Areas of Practice Mike Reilly is the Director of Lane Powell's Labor and Employment and Employee Benefits Practice Group. He concentrates his practice representing small and large employers on employment litigation and advice in claims involving discrimination, wrongful discharge, ERISA, race, sex, religion, retaliation, family responsibility discrimination and disability claims. He has successfully tried over 60 jury trials, arbitrations and bench trials, and successfully handled claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Washington State Human Rights Commission. Mike has served as lead counsel in an employee raiding/trade secret case as reported in the Wall Street Journal, and defended companies in class action claims. In 2011, Mike was named Seattle's 2012 "Lawyer of the Year" in ERISA Litigation by Best Lawyers ®. Mike is consistently listed in The Best Lawyers of America ® for his work in the areas of Employee Benefits, Employment Management, Labor Management and ERISA Litigation. Seattle Business magazine ranked Mike a "Top Lawyer" in Labor and Employment Law. Chambers USA's Guide to America's Leading Lawyers for Business listed him a "Leading Lawyer," describing him as "truly phenomenal [with] superb legal instincts." Super Lawyers magazine routinely designates Mike a "Washington Super Lawyer." His remarks on employment issues have been quoted in Newsweek, Corporate Legal Times, Seattle Times, Employee Relations Law Journal, Puget Sound Business Journal, CFO.com, and other professional journals and management publications. Mike also serves as a member of the Board of Regents for Gonzaga University. Professional Experience · Annual Speaker, EEOC Training Institute · Appellate Law Clerk, The Honorable J.B. McInturff (1984-1986) Lane Powell Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships · Director, Lane Powell Labor and Employment and Employee Benefits Practice Group · Chair, Lane Powell Retail Industry Team · Member, Lane Powell Board of Directors · Education · ERISA Litigation · Financial Institutions · Health Care Representative Clients · Home Depot, Bank of America, Rhapsody International, Intermec, Tesoro, Michaels Stores, Carquest, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Knowledge Learning Centers, Ferrellgas, Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Kadlec Medical Center, Diamond Parking Representative Matters · Successful jury trials representing specialty retailers and Fortune 100 Companies in claims involving race, gender and disability discrimination, and retaliation · Lattin v. Worldpac (W.D. Washington 2011) (Defeated class certification on wage/hour claims) · Stewart v. Master Builders Association, 2010 WL 3505101 (W.D. Washington 2010) (Summary Judgment in Fair Labor Standards Act retaliation claim) · Noren v. Jefferson Pilot, 378 Fed. Appx. 696 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 2010 U.S. Lexis 9334 (2010) (Affirming Summary Judgment in ERISA fiduciary duty claim) · Kendall and Rahlfs v. Home Depot, U.S.D.C., Alaska (Obtained $126,000 judgment for defendant Home Depot against plaintiffs who were asserting age and disability discrimination claims) (2009) · Calence v. Dimension Data et al., U.S.D.C., W.D. Washington (Trade secret and unfair competition claim representing plaintiff; defeated all defendants' motions for summary judgment and obtained settlement after only one week of scheduled three week jury trial) (2007) · Blomster v. Nordstrom, Washington State Court of Appeals (FMLA: No implied private right of action under Washington law; Published Opinion) · Weyer v. Twentieth Century Fox, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (ERISA/ADA: Mental disability issues; Published Opinion) · Guijosa v. Wal-Mart, Washington State Supreme Court (Race discrimination defense verdict upheld; Published Opinion) · Eaton v. Equilon, U.S.D.C., W.D. Washington (ERISA Class Action contingent workers; Dismissed) · Wal-Mart v. Amazon.com, King County Superior Court (Represented Plaintiff in employee raiding and trade secret case) · Harmon v. Home Depot, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Affirming defense judgment in sexual harassment and hostile work environment case; Published Trial Court Decision) Publications · "NLRB Protects Many Employee