Employment & Labor Law

Washington Employment Law Attorneys

At Cogdill Nichols Rein Wartelle Andrews in Everett, Washington, attorneys in our employment and labor law practice represent clients in communities from Seattle to Bellingham, and, for select cases, throughout the state.

Serving area labor unions and union members

Our labor law attorneys serve as counsel for area unions, representing teachers, firefighters, bus drivers, and other members of the AFL-CIO in labor relations issues. We represent the unions in collective bargaining, administrative hearings, and litigation regarding issues under Washington State and federal labor relations regulations.

Employment law services for employees

Our trial lawyers represent employees, including professionals, office workers, technicians, and other workers in a wide range of employment law issues and grievances. We handle matters regulated by the Washington State Human Rights Commission, the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, and the United States Department of Labor, including the following claims:

• Workplace discrimination: Racial discrimination, gender discrimination, age discrimination, or discrimination based on religion, pregnancy, disability, sex, national origin, disability, creed or religion, or sexual orientation
• Sexual harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that affects a person’s employment, unreasonably interferes with their work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment
• Wage and hour disputes: Violations of regulations regarding overtime, classification as exempt, lunch breaks, payroll deductions
• Wrongful discharge: Retaliation for filing a workers' compensation claim or another termination of employment that violates government policy
• Whistleblower claims: Qui Tam and wrongful termination claims
• Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violations
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations, including failure to provide reasonable accommodations
• Administrative review board hearings: representing educators, medical professionals, and others in licensing and administrative discipline hearings

Our attorneys' employment law services for employers

It is our goal to minimize our business law clients' exposure to risk through sound counsel in employment law, including employee handbooks, drafting, review, and negotiation of employment contracts, agreements not to compete, and management training. When an employment dispute does arise, our lawyers provide powerful representation in negotiations, trials, and appeals, as well as in alternative dispute resolution proceedings such as mediation and arbitration.

Our practice emphasizes trial work, and members of the firm have successfully argued cases in most trial courts in western Washington and have appeared before the Washington State Court of Appeals, The Washington State Supreme Court, the Federal District Court for Western Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and state and federal agencies and administrative boards.

If you would like to speak with a member of the firm about resolution of a labor or employment law dispute or another legal matter, or have any other question about our practice, please contact our office. There is no charge for your initial call.