Gina Comeau

Gina's focused approach, creative problem-solving abilities, and her skills of incorporating their interests while thoughtfully managing legal risk are appreciated by her clients. Gina has unique and extensive experience advising public employers on matters involving healthcare workers, general government employees, maritime workers, higher education employees, and interest-arbitration-eligible groups. 

Gina's practice includes: 

Labor relations and negotiations. In 2023, Gina became the Labor Relations and Compensation Policy Director within Washington State's Office of Financial Management, where she was responsible for the direction and oversight of the state of Washington's labor relations and state employee compensation strategies. This included complex negotiation and administration of over thirty unique collective bargaining agreements and two healthcare agreements that determine the compensation and working conditions for approximately 300,000 people, consisting of state employees, higher education employees, and publicly funded service providers.

Gina advised state HR directors, managers, OFM executives, and the Governor's policy and legislative staff on bargaining outcomes and other labor relations matters. During her role as a labor negotiator within the OFM's HR division, Gina represented state employers, publicly funded service providers, institutions of higher education at the bargaining table during master collective bargaining negotiations, advised agency human resources on how to manage their workforce in compliance with their master agreement and other employment laws, and facilitated resolution of labor disputes through the grievance process and mediation. Additionally, Gina advised on workplace and personnel-related matters impacting unionized employees, including performance management, telework agreements, leave provisions, classification of employees, labor job actions, reduction-in-force, labor relations, and PERC matters. 

Dispute resolution. Prior to her work at the Office of Financial Management, Gina practiced law as an Assistant Attorney's General with the Washington State Attorney General's Office with her primary focus on public sector labor and employment law. Gina advised and actively defended a variety of diverse agencies including DSHS, Labor & Industries, the Department of Children, Youth, and Family, the Department of Transportation, State Investment Board, Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Retirement Board, the Grain Commission, the Office of Administrative Hearings, Secretary of State's Office, the Department of Financial Institutions, higher education institutions, the Office of Financial Management, State Human Resources, and the Governor's office. Gina has served as lead counsel to Deputy Directors of Human Resources, and Agency Directors of many of these agencies. 

Arbitration and litigation. Gina has briefed and argued at the trial court and the Court of Appeals in matters involving the retroactive application of Initiative 1501 records exemption and various temporary and permanent injunction hearings under the Public Records Act. Gina regularly advised state agency personnel on the application of the Public Records Act to record requests and implementation of agency public records policy and procedures. 

After the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Harris v. Quinn found that the Illinois' Public Labor Relations Act compelled representation fees of non-union members was unconstitutional, Gina appeared in Federal Court to defend the constitutionality of Washington State's collective bargaining law requiring union security agreements. She has also defended the State in Unfair Labor Practice proceedings, unit clarification actions, and representation actions before the Public Employment Relations Commission. Additionally, Gina has zealously represented clients in grievance arbitration and interest arbitration. 

Employment law counsel. In addition to litigation advocacy, Gina has provided written legal advice and risk management assistance on a broad range of employment tort issues to reduce potential liability to the State. Gina also regularly conducted trainings and provided routine advice on a variety of employment topics, including harassment, discrimination, retaliation, American with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, family and medical leave, Washington Paid Sick Leave (WPSL), wage and hour laws, and updated employers on relevant labor and employment law cases.

Additionally, Gina developed, trained, reviewed, prepared, and represented the State in actions filed with the EEOC and the Washington State Human Rights Commission. She is an experienced counselor to her clients regarding labor issues, discipline and termination matters, and grievance procedures; Gina has collaborated with unions to find common ground and negotiate solutions that protect the investments employers and employees share. 

Outside of work, Gina trains for sprint triathlons, local running and cycling events with her family and their Australian Shepherd.

Credentials

Memberships

• Washington State Bar Association
• Washington Woman Lawyers - Capitol & King County Chapter
• American Bar Association 

Publications & Speaking Engagements

• Washington Public Employment Relations Commission 
• Northwest Chapter of LERA, Collective Bargaining and Arbitration Conference - Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act
• The PERColator Podcast, The State Bargaining Process
• Other Speaking Engagement Topics:  
  • Collective Bargaining 101
  • Labor Relations Fundamentals
  • ADA and WLAD Obligations
  • Effective Employee Counseling and Discipline in Performance Misconduct Matters
  • Employment-Related Risks Utilizing Social Media
  • Intersection of FMLA and ADA
• CLE Lite: Tour of Duty-Veteran's Rights
• Annual Guest Lecturer, University of Washington Paralegal Program - Labor & Employment Torts 101
• Guest Speaker, Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) - Steps Employers Should Take to Avoid Tort Employment Litigation 
• OFM - Reasonable Accommodation Roundtable