Getting Back To Basics: Employers Must Tread Carefully To Avoid Exposure
It’s Time to Get Back To Basics: With fewer than two months before the completion of the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency, and in an age of uncertainty caused by the issuance of multiple executive orders, which purport to roll back programs at the federal level, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion measures, it is...
Williams Kastner Welcomes Brent Elswick to the Firm’s Seattle Office
Williams Kastner is pleased to welcome Brent Elswick as a Member in the firm’s Seattle office. Brent brings nearly 15 years of experience advising businesses and individual clients on corporate, transactional, and general business law matters, with a particular emphasis on aviation law. His practice includes representing clients in the purchase, sale, lease, and financing...
Williams Kastner Earns National and Regional Recognition in 2026 Best Law Firms® Rankings
Williams Kastner has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®, achieving national and regional rankings across multiple practice areas. The firm is noted for its comprehensive legal services and strong regional presence in the Pacific Northwest. National Rankings: Williams Kastner received National Tier 3 rankings in Environmental Law, Litigation – Construction, and...
Washington Paid Family Medical Leave: Significant Changes for 2026
Recent and significant amendments to Washington’s Paid Family Medical Leave law, RCW Ch. 50A (PFML), start taking effect January 1, 2026. The full pending PFML changes (as passed by the Washington Legislature) are available here. Key changes and takeaways are summarized below. Key Changes and Takeaways for Employers: Job protections expanded and accelerated – Effective January...
Washington Expands Employee Rights to Personnel Files
Washington’s Industrial Welfare Act (“IWA”) (RCW 49.12) was recently amended to strengthen employee access to personnel files. Key Takeaways for Employers What changed: Four major updates: Personnel file defined – The law now specifies what a “personnel file” includes, clarifying employer recordkeeping obligations. 21-day response deadline – Employers must provide an employee (or their designee)...
Williams Kastner Relocates Seattle Office to Newly Designed Space
Williams Kastner is pleased to announce the relocation of its Seattle office to a newly designed space in downtown Seattle, effective September 8, 2025. The firm, which has been a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest legal community since 1929, has been located in Two Union Square for over 30 years and consolidated its Seattle office...
Williams Kastner Recognizes 2026 Best Lawyers Honorees
Williams Kastner is proud to announce that 20 of our attorneys have been named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. In addition, seven attorneys have been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. We are especially pleased to share that Heidi Mandt has been honored as Lawyer of the Year in...
Northwest Insurance Law Quarterly Newsletter: Spring 2025
Please find the Spring 2025 edition of the Williams Kastner Northwest Insurance Law Newsletter. Our newsletter features articles regarding some of the most important decisions and developments in insurance law over the past few months. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Eliot Harris. Follow us on LinkedIn for more legal updates.
9th Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Extra-Contractual Claims in Washington UIM Case Regarding Payment of “Undisputed” Damages
Washington State has seen an increase in bad faith claims against insurers regarding settlement of uninsured/underinsured (“UIM”) motorist claims in the past decade. One of the primary reasons for this increase is the development of a duty by a UIM insurer to pay so-called “undisputed” amounts arising out of Beasley v. GEICO Gen. Ins. Co.,...
Harris v. Safeco – When are emotional distress damages recoverable?
In Richard Harris, et al. v. Safeco Insurance Company of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon clarified when policyholders may recover litigation-related emotional distress damages under Oregon’s unfair settlement practices statute (ORS § 746.230(1).) Following a house fire in August 2022, the plaintiffs filed a claim under their Safeco insurance policy for...
Jennifer Hohnstein Discusses Residential Landlord-Tenant Act Changes for 2025 with Washington REALTORS®
Williams Kastner attorney Jennifer Hohnstein appeared in a three-part video series produced by Washington REALTORS, discussing updates to the Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act enacted during the 2025 legislative session. Residential Landlord-Tenant Act Changes: Part 1: Legal Hotline 2025 In this episode of the Legal Hotline series, Washington REALTORS® Legal Hotline Lawyer Annie Fitzsimmons is joined...
Williams Kastner Expands Civil Litigation Team in Portland Office
Williams Kastner is pleased to announce the expansion of its Portland, Oregon, office with the addition of six accomplished attorneys: Megan Ferris, Leslie Kocher-Moar, Greg Reinert, Joel Saunders, Ashley Shearer, and Alex Newgard. Their arrival marks a significant enhancement of the firm’s litigation capabilities across the Pacific Northwest. Collectively, this group brings extensive experience in...