Williams Kastner’s Labor and Employment Group continues to adapte to dramatic changes in the area of employee relations. This area of practice was once characterized by traditional employer-union relationship cases. Today it is a complex and contentious field, with ever changing federal, state, and local laws governing the employment relationship and ever increasing employment litigation.
Our labor and employment law attorneys provide both public and private sector clients not only with representation in court, but also at arbitration and mediation, and most importantly consultations regarding proposed actions and representation at the negotiating table and job-site, before all federal, state and local agencies and courts of all levels. Because of the urgency frequently involved in labor and employment issues, the group’s focus is always directed to providing prompt and practical advice and service.
We offer services in the following areas, such as:
- Breach of contract
- Employment discrimination and harassment—sex, race, creed, color, national origin, disability, age, religion, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, use of service anmial, or participation in any protected activity
- Wrongful discharge
- Retaliation
- Negligent hiring and supervision
- Defamation
- Vicarious liability
- Wage and hour
- Family and medical leave
- Intellectual Property Issues
- Worker’s compensation
- Unemployment compensation
- Washington’s Industrial Safety and Health Act, Oregon Safe Employment Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Federal and state wage and hour
- Federal and state family and medical leave
- Americans With Disabilities Act
- Hazardous material notification
- Veteran’s rights
- Prevailing wage
- Affirmative action
- Older Workers Benefit Protection Act
- Interviewing and hiring
- Screening and background checks
- Immigration
- Diversity, harassment and other forms of training
- Employee discipline
- Workplace investigations – general wrongdoing and discrimination and harassment claims
- Employee separation
- Reduction in force management
- Drug and alcohol
- Leaves of absence
- Disability accommodations
- Independent contractor versus employee status
- Record retention (including electronic)
- Employee handbooks and manuals
- Electronic use policies
- Impact of HIPAA and peer review privileges on personnel matters
- Employment agreements with or without bonus, stock option, or other ownership terms
- Independent contractor agreements
- Noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements
- Confidentiality agreements
- Disciplinary actions
- Terminations
- Severance Release Agreements
- Union representation campaigns
- Single and multi-employer collective bargaining
- Contract analysis
- Unfair labor practice representation
- Arbitration – grievance and interest arbitration
- Strike prevention, preparation and management
- Supervisor training
- Corporate reorganization and long-range planning
- Corporate transfers including possible successorship issues and liability
- ERISA collection issues
Williams Kastner represents clients in many high-profile matters involving discrimination and civil rights. We have extensive experience representing clients in cases involving the civil rights of people with all types of disabilities and in matters arising from gender, age and race and all other protected status discrimination. We have also defended clients in class action and other representative actions.
Our lawyers represent numerous municipalities and school districts. They understand all the elements of civil rights claims and are familiar with the procedural and evidentiary demands of civil rights cases. With one of the leading litigation practices in the Pacific Northwest, our team of seasoned litigators knows how to navigate a courtroom and, more importantly, how to avoid taking the steps or actions which may lead there.