Facebook Postings," Puget Sound Business Journal (November 11, 2011) · "Tempting Fate," Puget Sound Business Journal, Quoted (October 28, 2011) · "Rising Challenges for Community Banks and Key Tips to Stay Ahead," Community Bankers of Washington magazine (Fall 2011) · "Employers' Checklist - Newest Emerging Issues Facing Your Best Company Practices Today," Seattle Business magazine (July 2011) · "Social Media May Contradict Applicant's Info," Portland Business Journal, Co-author (November 13, 2009) · "How Fastest Growing Companies Avoid Lawsuits," Puget Sound Business Journal (October 16, 2009) · "The Low-Down on Layoffs - Thinking About a Reduction in Force?" Seattle Business magazine, Co-author (June 2009) · "Human Resources 2008: Answers to Your Top 25 Questions," Thompson Publications, Co-author (2008) · "ERISA Fiduciary Claims: Planning, Protecting and Preparing for Class Actions," Employee Relations Law Journal (2005) · "High Court Opens the Door For Age Discrimination Cases: Companies Should Get Their Policies in Order to Avoid Potential Suits," Corporate Legal Times, Featured (June 2005) · "Job Nightmare - When is a Company Responsible For a Shooting?" Newsweek, Featured (July 2003) Speaking Engagements · "Outsourcing: Good or Bad for Economy and Job Loss?" Seattle University Class Lecture (February 5, 2012) · "Investigations: Trepidation, Systematization and Documentation," Northwest Human Resource Management Association Conference and Trade Show (October 6, 2011) · "Winning the Class Certification Battle and Clarifying What is Needed to Get Classes Approved/Denied," American Conference Institute (September 21, 2011) · "Preparing For New and Anticipated Legislation, Regulations and Amendments Affecting the Retaliation and Discrimination Landscape," American Conference Institute (July 27, 2011) · "Ethical Obligations of Pleadings and Briefing," Washington State Bar Association's "8th Annual Law of Lawyering Conference" (November 9, 2010) · "Best Practices in Investigating Employee Complaints," TAPS Seminar for Employers (August 26, 2010) · "The Surge in High-Exposure Retaliation Claims," American Conference Institute (February 25, 2010) · "The Nuts and Bolts of Twitter and Social Media for Employers: How to Use It, What's to Gain, Guidance to Minimize Risk," Washington Society of Association Executives (November 2009) · "Avoiding Common Mistakes in Investigations," EEOC Training Institute (August 2009) · "Failures in the Interactive Process and the Disabled Employee," Northwest Human Resource Management Association Annual Conference (October 2007) · "ERISA Law Update," National ERISA Law Forum (June 13, 2006) · "The Wild World of Whistleblower and Retaliation Claims," Employment Law Institute, Washington State Bar Association (March 12, 2004) Awards and Honors · Named by Best Lawyers as Seattle's 2012 "Lawyer of the Year" in ERISA Litigation (2012) · Peer Review Rated "AV" in Martindale-Hubbell · Recommended by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor and Employment (2007-2011) · Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, Employee Benefits, Employment Management, Labor Management, ERISA Litigation (2010-2012) · Named as a "Washington Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers magazine, Labor and Employment, Employment Litigation: Defense (2003-2011) · Named in "Top Business Lawyers," Seattle Business magazine (2010) Professional and Community Activities · Commissioner, Washington State Economic Development Commission (2005-2007) · Member, Board of Regents, Gonzaga University · Gubernatorial Debate Consultant to the Governor, State of Washington · Past Member, Board of Directors, American Red Cross News 12.28.2011, Twenty Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as 'Best in the Business' by Seattle Business Magazine 11.07.2011, Reilly Quoted in Puget Sound Business Journal About IRS Relief Offer to Companies That Misclassify Employees as Contractors 10.11.2011, Maloney and Reilly Named 2012 'Lawyers of the Year' by Best Lawyers® 08.31.2011, 43 Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 08.09.2011, Thirty-six Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine 06.20.2011, Twenty-six Lane Powell Attorneys Named 'Washington Super Lawyers;' Ten Lane Powell Attorneys Named As 