Peter C. Partnow

Counsel to the Firm | Anchorage | 907.264.3317 | partnowp@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Peter Partnow’s practice emphasizes litigation and dispute resolution in employment and labor disputes, construction, public procurement and contract claims, and other complex litigation.

Professional Experience

Prior to joining Lane Powell, Peter has been an owner of his own firm as well as general counsel for the Anchorage School District and chief of the civil section of the Alaska Attorney General’s Anchorage Office.

Admitted to Practice

• Alaska
• United States District Court, District of Alaska
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Academics

• University of Chicago (J.D., 1971)
• Bowdoin College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1968)
  • James Bowdoin Scholar
  • Phi Beta Kappa

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

• Construction
• Labor and Employment
• Litigation

Significant Experiences In Labor Area

• Member of Bargaining Team for the Anchorage School District in teachers’ union negotiations
• Former hearing examiner for the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. Hearing officer on ad hoc basis for numerous school districts in employee discipline and termination proceedings
• Expert witness in civil proceedings regarding public employment labor matters
• Presenter at various CLE’s and panels including presentations on tort reform impact on employment and labor matters, COBRA, Fair Credit Reporting Act Impact on employment matters, and Fair Labor Standards Act
• Advocated for numerous employers in a variety of mediations, arbitrations, and other administrative proceedings involving dismissal, transfer, work assignments, employee benefits, discrimination, and retaliation

Reported Employment Related Appellate Decisions

• Raad v. Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, __ F.3d __ (9th Cir. 2006) (alleged discrimination and retaliation and award of attorneys fees)
• Raad v. Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, 323 F.3d 1185 (9th Cir. 2003) (alleged discrimination and retaliation)
• Raad v. Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, 86 P.3d 899 (Alaska 2004) (alleged employment discrimination and retaliation)
• Ellingstad v. State, Department of Natural Resources, 979 P.2d 1000 (Alaska 1999) (alleged breach of contract)
• Johnson v. University of Alaska, 1998 WL 34347965 (Alaska 1998) (alleged age discrimination in employment)
• University of Alaska v. Tovsen, 835 P.2d 445 (Alaska 1992) (termination of probationary employee)
• Anchorage Daily News v. Anchorage School District, 779 P.2d 1191 (Alaska 1989) (public records)
• Martinez v. Anchorage School District, 699 P.2d 330 (Alaska 1985) (termination of employment)
• Kenai Peninsula Borough Board of Education v. Brown, 691 P. 2d 1034 (termination of employment for immorality)
• Anchorage Education Association v. Anchorage School District, 648 P.2d 992 (Alaska 1982) (legality of public employee strike)
• Griffin v. Galena City School District, 640 P. 2d 829 (Alaska 1982) (termination of employment)
• Rouse v Anchorage School District, 613 P.2d 263 (Alaska 1980) (change of benefits under collective bargaining agreement)

Recent Trial Court Proceedings In Employment And Labor Area

• Flakes v. Alaska Sales and Service (alleged discriminatory failure to promote) Sears v. GCI et. al. (personal injury allegedly caused by negligent utility repair)
• Absolute Environmental Services v. Imperial et al. (complex multiparty construction dispute)
• Flory v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (alleged ADA claim)
• MP v. Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (student sexual assault alleged arising from failure to supervise)
• Smith v. Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (student injured in physical education class)
• Bashaw v. South Peninsula Hospital et. al. (claim of wrongful termination and interference with contract)
• Frost v. Morris (alleged employment discrimination and retaliation)
• Pierson v Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. (alleged age discrimination in employment)
• ACS v. Alaska Construction and Paving et. al. (complex dispute regarding road construction and alleged damages to buried utilities)
• Crittel v. Goerig (alleged attorney malpractice)
• Little v University of Alaska (promotion rights, equal pay, discrimination)
• Reynolds v. University of Alaska (enforceability of employee resignation)
• Freeman & Wilson v. Kmart (overtime claim by two former managers)
• Gann v Kmart (alleged harassment and sexual discrimination)
• Supervisors v South Central Foundation (overtime and COBRA claims)
• Johnson v. University of Alaska (non-retention and age discrimination claims)
• Cruey v Westward Seafoods, Inc. (overtime and constructive discharge claims)

Representative Clients

• Chastain Investments
• Coffman Engineers, Inc.
• EDS Information Services
• Fairbanks North Star Borough School District
• Kenai Peninsula Borough and Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• WW IDEA, Inc.

Professional and Community Activities

• Alaska Bar Association
• Alaska Bar Association, Fee Arbitrator
• Alaska Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section Executive Committee
• Alaska Attorney Representative, Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference
• Alaska Moving Image Preservation Association, Board of Directors