SHANNON E. PHILLIPS

Labor and Employment/Litigation Attorney
(206) 676-7000

Practice: Shannon E. Phillips maintains an employment and labor practice.

Areas of Emphasis: Shannon represents private and public-sector employers in employment-related litigation in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and in administrative hearings. Shannon’s practice emphasizes preventive counseling to customers to avoid or minimize the risk of litigation. Specific areas of advice include assistance in disciplining and terminating employees, and drafting employee handbooks and employment agreements. Shannon represents employers in the full range of labor matters, from negotiating contracts through representation in grievance arbitrations. Shannon also provides training to supervisors and employees on compliance with employment and labor laws, including topics such as sexual harassment and disability accommodation. Shannon conducts investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct, including sexual harassment allegations. Shannon was named a “Rising Star” in the 2006 Washington Law & Politics survey of lawyers in Washington state.

Representative Cases:

• Vasquez v. Kitsap Transit (summary judgment for employer on retalitory discharge claim, affirmed by Ninth Circuit)
• SEIU v. ABM (award for employer in termination grievance arbitration)
• Edmonson v. ABM (summary judgment for employer on disability and other claims; affirmed by court of appeals)
• Hutchings v. Ben Franklin Transit (summary judgment for employer on free speech and retaliation claims)
• ATU, Local 1576 v. Community Transit (successfully defended claim of unlawful skimming before Public Employment Relations Commission)
• AFSCME v. City of Olympia (award for employer in termination grievance arbitration)
• Sebhatu v. Ampco System Parking, Inc. (failure to accommodate disability)
• Green v. Fluor Constructors International (environmental whistleblowing, wrongful discharge)

Speeches, Training, and Publications:

• Panelist, “What Advocates Want From Arbitrators,” National Academy of Arbitrators, Labor Arbitrators’ Day (2009 and 2010)
• Training, “Preparing for Grievance Arbitration and Presenting a Good Case," AWC Labor Relations Institute (2006)
• Training, “Selecting and Terminating Employees in Washington,” National Business Institute (2003)
• Training, “Finding Your Way Through the Maze of Leave Laws,” Summit Law Group Training (2003)
• Training, “Basics of Collective Bargaining” and EEO Compliance, City of Renton, L.E.A.D. Training (2001-2003)

Related Experience: Prior to attending law school, Shannon was a legislative aide to a U.S. Senator. After law school, she clerked for Washington Supreme Court Justice Rosselle Pekelis.

Honors and Recognitions: Shannon was named one of 2012 Best Lawyers in America.

Education: Shannon graduated from Stanford University in 1989. She was an honors graduate of the University of Washington Law School in 1995. During law school, she was a Symposium Editor of the Washington Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Honor Board.

Memberships: Shannon is a member of the Washington State Bar Association and was on the board of the Northwest Women’s Law Center.

Other Interests: Back in the day, Shannon was on the Stanford Cycling and Varsity Crew teams. Now she is obsessed with the less pointedly painful pursuit of tennis competency.

Professional and Charitable Activities: Shannon is President of the Board of Communities and Parents for Public Schools (http://www.cppsofseattle.org). For the past two years, Shannon has organized and worked with kitchen volunteers for the Washington Middle School auction.

Shannon E. Phillips

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