Overview

Recognized by Chambers USA for more than 20 years for expertise in labor and employment law, Otto Klein advises employers in the public sector on a full range of workplace issues.

Highly regarded for his ability to focus on finding solutions through negotiation and now a mentor to more junior lawyers, Otto has helped employers nurture healthy and productive workplaces for more than 40 years.

Otto is known for his skill in helping clients understand their options and his creativity in helping them figure out the best way to achieve their organizational goals. He now focuses his practice on:

Collective bargaining. Otto represents public sector employers in collective bargaining, with a particular emphasis on negotiating Community Workforce and Project Labor Agreements and contracts with police unions.

Executive compensation and contracts. Otto represents both executives and employers in matters involving executive compensation and employment agreements, including restrictive covenants.

Employment counseling. Otto advises employers on both the day-to-day workplace issues that arise as well as strategic and long-range planning.

Interest arbitration. Otto has extensive experience representing employers in arbitrations to determine wages, hours, and working conditions to be contained in a collective bargaining agreement.  Otto also has also served as the employer partisan arbitrator for interest arbitrations.

Clients. In addition to his work with executives, Otto’s clients include public sector employers such as cities, port authorities, fire districts, and communications districts, as well as a major public utility.


Credentials

Education

  • Yale University Law School (J.D., 1976)
  • University of Washington (B.A., 1973, magna cum laude)

Admissions

  • Washington State

Awards & Accolades

  • Named in The Best Lawyers in America® (1995-2023) for his high caliber of work in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Recognized by his peers since 1995. 
  • Listed in Washington Super Lawyers (2003-2022)
  • Ranked in Chambers USA (2004-2023)
  • Named Seattle Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law-Management by The Best Lawyers in America® (2015)
  • Named one of Washington’s Best Lawyers by Washington Law & Politics magazine
  • Included in Seattle Magazine’s list of best local lawyers
  • Named Seattle Labor Law-Management Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America® (2012)
  • Rated AV Preeminent (5.0 out of 5) by Martindale-Hubbell

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Washington State Bar Association
  • King County Bar Association

Community Service

  • Board of Directors, Children’s Home Society of Washington

Publications & Speaking Engagements

  • Association of Washington Cities’ Labor Relations Institute: annual presenter for over 30 years
  • Northwest LERA, 2023
  • Washington Public Employer Labor Relations Association: 2012 Fall Conference
  • American Bar Association: 2009 Labor and Employment Section Conference
  • Labor and Employment Relations Association: 2009 Annual Collective Bargaining Conference
  • Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs: 2009 Spring Conference
  • Regularly presents topics at internal seminars and trainings given for Summit clients

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Grievance Arbitration: Regularly represents employers in all facets of grievance arbitration.
  • Collective Bargaining: Regularly involved in several different bargaining negotiations, representing management.
  • Interest Arbitration: Has extensive experience representing employers in arbitrations to determine wages, hours and working conditions.
  • Executive Compensation and Contracts: Has substantial experience representing both executives and companies in matters involving executive compensation and employment agreements, and restrictive covenants.

News & Insights

News

  • Firm News

    Best Lawyers has named Otto Klein the 2024 Labor Law - Management "Lawyer of the Year" for Seattle. "Lawyer of the Year" awards are given to attorneys with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for each specialty and location.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that twenty-four partners have been included in the 2024 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. The annually published lists recognize the top practitioners statewide based on peer recognition and professional achievement.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is pleased to announce that 22 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2023 Washington Super Lawyers® and Washington Rising Stars® lists. The annually published lists recognize the top five percent of attorneys statewide based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Nine attorneys were additionally honored in the Super Lawyers Women's Edition and two were recognized for their tenth year by Super Lawyers.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. The prestigious guide identifies and ranks the most outstanding law firms and lawyers based on research obtained from clients, peers, and members of the business community.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that eighteen partners have been selected by their peers for inclusion in 2023 Best Lawyers lists. Sixteen attorneys have been included in The Best Lawyers in America®, and two have been named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that thirteen of its attorneys have been named to the 2022 Washington Super Lawyers® list and five attorneys have been named to the 2022 Washington Rising Stars® list. The annually published lists recognize the top five percent of attorneys statewide based on peer recognition and professional achievement.

  • Firm News

    Summit is proud to announce its inclusion in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. The prestigious guide identifies and ranks the most outstanding law firms and lawyers based on research obtained from clients, peers, and members of the business community.

  • Firm News

    Eighteen Summit Law Group attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. In addition, two Summit attorneys have been included in the 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list.

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