Michael J. Killeen
Partner
Mike Killeen has decades of experience counseling and defending employers regarding a wide range of labor and employment law matters. He is the long-time author of Lexis Law Publishing’s “Employment in Washington,” the most recognized encyclopedia of labor and employment law in the state of Washington. He is a nationally recognized expert on federal and state wage and hour law and federal and state occupational safety and health law (OSHA/WISHA). He is a co-founder of the national Wage & Hour Defense Institute.
Mike has tried scores of employment cases in administrative and judicial courts. Based on detailed, confidential evaluations by leading attorneys, he has been named 2019 Lawyer of the Year in Labor and Employment Litigation. He is also recognized as a skilled and experienced appellate attorney in state and federal courts. He is a Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society limited to less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers evaluated for effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation. He is also a Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, which is an invitation-only, rigorously vetted fellowship of the most accomplished members of the labor and employment law community.
Practice Highlights
Wage and hour litigation
Wage and hour audits
OSHA and state-plan occupational safety and health investigations
Admitted to Practice
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Washington
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U.S. Supreme Court
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U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
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U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
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U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Education
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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
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B.A., Political Science, English, Gonzaga University, 1971
Memberships & Affiliations
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- ABA, Labor and Employment Section, 1985-present
- ABA, Occupational Safety and Health Law Committee, 1990-present
- ABA, Fair Labor Standards Legislation Committee, 2004-present
- King County Bar Association, past Treasurer
- Seattle Goodwill Board of Directors, 1987-present; Chair, 2010; Vice-Chair, 2009-2010
- Gonzaga Law School Board of Advisors, 1999-2014; President, 1992-1996
- Gonzaga University Board of Regents, 1992-1996
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, Employment Law Committee, 2000-present
Professional Recognition
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- "Recognized Practitioner" in Labor & Employment (Washington) by Chambers USA, 2016-2017
- "Best Lawyers in America" in Labor and Employment Law by Best Lawyers, 2007-present (peer rated); 2019 Lawyer of the Year, Litigation: Labor and Employment
- Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2015-present
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2009-present
- Co-founder and charter member, Wage & Hour Defense Institute, 2009-present
- AV Preeminent-rated, Martindale-Hubbell, 1988-present (highest peer rating)
- "Washington Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2009-2020
- 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
Background
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- 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