Alex Cates

Alex counsels clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, including employee hiring and terminations, workplace misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour compliance, state and federal leave laws, accommodations, reductions in force (RIF), and performance management. She also assists clients in the negotiation and drafting of employment-related documents, including offer letters, employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, employee handbooks, arbitration agreements, separation agreements, incentive compensation agreements, and confidentiality agreements.

Alex provides employment guidance on a variety of transactional matters and has worked on a large number of complex corporate transactions, spanning private equity, emerging company, capital markets, and public company work.

Alex has significant experience overseeing and conducting sensitive internal investigations, including those involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, bullying, and misconduct. Her investigation experience spans a broad range of industries and includes high-profile claims that have made national headlines. She is known for her clear, impartial approach and ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics with discretion and credibility.

Alex has represented employers in both single-plaintiff and class action litigation in state and federal courts, as well as before the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, California Labor Commissioner, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, and Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Her litigation experience and knowledge allow her to provide comprehensive guidance that minimizes legal risk while aligning with clients' strategic goals.

In addition to her legal practice, Alex maintains an active pro bono practice. She has assisted survivors of domestic violence in obtaining restraining orders against their abusers and is passionate about juvenile justice and election law compliance. In 2023, she successfully secured parole for a client who was sentenced to life in prison without parole as a juvenile in Louisiana.

Alex has been recognized as a "Washington Rising Star" in Employment & Labor by Thomson Reuters and received a North American Pro Bono Award for her volunteer legal work.