Community Activities
- ABA, Labor and Employment Section, 1985-present; ABA, Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee, 1990-present; ABA, Fair Labor Standards Legislation Committee, 2004-present
- Member and past Treasurer, King County Bar Association
- Chair, 2010; Vice-Chair, 2009-10; Board of Trustees, 1987-present; Executive Committee, 2000-present – Seattle Goodwill
- Board of Advisors, 1999-present; President, Board of Advisors, 1992-1996 – Gonzaga Law School
- Board of Regents, Gonzaga University, 1992-1996
- Member, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, Employment Law Committee, 2000-present
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Professional Recognition
- Named as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Labor and Employment Law by Woodward/White, 2007-present (peer rated)
- Selected to "Washington Super Lawyers," Law & Politics, 2009-present
- Distinguished Alumni Merit Award, Gonzaga University, 2002
- Freedom's Light Award, Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, 1999
- Willard J. Wright Award for Outstanding Civic Activity, 2009
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2009-present
- Member, Wage and Hour Defense Institute, 2009-present
- AV Preeminent-rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 1985-present (peer rated)
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Education J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law, 1977, magna cum laude
- Editor-in-Chief, Gonzaga Law Review
- Member, National Moot Court team: First Place in Northwest Region and Best Oral Advocate
B.A., Political Science, Minor in English, Gonzaga University, 1971 | |