John provides comprehensive labor and employment legal advice to a broad range of employers. His public-sector clients include municipalities, utilities, schools, colleges, fire districts, transit agencies, libraries, and related entities. John’s private-sector clients range from small business owners to companies with multi-state operations. John’s key focus areas include labor strategy and negotiations, labor and employment law advice, employment litigation, and workplace investigations.

In John’s labor practice, he regularly serves as chief negotiator for management in contract negotiations. He routinely advises clients in labor strategy and disputes. John is also a highly effective advocate and litigator. He aggressively represents clients in federal and state courts, administrative hearings, and arbitrations. Previously, John served as outside counsel for labor unions across the Pacific Northwest. His union-side experience enables him to provide insights to employers regarding union priorities and labor disputes. John works closely with employers to create collaborative solutions that achieve common goals.

In his employment practice, John advises clients and provides training on employment agreements, executive compensation, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, trade-secret protection, employment discrimination, unemployment benefits, disability accommodation, and family and medical leave policies, among other areas.

John also conducts workplace investigations into alleged misconduct. He understands the complex, sensitive nature of such matters, the importance of the employer-employee relationship, and the impact of internal and external factors. He helps clients gather relevant information to make effective decisions that address the immediate matter at hand while protecting their core missions. 

John’s charitable work focuses on increasing child literacy and access to quality public education for everyone. John also serves as pro bono counsel to a youth homeless shelter and is a co-organizer of a 5k race supporting cancer research.

• University of Washington
  MA, 2010
• University of Oregon School of Law
  JD, 2009
• University of Washington
  BA, 2005
  Hugh A. Bone Scholar

• Washington
• US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• US District Court for the District of Eastern Washington
• US District Court for the District of Western Washington

• Selected for Washington Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" list (2022)

• “Hot Topics in Contract Bargaining,” Washington State Transit Association, 2022
• “Public Sector Bargaining: Certainty About Uncertainty,” Association of Washington Cities, Labor Relations Institute, 2022
• "COVID-19 Vaccines: Workplace Policies," Washington State Transit Association, 2021
• “Back to the Future: Affirmative Action Returns to Washington and the Post-Janus Fix,” Washington Public Utility Districts Association, 2019
• “How to Build a Solid (and Defensible) Investigation,” Association of Washington Cities, Labor Relations Institute, 2019
• “Employment Law Update,” Washington Public Employer Labor Relations Association, Fall Conference, 2018
• “Practical Tips for Employers Post-Janus v. AFSCME,” Association of Washington Cities, Webinar Series, 2018
• “When Worlds Collide: Navigating the Intersection of Employment Law and the Collective Bargaining Relationship,” Association of Washington Cities, Labor Relations Institute, 2018
• “Janus v. AFSCME: Preparing for a Fundamental Shift in Labor Relations,” Association of Washington Cities, Labor Relations Institute, 2018
• “Title IX at the Movies: An Illustrated Guide to Investigations," Washington Association of School Business Officers, Annual Conference, 2017
• "Handling Hostile Work Environment Allegations: From the Offended to the Offensive," Washington School Personnel Association, School Law Conference, 2016