'Washington Rising Stars' 06.14.2011, Chambers USA Recommends Lane Powell in Multiple Categories for 2011 03.21.2011, Chambers USA Recommends Eighteen Lane Powell Attorneys and Ten Practice Groups 01.11.2011, Lane Powell Client Receives Defense Decision in Sexual Discrimination Case 10.21.2010, Lane Powell's Win for Master Builders Association in FLSA Retaliation Claim Featured in Westlaw Journal Employment 09.20.2010, Lane Powell Victorious in Wage and Hour Retaliation Case Receiving National Attention 08.05.2010, 41 Lane Powell Attorneys Named in 'Best Lawyers in America' 2011 07.20.2010, 58 Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine 06.15.2010, Reilly Quoted in Business Insurance About Workplace Bullying 06.11.2010, Chambers USA Recommends Twenty Lane Powell Attorneys and Nine Practice Groups 06.06.2010, 28 Lane Powell Attorneys Named Washington Super Lawyers 2010 04.13.2010, Puget Sound Business Journal Names Best Lawyers 2010 10.06.2009, 27th Annual Labor and Employment Seminar a Sold-Out Success 08.31.2009, Reilly Quoted on Social Media and the Law in Puget Sound Business Journal 07.30.2009, 34 Lane Powell Attorneys Named in 'Best Lawyers in America' 2010 Articles 11.16.2011, NLRB Protects Many Employee Facebook Postings 09.26.2011, Rising Challenges for Community Banks and Key Tips to Stay Ahead 06.22.2011, Employers' Checklist - Newest Emerging Issues Facing Your Best Company Practices Today. 06.29.2010, Becoming One of the Best - Steps You Can Take to Become a Best Company to Work For 06.08.2010, Cash for Clunkers - Severance Agreements for Underperformers 11.25.2009, Social Media May Contradict Applicant's Info 10.26.2009, How Fast-Growing Companies Avoid Employment Lawsuits 06.17.2009, The Low-Down on Layoffs - Thinking About a Reduction in Force? 02.01.2009, The New President: What the Obama Administration will Mean to Employers 07.01.2008, Employees' Use of E-mail for Union Support Purposes 03.01.2006, A "Bad Day at the Construction Project" - The Deposition of a Human Resource Manager 09.01.2005, ERISA Fiduciary Claims - Planning, Protecting, and Preparing for Class Actions 12.21.2004, All Eyes on the Supreme Court: Does the ADEA Allow for Disparate-Impact Claims? 10.30.2004, How to Douse the Fuse When the Political Talk Heats Up 10.10.2004, Companies Increasingly Saying Smokers Need Not Apply 03.01.2000, Trade Secrecy and Non-Competition Covenants in Washington 01.07.1999, Workplace Violence, Tort Exposure and Employer Prevention and Mitigation In Washington Events 10.06.2011, Reilly to Present at the 73rd Annual NHRMA Conference and Trade Show (Bellevue, Wash.) 09.21.2011, Reilly to Speak at the 13th National Forum on Wage & Hour Claims and Class Actions (San Francisco) 09.20.2011, 29th Annual Labor and Employment Seminar (Seattle) 07.27.2011, Reilly to Present at National Forum on Defending and Managing High Exposure Claims of Retaliation and Discrimination (New York) 04.21.2011, Lane Powell's 28th Annual Labor & Employment Seminar (Portland) 11.09.2010, Reilly to Present at the "8th Annual WSBA Law of Lawyering Conference" (Seattle) 10.06.2010, 28th Annual Labor and Employment Seminar (Seattle) - SOLD OUT 04.15.2010, Reilly to Present at SHRM Seminar (Seattle) 03.31.2010, Lane Powell's 27th Annual Labor and Employment Seminar (Portland) 02.25.2010, Reilly to Speak at Employment Discrimination Forum (New York City) 11.18.2009, Reilly to Speak at 2009 Human Resources Legal Update (Yakima, Wash.) 11.16.2009, Reilly and Anderson to Speak at BOMA Labor and Employment Seminar (Seattle) 11.04.2009, Bachman and Reilly to Speak at Social Media and Risk Management Conference (Seattle) 10.29.2009, Reilly to Speak at King County Road Services Division Meeting (Seattle) 09.30.2009, Lane Powell's 27th Annual Labor and Employment Seminar (Seattle) 07.08.2009, Social Media: Expect the Unexpected (Portland) 07.07.2009, Social Media: Expect the Unexpected (Seattle) 10.07.2008, Lane Powell Teams with Puget Sound Business Journal for a Bigger and Even Better Day-Long Seminar This Year (Seattle) 09.11.2008, Lane Powell's Annual Labor and Employment Seminar Teams with Oregon Business Magazine's '100 Best Conference: Building Better Workplaces' (Portland) 10.09.2007, It's Not Easy Being LEED: Challenges Facing Green Construction (Seattle) |