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Beth

Beth G. Joffe

Counsel to the Firm

For more than 20 years, Beth Joffe has been a trusted and committed employment law advisor, advocate, and litigator. She represents employers of all sizes, across myriad industries, and on a nationwide basis.

Beth is a zealous and deliberate advocate in federal and state courts, private arbitrations, administrative proceedings, and private negotiations. Her litigation experience includes numerous EEOC-initiated lawsuits and broadscale investigations. Beth also guides her clients through a broad range of daily and strategic employment issues and objectives. As clients have observed, Beth is a tiger leading them skillfully through the jungle.

The scope of Beth’s work includes:

Accommodation Issues (disability, religious);
Hiring and termination issues, performance management;
Workforce restructuring/reorganization;
Harassment, discrimination;
Non-compete, confidentiality, and other employment agreements;
Wage and hour compliance;
Compliance with local, state, and federal leave laws;
HR policy design, review, and implementation;
Workplace complaints and investigations; and
Due diligence in employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions.

As a former felony prosecutor, Beth brings a unique approach to her practice. She is recognized by Chambers® USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, with one client sharing, "Beth is great to work with. She is well-versed in employment. She is very knowledgeable."

Experience

Representative Litigation Experience

EEOC v. Global Horizons, et. al.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Obtained favorable comprehensive summary judgment ruling on the matters for all claims; obtained ruling awarding employer clients all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in the litigation.
EEOC v. Prestige Care, Inc, et. al.
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
Successfully negotiated comprehensive consent decree before and without need for litigation of complaint allegations.
EEOC v. United Airlines*
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Represented airline employer in Title VII sexual harassment and race discrimination case, as well as two separate ADA discrimination/failure to accommodate cases; resolved cases by negotiating favorable consent decrees.
EEOC v. Carl Buddig & Co.*
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Won motion to exclude class of claimants (405 people) based on EEOC's discovery tactics and thereafter negotiated much more favorable resolution to the case.
EEOC v. OSI and OSI Collection Services, Inc.*
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Won summary judgment for employer in multi-plaintiff, multi-claim Title VII pattern and practice retaliation dispute.
Steadman v. Urban Retail Properties Co.*
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Won summary judgment for employer on Title VII religious discrimination lawsuit; decision affirmed on appeal to the Seventh Circuit.
In re: Private Arbitration for Large Investment Banking Organization*
Private arbitration matter (NASD Arbitration). Obtained very favorable decision for employer in dispute filed by former VP, alleging contract and quasi-contract claims seeking incentive bonus payments.
Petty v. Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc.*
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
Won summary judgment for employer on Title VII and state law claims of race discrimination, race harassment and retaliation.
O’Connor v. Temple Inland, Inc.*
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Won summary judgment for employer in complex Title VII sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation case.
Maney, et al. v. Southwest Desert Restaurants, Inc., et al.*
Yuma County Superior Court
Won full defense verdict for employer in a multi-plaintiff, multi-defendant workplace tort action; decision affirmed on appeal.
Johnson v. Sun-Sentinel Company*
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
Won summary judgment for employer in case involving Title VII and state law claims of racial, national origin and sexual harassment, retaliation, and race and sex discrimination.
Kyles, et al. v. J.K. Guardian*
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Obtained jury verdict for employer on first employment testers case to go to trial, alleging multiple claims of racially discriminatory hiring in violation of Title VII.
McPherson v. City of Waukegan*
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Won summary judgment for employer on claims of sexual harassment, assault and battery; decision affirmed on appeal to the Seventh Circuit.
Monster v. NaturoMedica
We were retained to defend NaturoMedica in a claim alleging wrongful discharge, failure to accommodate, and unfair treatment of a minority shareholder.

* Denotes experience at a previous firm

Professional Experience

Workplace Law, LLC, President (2015-2017)

Cochran, Inc., Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Employment Counsel (2014-2015)

Stokes Lawrence, P.S., Of Counsel (2012-2014)

CLG & Ellis University, Interim In-House Employment Counsel (2009-2011)

Seyfarth Shaw, LLP

Partner (2005-2009)
Associate (1998-2005)

Cobb County District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney (1993-1996)

Thought Leadership

June 1, 2022News
Lane Powell Again Ranked Among Top Firms in 2022 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
April 21, 2022Publication
Washington Employers Will Be Obligated to Disclose Salary, Wage, and Benefits Information for All Job Postings
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
March 24, 2022Publication
Washington Lawmakers Put an End to Nondisclosure Agreements in Instances of Alleged Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and Other Types of Employer Conduct
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
December 15, 2021News
Joffe Quoted in Puget Sound Business Journal Article ‘Experts Say Employers Eyeing Return to Office Face Difficult Decisions on Vaccine Rules’
In the News
December 14, 2021Event / CLE
Straight Talk: Employer's Guide to Vaccines in the Workplace
Puget Sound Business Journal | Virtual
November 9, 2021Publication
Injunction Stalls Enforcement of Federal Large Employer Soft Vaccine Mandate — What, if Anything, Should Employers Do?
COVID-19 Resource
October 7, 2021Event / CLE
COVID-19 Legal and Benefits Update
Parker, Smith & Feek | Virtual
July 21, 2021Event / CLE
Today’s Forefront of Training and Workforce Pipelines
Association of Washington Business | Tacoma, Washington
June 7, 2021News
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update Quoted in McKnight’s Long Term Care News Article ‘Offering a COVID-19 Vaccination Incentive? Tread Carefully, Experts Suggest’
In the News
June 2, 2021Publication
EEOC Says Employers Can Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines, but Tread Carefully...
COVID-19 Resource
March 25, 2021Event / CLE
New WA L&I Guidance on ‘Employment Relationships’ and ‘Hours Worked’
Seattle Society for Human Resource Management | Virtual
July 14, 2020Publication
Religious Employers Given Greater Freedom and Latitude Over Employment Decisions as the US Supreme Court Adopts a Broad View of the 'Ministerial Exception'
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
June 19, 2020Publication
US Supreme Court Says Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination Violate Federal Law
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
October 23, 2018Event / CLE
36th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor and Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
October 17, 2017Event / CLE
35th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers’ Labor and Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
March 28, 2017News
Joffe Quoted in Human Resource Executive Online Article
In the News
January 24, 2017News
Joffe Joins Labor and Employment Department
Firm Announcement
2019 - 2016Publication
Employment Discrimination Law Portfolio
Bloomberg BNA Corp.

Practices & Industries

Investigations, Compliance & White Collar
Labor, Employment & Benefits
Wage & Hour

Education

Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1994
Indiana University Bloomington, B.S., 1991

Admissions

Washington
Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, Central, Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Language

Spanish (Conversational)

Honors

Chambers® USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment (2022)

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