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Mike

D. Michael Reilly

ShareholderLabor, Employment & Benefits Team Co-Chair; ERISA, Life, Health & Disability Team Co-Chair

Mike Reilly is a nationally recognized labor, employment and employee benefits attorney, named one of the “Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys in the Nation” for the past eight consecutive years by Human Resource Executive®. Peer reviews by Best Lawyers® named Mike the Seattle "Lawyer of the Year" for employment-related litigation in 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020. He has decades of experience providing strategic employment advice, and has represented clients in more than 75 jury trials, arbitrations, bench trials, and in claims before the EEOC and Washington State Human Rights Commission.

Small and large employers retain Mike for strategic advice in employment issues and litigation, business decisions and litigation avoidance. Mike advises clients in retail, technology, manufacturing and higher education in claims involving discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, disability accommodation, ERISA and non-ERISA employee benefit claims, and wage/hour claims. He served as lead counsel in an employee raiding/trade secret case as reported in the Wall Street Journal, and defends employers in class action claims.

Mike also conducts independent employment investigations, and training on effective workplace investigations.

Chambers® USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business recognizes Mike for his work in labor and employment law, and has described him as “one of Seattle’s top-rate attorneys” who is “truly phenomenal [with] superb legal instincts” and “an amazingly assertive litigator.”

Mike’s 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.

His clients include Microsoft, Seattle Seahawks, Home Depot, HomeStreet Bank, Washington Retail Association, Nordstrom, Albertsons, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Gonzaga University, Seattle Chamber of Commerce, CIGNA and Chelan County Public Utility District among others.

Experience

Brooks v. Nordstrom, Inc.
Defense verdict for Nordstrom in disability discrimination case.
Swaw v. Safeway, Inc.
Case No. 2015 WL 7431106U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Dismissal of recreational marijuana wrongful termination claim
Claffey v. Starbucks Corporation
Snohomish County Superior Court
Summary judgment for defendant in FMLA retaliation claim
Turnquist v. Nordstrom, Inc.
Case No. 2:15-cv-00710U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Summary dismissal of class action employment claims
Lieberg et al v. Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. d/b/a Outback Steakhouse
Case No. 2:15-cv-01307U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Obtained dismissal for franchisor in Title III public accommodation claim.
Lieberg v. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.
Case No. 2:15-cv-01242U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Lead counsel in successful resolution of nationwide class action asserting Title III Americans With Disabilities Act claims
Brown v. The Home Depot
Case No. 2:14-cv-00896U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Off-duty recreational/medical use of marijuana wrongful discharge claim; motion to dismiss granted.
Patch v. Seattle Seahawks
Case No. 2:13-cv-00612U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Summary judgment for defendant in retaliation claim
Lattin v. Worldpac, Inc.
Case No. 2:10-cv-00603U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Defeated class certification on wage/hour claims.
Noren v. Jefferson Pilot Financial Insurance Company et al
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Affirmed summary judgment in ERISA fiduciary duty claim.
Weyer v. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
ERISA/ADA: Mental disability issues; published opinion.
Kendall and Rahlfs v. The Home Depot, Inc.
Case No. 3AN-06-13817U.S. District Court, District of Alaska
Obtained summary judgment against both plaintiffs (former store managers) alleging age and disability discrimination.
Guijosa v. Big Box Retailer
Washington Supreme Court
Race discrimination defense verdict upheld; published opinion.
Eaton v. Equilon Enterprises
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
ERISA class action contingent workers; dismissed.
Calence, LLC v. Dimension Data et al
Case No. 2:06-cv-00262U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Trade secret and unfair competition claim representing plaintiff; defeated all defendants’ motions for summary judgment and obtained settlement during jury trial.
Big Box Retailer v. Amazon.com
King County Superior Court
Represented plaintiff in employee raiding and trade secret case
Harmon v. Home Depot
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Affirmed defense judgment in sexual harassment and hostile work environment case; published opinion.
Lori Mackey v. Home Depot USA, Inc.
Clark County Superior CourtWashington
Obtained dismissal of disability and retaliation wrongful discharge claims on behalf of Home Depot.

Professional Experience

Lane Powell Board of Directors, Member (2011-2014, 2016)

The Honorable J.B. McInturff, Appellate Law Clerk (1984-1986)

Community Involvement

Gonzaga University Board of Trustees, Member

American College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow

American Bar Association, Member

Washington State Economic Development Commission, Commissioner (2005-2007)

