DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Perkins Coie LLP

Labor & Employment

3 ranked lawyers

Band 1

Washington

USA 2021 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Lawyers

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What the team is known for

First-class team lauded for its expert handling of matters such as employment discrimination, noncompete and trade secret disputes. Frequently defends against large-scale class actions and provides in-depth advice to employers concerning employee benefits matters. Further noted for its strong traditional labor practice, which includes advising employers hailing from a range of sectors on collective bargaining agreements.

Strengths

One client says: "The lawyers at Perkins Coie are excellent and provide high-quality legal representation and customer service."

Another source describes the team as "incredibly responsive and proactive. Their advice is sensible and practical."

"They're the gold standard," says a source, adding: "They're the best in Seattle for top-tier employment litigation."

Work highlights

Defended Boeing against claims of discrimination, retaliation and violation of FMLA claims by a former employee.

Notable practitioners

Bruce Cross is a seasoned practitioner with deep knowledge of labor and employment law. He has experience handling labor relations matters, employment class actions and wage and hour disputes.
"He has a good reputation in the Seattle community." "Bruce is incredible."

Jeff Hollingsworth is noted for his representation of employers in major class actions. He also regularly advises his clients on matters concerning reduction in force and compensation.
"He's a very good lawyer." "Jeff has excellent judgment, which is important. He is super-smart and strategic."

Kevin Hamilton regularly handles complex employment disputes, including those involving allegations of trade secret misappropriation. His clients include both domestic and international corporations.
"He is very smart and a great litigator." "Kevin is a brilliant litigator and trial lawyer, and a great strategist."

Department Information

This content is provided by Perkins Coie LLP.

Overview

Perkins Coie's Labor & Employment practice, one of the largest in the West with more than four dozen lawyers, represents employers in all facets and at all stages of labor and employment relations. With sweeping geographic reach and substantive depth, our lawyers routinely confront some of the most challenging issues facing employers in the modern workplace.

We represent clients in a wide range of industries, from industrial manufacturing, transportation, forest products and construction, to retail, healthcare and high technology. Serving as trusted counselors and advisor to in-house law departments or human resource professionals is a role we deeply value. In addition, our range of experience in a variety of industries allows us to provide relevant, efficient, and practical advice to accomplish business objectives expeditiously. Our lawyers understand that, as counselors and advisors, their role is to help our clients achieve their business goals, not to prolong disputes or complicate issues.

While our lawyers offer a full range of services, we are first and foremost trial lawyers with formidable experience trying cases, small and large, in federal and state courts throughout the country. Our lawyers are among the handful of lawyers anywhere in the nation who have taken employment class actions to trial – and prevailed. We have a unique depth of experience with negotiating and administering collective bargaining agreements for some of the largest union employers in America.