Bio

I advocate for local and national employers in litigation in state and federal courts, on appeal, and also before the EEOC and similar state agencies in all aspects of workplace law, such as ADA, ADEA, FLSA, FMLA, NLRA, Title VII, and similar state laws. This includes defending employers against discrimination, wage-hour, and wrongful termination claims, along with preventative counseling and training. I regularly advise clients workplace compliance issues, such as policies and handbooks, hiring, wage-hour compliance, leave, reductions in force, reasonable accommodations, investigations, employment agreements, public policy, discipline and terminations, layoffs, and responses to state regulatory investigations. I also actively counsel and advise clients of all sizes throughout a wide variety of industries -- from "mom & pop retail shops" to national financial services firms and industrial manufacturers -- putting to work my 15+ years of litigation experience to arrive at practical solutions for both the employer and employee that resolves issues before they escalate to litigation. I enjoy learning about my clients' businesses and how I can become a valuable tool and resource that contributes to their overall success. If matters escalate to litigation, from individual to multi-plaintiff cases, I work to partner with employers to vigorously defend the claims to bring about an effective defense and a practical outcome. I am admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Washington State and Alaska.Representative experience: Employment Litigation & Counseling: trial, appeals, arbitrations, agency investigations, national and local handbooks, wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, reasonable accommodations, FMLA, class actions, state leave laws, wage & hour, reductions-in-force, hiring, independent contractors; Maritime Litigation - Jones Act, oil pollution, cargo, contracts