Employment Rights, Benefits & Labor Legal Services for Businesses » Employment Rights, Benefits & Labor

One of the key elements of business success today is a healthy employer-employee relationship. Employers must comply with a myriad of employment regulations and provide benefits to attract and maintain a stable work force. The Employment Rights, Benefits and Labor Group at Ryan Swanson understands the complexity of employment obligations and works with employers to meet these needs.

Employment and Labor Group Experience:

Based in Seattle, our Employee Benefits Team advises employers, large and small, in all aspects of employment compensation, benefits and incentives, from the highest paid executive to the lowest paid employee. Our attorneys design plans to meet the particular employment needs and desires of our clients, while taking maximum advantage of applicable employment benefit laws, labor and tax laws.

Since the late 1960s, our Seattle Employment Rights and Labor Team has actively provided counseling and litigation services covering all aspects of the employer-employee relationship. Areas of focus include:

  • Discrimination
  • Wrongful Discharge/Public Policy
  • ADA/Disability Accommodation
  • Harassment
  • Non-Competition/Trade Secrets
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Safety and Health
  • WISHA/OSHA Violation Challenges
  • Wage and Hour
  • Retaliation
  • National Labor Relations Matters

Our Team has represented clients in a countless number of lawsuits over employment issues. We are skillful, creative and efficient in our work, and always keep our eye on the ultimate goal – to minimize exposure at the lowest cost.

We also draft policies, procedures and handbooks, provide ongoing advice as particular employment situations arise and assist our clients in creating win-win situations with their employees. In addition, we conduct an annual employment law update seminar for clients, furnish them with bulletins and update them as employment laws change.

We also counsel our clients in labor disputes (such as organizing campaigns and picketing) and represent them in labor arbitrations and matters before the National Labor Relations Board.

Because we work as a team, we are able to provide quick responses to questions or concerns, even if the primary contact lawyer is not available. Additionally, we pride ourselves on responding to phone calls and emails promptly. Also, should a particular question require extensive legal research, we have the ability and technology necessary to research the statutes and laws of all states, which can be especially helpful for clients with multi-state facilities.

Overall, our goal is to provide prompt, cost-efficient service, and focus not only on what the law requires, but on identifying and implementing the most prac­tical and realistic solutions to problems at hand.

Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland’s Immigration Group provides a full array of services, including everything from helping foreign workers enter the United States to defending individuals and businesses in immigration-related proceedings, many of which are Fortune 500 and foreign-based companies. In addition, we represent clients before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, U.S. consular offices world­wide and the federal courts.

Because of our in-depth experience, we can identify all of the options available to a client under the immigration laws, eval­uate the merits of each option and then assist the client in selecting the option most optimal. In addition, we:

  • Understand the personal and business pressures faced by clients with immi­gration problems, and therefore the need for fast action
  • Staff our practice group with sufficient personnel to be able to respond quickly to clients
  • Develop creative solutions for difficult immigration law problems
  • Stay up-to-date on developments in the law, which change frequently

Click here for more information on our Seattle Immigration Group

Legal disputes don’t come neatly packaged. Fortunately, many can be settled before a lawsuit or other formal proceeding begins; others however, may require a trial for resolution.

When a client comes to us with a dispute, we listen carefully to all the details. We then evaluate our client’s position and make recommendations for a resolution consistent with his or her goals. We take a practical, common sense approach to such matters, and explore all avenues possible to assist and better protect our clients.

Click here for more information on our Litigation Practice

Team
James M. Shaker, Chair and Member
James M. Shaker
Member and Executive Committee Member
Jim chairs Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland’s Employment Rights, Benefits and Labor practice group. He counsels employers (regionally and internationally) and individuals on a wide variety of employment-related issues, including employment agreements and severance packages.
206.654.2261
Amanda C. Bley, Associate
Amanda C. Bley
Associate
Amanda is an Associate at Ryan Swanson, working primarily in the litigation department. Amanda enjoys working on a wide variety of legal issues, including employment, real property and commercial litigation. She researches, prepares memorandums and writes opinion letters to clients regarding litigation matters.
206.654.2249
Susan Rae Fox
Member
Susan has a busy and varied litigation practice. About half of her practice involves employment law. This work includes reviewing employment policies and manuals, as well as defending employers against charges of discrimination, wrongful termination, failure to pay for overtime and other employment-related wrongdoing.
206.654.2274
Thomas H. Grimm, Of Counsel
Thomas H. Grimm
Of Counsel
Tom specializes in commercial and complex business transactions and litigation, with an emphasis in the health care and software industries, including health care facility purchases and sales, financing, management, reimbursement cases, licensing and regulatory issues, and employment and union-related matters. He also assists with formation of business entities and assists them with business joint ventures, acquisitions and sales, and licensing agreements.
206.654.2244
John E. Iverson, Counsel Emeritus
John E. Iverson
Member
As a business lawyer, John helps clients deal with the wide range of issues that surface during the life of a business such as proper structuring, contracts with others, financing and acquisitions. John also does probates and estate planning, from preparing simple wills to preparing sophisticated tax-savings vehicles such as a QRPT (Qualified Real Property Trust) and family limited partnerships. Some of his estate-planning clients are business owners whose principal asset is their business.
206.654.2255
Roger J. Kindley
Member
Roger serves as Chair of the Litigation Group. He is a trial lawyer whose specialty is favorable resolution of matters. His trial experience covers a broad range from contract claims, to real estate disputes, product liability issues, employment cases and others. He has won many jury and non-jury cases and prevailed in arbitrations.
206.654.2218
Richard P. Lentini
Member
Rick is a trial lawyer. Approximately 70 percent of his litigation practice is employment-law related, often centered on discrimination or harassment. The remainder is commercial litigation, both trial and appellate.
206.654.2231
Kristin Nealey Meier
Associate
Kristin is a member of the firm's Litigation, Employment and Healthcare groups and has provided consultation and litigation services for her healthcare and employment clients. Kristin's practice also includes commercial disputes, securities litigation and trust and estate litigation.
206.654.2293
Roger D. Mellem
Member
Mr. Mellem successfully prosecutes, defends and resolves tough securities, real estate and other commercial cases on behalf of businesses and individuals, and serves as an arbitrator and mediator as well.
206.654.2234
Britenae Pierce, Associate
Britenae Pierce
Associate
Britenae is a full-time litigator in the firm's Litigation and Employment groups. She handles a wide range of general litigation matters from inception through arbitration, trial, and any state or federal appeal process. Britenae litigates general contract disputes, complex commercial disputes, and title insurance matters. She also works on a variety of real estate cases, intellectual property matters, and banking litigation. As part of her employment law expertise, Britenae has worked on matters regarding discrimination, harassment, termination issues, responding to agency complaints, and advising clients on handbooks and policies. Britenae enjoys being a "counselor" and not simply a litigator, and advising clients on how to handle the many issues confronting their businesses.
206.654.2289
John R. Ruhl, Of Counsel
John R. Ruhl
Of Counsel
John is a commercial trial lawyer in state and federal courts, with special emphasis in transportation, banking and employment matters. He also frequently serves as an arbitrator on the Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association.
206.654.2217
Gulliver A. Swenson
Associate
Gulliver is an associate focusing the majority of his practice in litigation. The remainder of Gulliver's work involves providing advice as general counsel for mid-sized businesses. His experience includes advising clients in sports and entertainment, insurance, healthcare, real estate and employment matters.
206.654.2204
Thao Tiedt, Special Counsel
Thao Tiedt
Member
Thao has 22 years of experience defending employers in legal actions and advising them on issues including sexual harassment, discrimination, accommodation of those with disabilities, wage-and-hour issues, workers’ compensation, drug testing, employee handbooks and WISHA/OSHA citations.
206.654.2230