MICHAEL C. BOLASINA

Employment Attorney
(206) 676-7000

Practice: Mike consults with and advises clients (primarily employers) on employment matters, and represents parties (primarily employers) on employment-related claims. He also investigates employee harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints in a neutral investigator capacity, and trains employers, employees, and employment lawyers on employment-related issues. Mike conducts sexual harassment workshops during which he trains both employees and supervisors on various aspects of the law. Mike wrote the employment law chapters of the book, "How to Stay Out of Court and In Business," which is directed to business owners and managers.

Experience: Since 1994, Mike has represented defendants in approximately 75 litigated employment cases. He represents private businesses in litigation that includes civil rights, wage and hour, and non-compete issues. He is also appointed counsel for Washington Cities Insurance Authority and Washington Government Entity Pool in employment and tort litigation. Mike has also served as an expert witness in cases where the handling of an employment-related claim was an issue.

Since 1994, Mike has also represented churches in tort-related litigation. He includes among his clients the Roman Catholic Church, the Mormon Church, the Baptists, the Mennonites, and several congregations of non-denominational protestants. He has developed an expertise in tort and First Amendment law as it applies to churches being sued in civil court.

Mike has presented at a number of seminars/CLEs on topics including religious discrimination, sexual harassment, the Family Medical Leave Act, direct examination, negligent hiring and supervision, defamation, the fair credit reporting act and investigations of employees, and the unique aspects of employment discrimination claims against government entities.

Representative engagements include: