Labor & Employment

Overview

A powerhouse in representing public sector and private employers in Washington

Employers facing employment and labor law problems want help immediately – practical advice from attorneys who know how to solve workplace problems, not simply recite statutes and regulations. Summit Law’s Labor & Employment lawyers understand what employers need, bringing deep knowledge of the law and our clients’ organizations to address those needs while reducing the risk of costly and disruptive litigation. Our team is recognized by clients and peers as a premier labor and employment practice in Washington, serving clients across the country.

Labor and collective bargaining.  We advise employers on a full spectrum of labor issues, from union organizing campaigns to collective bargaining to grievance proceedings. We recognize that productive labor relations require a long-term perspective, and we have worked hard to develop a “firm but fair” relationship with labor unions. We are spirited advocates for our employer clients while still nurturing healthy relationships with employees and their representatives.

Counseling and preventing disputes.  Much of our practice is aimed at helping employers nurture happy, productive workforces – anticipating and creatively solving problems before they spiral out of control. Our clients call us for legal advice about the laws that govern their employment relationships and for practical guidance on dealing with employees and unions.

Labor and employment litigation.  If and when litigation becomes unavoidable, we are ready. Summit’s attorneys have a wealth of experience representing employers in administrative matters before state and federal agencies (including the EEOC, NLRB, and PERC), grievance proceedings mandated by collectively bargained employment agreements, and in lawsuits before state and federal courts. We regularly handle high stakes civil employment litigation involving discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wrongful discharge claims, as well as class action wage and hour cases, and disputes involving non-compete and other restrictive covenants. We have extensive experience in trying jury trials.

Training.  Our attorneys regularly give presentations and provide training to executives, human resource professionals, and supervisors about the laws that govern employers and the best ways to effectively manage a workforce.

Clients. Our firm has advised hundreds of Washington public sector employers. We advise cities, counties, school districts, library districts, special purpose districts, port and rail authorities, transit agencies, public universities, health departments, fire and police departments, emergency dispatch centers, park districts, water districts and other public employers as well as private sector employers of all sizes, from start-ups and nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies.

Team

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

    Effective January 1, 2023, employers with 15 or more employees must include in each job posting: (1) the wage scale or salary range for the job; and (2) a general description of all the benefits and other compensation to be offered to the person hired. RCW 49.58.110. The Washington Department of Labor & Industries recently issued an administrative policy (the "L&I Policy") that is intended to provide guidance on complying with the new posting requirements. There are some gray areas, however, so employers will need to monitor how the Department enforces the new law once the requirements take effect.

  • Firm News

    U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® have ranked Summit Law Group in the 2023 "Best Law Firms" list. The firm achieved the highest Tier 1 ranking for 12 Seattle practice areas.

  • Firm News

    Summit Law Group is proud to announce that the firm's Litigation and Labor and Employment practices have received top-tier rankings in the 2023 edition of Benchmark Litigation, a guide to the leading litigation law firms and lawyers around the world.

  • Firm News

    Best Lawyers® has named Rod Younker the 2023 Employment 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 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

    For the third consecutive year, Benchmark Litigation has named Summit Law Group the Washington Firm of the Year. Summit finished ahead of strong competition from a shortlist of firms and litigators who have performed exceptionally well at both local and national levels.

  • Firm News

    Employers are undoubtedly feeling whiplash from the effects of various legal rulings on the enforceability of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Emergency Temporary Standard ("OSHA ETS"), requiring most employers with 100 or more employees to adopt mandatory COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing programs. In November 2021, a federal appellate court issued a stay blocking implementation and enforcement of the OSHA ETS. But last Friday, December 17, 2021, the federal appellate court designated to address the consolidated legal challenges related to the ETS lifted the stay. That decision has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, with an oral argument scheduled for January 7, 2022. While the appeal process continues, OSHA plans to resume enforcement of its rule mandating vaccination or testing programs. This means, once again, the OSHA ETS rules are "live" and need to be followed by covered employers. However, OSHA has announced it will not issue citations for noncompliance with any aspects of the ETS before January 10, 2022 and will not issue citations for noncompliance with the testing portion of the rule before February 9, 2022.

  • Firm News

    U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® have ranked Summit Law Group in the 2022 "Best Law Firms" list. The firm achieved the highest Tier 1 ranking for 13 Seattle practice areas.

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