Sarah Swale

Shareholder | Seattle | 206.223.7946 | swales@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Sarah Swale focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling. She defends clients against EEOC claims, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment and wrongful termination in violation of public policy claims, and wage and hour violations. Sarah also advises employers regarding compliance with federal and state employment laws, provides sexual harassment training, drafts employee handbooks and personnel policies and prepares separation and release agreements. Sarah is chair of Lane Powell’s Wage and Hour Group, and is also a member of the Firm’s Long Term Care and Seniors Housing Client Service Team.

Sarah also litigates ERISA and employee benefits issues. Sarah represents employers, employee benefit plans, insured plans, insurers and administrators in actions involving disability, life, health and stock/compensation employee claims, claims for breach of fiduciary duty, and actions seeking civil penalties under ERISA. Sarah also provides advice to ERISA plans, employers, fiduciaries and insurers regarding disability claims, health claims, compliance with Department of Labor regulations and civil enforcement actions.

Admitted to Practice

• Washington
• U.S. District Court, Western Washington
• U.S. District Court, Eastern Washington

Academics

• Willamette University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1999)
  • Associate Editor, Willamette Law Review, 1997-1999
• University of Puget Sound (B.A., summa cum laude, 1996)
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Lane Powell Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

• Chair, Wage and Hour
• Health Care
• ERISA Litigation
• Labor and Employment
• Long Term Care and Seniors Housing Client Service Team

Publications

• “Ouch! Social Media Crashes into Medical Privacy Rules,” Puget Sound Business Journal, September 2, 2011 (Quoted)
• “In Wage Disputes, Compliance is the Best Defense,” Puget Sound Business Journal, October 3, 2010

Speaking Engagements

• “Risk Management Regarding Employees: Wage and Hour Compliance,” Washington Health Care Association Webinar, June 16, 2011
• “How the Grinch Stole Payday,” Washington Health Care Association Annual Convention, May 24, 2011
• “Employees in the Electronic Age: Best Practices for Best Employers™,” Lane Powell’s 28th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Seattle, October 2010
• “Tweeting, Friending, Posting, Linking … Oh My … The Legal Implications of Employee Social Networking,” and “Social Media and Employment Issues,” American Health Lawyer’s Association Annual Meeting, June 2010
• “The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the ADA Amendments Act – Management Strategies for Minimizing Risk” Lane Powell’s 27th Annual Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Portland, March 2010
• “Ask the Experts” Panel Member on Employment Law Issues, WHCA Fall Conference, September 2007
• “Risk Management Issues Relating to Potential Claims of Employees,” NBI Risk Management Seminar, August 2007
• “New Washington Legislation Affecting Employers,” Lane Powell Employment Law School for Managers Seminar, July 2007
• “Best Practices in Hiring, Handbooks, Performance Evaluations, Discipline and Termination” and “Practical Tips for Untangling Overlapping Employee Leave Laws,” WHCA Annual Convention, May 2007
• “Hiring, Personnel Documents and Record Retention,” AWB Seminar, November 2006
• “Hiring Basics and Employee Handbooks” and “ADA, FLMA, FCA and Alphabet Soup: What You Need to Know about State and Federal Disability and Leave Laws,” WHCA Human Resources Employment Law Conference, August 2006
• “Recent Developments on the Regulatory and Release Front,” Advanced FMLA Lorman Seminar, July 2006