Overview
Evan Chinn advises on labor and employment matters, providing practical, day-to-day operational and strategic counsel to a broad range of public- and private-sector employers.
With more than 12 years of director-level human resources experience at the cities of Seattle and Lynnwood, Evan has uncommon insight into the goals and priorities of elected officials, senior executives and management, highly trained professionals, workers from a variety of fields, and organized labor.
A trained mediator, Evan brings extensive negotiating experience and collaboration skills which enable him to develop and implement practical solutions, enabling organizations to move forward and preserve key relationships. His practice includes:
Employment counseling. With a focus on meeting each client’s unique business and legal objectives, Evan helps clients navigate a variety of issues, including:
- Employee leave
- Disability accommodation
- Wage and hour law
- Pre-employment and hiring
- Employee discipline and discharge
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and related leave policies
- Employee benefits and compensation
- Workplace safety
- Public Records Act issues
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies
Labor negotiations and counseling. Evan advises employers with unionized workforces on negotiating collective bargaining agreements and assists with contract interpretation and the resolution of grievance proceedings initiated under such agreements. As a former field attorney for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Evan has had the insider’s perspective on NLRB operations and policy, which is helpful to his clients – most recently with regard to “fast-track” union elections, defending unfair labor practices and navigating initial organizing campaigns.
Regulatory representation. Evan represents clients before federal, state, and local agencies, including the NLRB, PERC, EEOC and various offices for civil rights.
Workplace training. Evan develops and conducts customized training programs to address clients’ day-to-day challenges in light of their mission and long-term goals – taking account of where their organization is today and where they want to go. Trainings cover a full range of workplace concerns, including anti-harassment, anti-discrimination and Title VII compliance, labor relations, performance evaluations, DEI, and other emerging workforce-related social and political developments.
Clients. Evan’s clients include a broad array of public sector entities (cities, utility districts, and other public sector entities) as well as private employers (restaurants, retailers, energy, and telecom companies) and nonprofit organizations. He also advises individuals regarding employment agreements, including severance agreements and exit strategies.
Credentials
Education
- University of Washington School of Law
JD, 2003
Moot Court Honor Board
Certificate – Mediation - University of Washington
BA, Spanish Language & Literature
Admissions
- Washington
Clerkships
- Washington State
- Court of Appeals, Division One for the Honorable Ronald E. Cox
Memberships
- Washington State Bar Association