Jeffery M. Wells

Jeffery M. Wells is a Member of Williams Kastner in Seattle, Washington, where he serves as Co-Chair of the Litigation Practice Group and Co-Lead of the Labor & Employment Team. He also serves on the firm’s board of directors.

Jeff’s practice spans employment law and commercial litigation, representing multinational corporations, small businesses, public entities, and consumer reporting agencies. He has extensive experience defending clients in high-stakes disputes, including class actions, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, harassment, hostile work environment, wage and hour claims, and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) cases.  Jeff’s litigation record includes successful defense verdicts over multi-week jury trials, favorable appellate rulings, and negotiated resolutions of class actions and individual claims.

Jeff also advises employers on compliance with workplace laws and policies, guiding them through issues such as discipline, accommodation, leave, and termination to avoid litigation.

In addition, Jeff conducts independent investigations for public and private organizations, addressing matters such as harassment, discrimination, retaliation, Title IX, and workplace misconduct.

• Defense Research Institute, Employment Litigation Tactics Subcommittee
• Williams Kastner Diversity Committee
• King County Bar Association
• American Bar Association

• Down Syndrome Community of Puget Sound, Board Vice President, February 2020 – present
• Literacy Source, Board Member, February 2020 – present

• Seattle University School of Law, J.D. 2012, with Honors
• Loyola University of Chicago, B.S., Criminal Justice, with Honors

• Presenter, “The Rise of Wage & Hour Class Actions,” Williams Kastner Labor & Employment Seminar, Seattle, WA, November 1, 2017.
• Presenter, “Seasonal Employment,” Northwest Fisheries Association Human Resources Presentation, March 2017.
• Presenter, “Minimum Wage & Sick Leave and I-1433 Webinar,” LeadingAge Washington, December 20, 2016.
  Presenter, “Equal Employment Opportunity Update,” Williams Kastner Labor & Employment Seminar, November 3, 2016.
• Presenter, “The Non-Traditional Workforce – Heightened Risk?” Williams Kastner Labor & Employment Half-Day Seminar, Seattle, WA, October 22, 2015.
• Presenter, “Best Practices in Hiring: Challenges to Background Checks and Asking About Criminal History,” Williams Kastner Labor & Employment Half-Day Seminar, Seattle, WA, October 15, 2013.
• Co-Presenter, “Interns, Independent Contractors, Home Health Care and Other Wage and Hour Hotspots,” Williams Kastner Labor & Employment Seminar, Seattle, WA, November 13, 2013.

• Author, “May an employer require an employee to reimburse costs paid for training if the employee leaves soon after receiving training?” Puget Sound Business Journal, June 30, 2017.
• Author, “What should I know about the proposed National Right-to-Work Act?” Puget Sound Business Journal, February 24, 2017.
• Author, “I pay my employees on a piece rate basis; do I have to pay them separately for rest breaks?” Puget Sound Business Journal, July 29, 2016.
• Author, “If I believe that my customers will not work with a disabled employee, does their employment create an undue hardship?” Puget Sound Business Journal, March 27, 2015.
• Author, “Title VII and Gender Identity Discrimination,” Williams Kastner Labor & Employment Alert, December 23, 2014.
• Author, “Do I have to pay my interns?” Puget Sound Business Journal, July 26, 2013.

• Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of multinational Fortune 500 telecommunications company after multi-week trial in an employment discrimination lawsuit.
• Obtained defense verdict on behalf of a multinational Fortune 500 oil company in employment discrimination lawsuit.
• Obtained favorable verdict for auto dealership in sex discrimination and sex harassment lawsuit.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in failure to accommodate and whistleblower lawsuit; decision affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Obtained summary judgment of on behalf of multinational telecommunication company in Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”) claim.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of local construction business in defamation lawsuit brought by former employee.
• Represented international electronics retailer and obtained six figure verdict against former employee for breach of confidentiality agreement.
• Resolved class action for an international trucking company, involving thousands of class members.
• Resolved wrongful termination lawsuit on first day of jury trial after obtaining multiple pretrial rulings excluding plaintiff’s core evidence.
• Negotiated favorable resolution of wrongful termination claim on behalf of medical device distributor.
• Favorably resolved disability and accommodation claim on behalf of local agricultural company.
• Negotiated favorable resolution of wrongful termination and intentional discrimination claim on behalf of a local university.
• Resolved multiple disability and failure to accommodate lawsuits on behalf of a Fortune 100 retailer.