State of Washington, Gubernatorial Debate Consultant to the Governor

American Red Cross, Former Board Member

Thought Leadership

May 15, 2020Event / CLE
Strategic and Dependable Terminations — Now You're Just Somebody Used to Know
Parker Smith & Feek | Webinar
May 15, 2020Publication
Now You're Just Somebody Used to Know: How to Perform Strategic, Dependable Terminations
Parker Smith & Feek | Webinar Written Materials
April 23, 2020 News
Lane Powell Again Ranked Among Top Firms in 2020 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
October 1, 2019Event / CLE
SOLD OUT: 37th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor & Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
August 15, 2019News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Recognizes 63 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
June 10, 2019News
Thirty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and Nine Named ‘Washington Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
April 26, 2019News
Lane Powell Again Ranked Among Top Firms in 2019 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
April 10, 2019Event / CLE
Legal HR Update
Washington Bankers Association Education/Human Resources Conference | Spokane, Washington
March 29, 2019News
M. Reilly Named One of the ‘100 Most Powerful Corporate Employment Lawyers’ in the Nation
Awards & Honors
October 3, 2018News
Lane Powell Obtains Dismissal of Safeway Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit
Client Conversations
September 13, 2018Event / CLE
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Seattle Seminar
EEOC Training Institute | Bellevue, Washington
August 15, 2018News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 Recognizes 62 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 9, 2018Publication
New Polls in the #MeToo Era Suggest 3 Changes to Human Resources Practices and Investigations
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
July 9, 2018News
Lane Powell Obtains Dismissal of Disability and Retaliation Wrongful Discharge Claims on Behalf of Home Depot
Client Conversations
June 21, 2018News
M. Reilly Named Among ‘Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys in the Nation’
Awards & Honors
June 18, 2018News
Thirty-two Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and 14 Named ‘Washington Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
May 3, 2018News
Lane Powell Again Ranked Among Top Firms in 2018 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
October 17, 2017Event / CLE
35th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers’ Labor and Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
September 14, 2017Event / CLE
EEOC Seminar
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | Seattle
August 15, 2017News
Fifty-nine Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers® in America 2018
Awards & Honors
July 26, 2017News
M. Reilly Only One in Puget Sound Named Among ‘Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys in the Nation’
Awards & Honors
June 9, 2017News
Thirty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and 16 Named ‘Washington Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
May 30, 2017News
Chambers® USA Recommends Lane Powell in Multiple Categories for 2017
Awards & Honors
November 23, 2016Publication
What Employers Need to Know NOW About Washington State’s Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Leave Laws
Labor and Employment Legal Update
November 14, 2016Event / CLE
Seattle’s New Scheduling Ordinance: 10 Ways It Will Drastically Change How Large Retailers and Restaurants Do Business
Lane Powell and Washington Retail Association | Webinar
October 27, 2016Event / CLE
Views From the Bench: Employment Litigation
College of Labor and Employment Lawyers | Seattle
October 24, 2016Event / CLE
The New Seattle Scheduling Laws for Hourly Workers
In-House CLE
October 11, 2016Event / CLE
34th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers’ Labor and Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
October 2, 2016News
Lane Powell Featured in Puget Sound Business Journal Special Insert About Oct. 11 Labor and Employment Seminar
In the News
September 16, 2016News
Reilly Quoted in The Lens About Private Sector Work Scheduling in Seattle
In the News
August 17, 2016News
Fifty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017
Awards & Honors
August 4, 2016News
Reilly Quoted in Human Resource Executive Online Article About Unpaid Internships
In the News
May 27, 2016News
Chambers® USA Recommends Lane Powell in Multiple Categories for 2016
Awards & Honors
May 17, 2016Event / CLE
Employers and Employees Working Together
Cancer Pathways | Seattle
April 26, 2016Event / CLE
Top 10 Mistakes Employers Make: What Your Employment Lawyer Would Tell You if You Would Just Return His Call
Washington Bankers Association | Marysville, Washington
February 2, 2016News
Twenty-five Lane Powell Attorneys and 11 Practice Groups Recommended in Chambers® USA 2016
Awards & Honors
January 29, 2016Publication
Business Success: How to Establish a Winning Company Culture
Seattle Business magazine
January 20, 2016News
Reilly Quoted in Human Resource Executive on Workplace Changes Mentioned in State of the Union Speech
In the News
January 20, 2016News
Reilly Quoted in Law360 Article on High Court ERISA Reimbursement Ruling
In the News
December 2, 2015Event / CLE
Second Annual Startups and Emerging Companies Seminar: The Startup Journey — Idea to Exit
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
October 23, 2015Publication
Three Quick Strategic Responses to Title III ADA Class Action Claims
Lane Powell White Paper
September 15, 2015Event / CLE
33rd Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers’ Labor and Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
August 21, 2015Publication
Lane Powell Featured in Puget Sound Business Journal Special Insert About Sept. 15 Labor and Employment Seminar
Puget Sound Business Journal
August 17, 2015News
Forty-eight Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016
Awards & Honors
July 9, 2015Publication
The Cost of Bad Performance Reviews: ‘I’m Getting Sued Because My Evaluations Were Too Nice?’
Seattle Business
June 17, 2015News
Reilly Named Among the Nation’s ‘Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys’ for 2015
June 12, 2015News
Thirty-two Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and 11 Named as ‘Washington Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
May 21, 2015News
Chambers® USA Recommends Lane Powell in Multiple Categories for 2015
Awards & Honors
March 10, 2015Event / CLE
Internships A to Z
Lake Washington Human Resource Association | Bellevue, Washington
February 11, 2015News
Reilly Quoted in FierceMobileIT Article About ‘Bring Your Own Device’ to Work Policies
February 11, 2015News
Twenty-one Lane Powell Attorneys and 11 Practice Groups Recommended in Chambers® USA 2015
Awards & Honors
January 30, 2015Publication
The BYOD Question: Sound Advice on ‘Bring Your Own Device’ to Work
Seattle Business magazine
January 6, 2015News
Reilly Quoted in Human Resource Executive Online Article About New US Supreme Court Ruling on Wage/Hour Compensation for Security Screenings
September 18, 2014News
Lane Powell Scores Touchdown for Seattle Seahawks in Retaliation Suit
September 9, 2014Event / CLE
32nd Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers’ Labor and Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
August 18, 2014News
Fifty-One Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015
Awards & Honors
June 20, 2014Publication
Internships: Yea or Nay? A Good Program Will Generate Benefits, but Be Sure to Do It Right
Seattle Business magazine
June 13, 2014News
Thirty-five Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and Fifteen Named as ‘Washington Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
June 3, 2014News
Chambers® USA Recommends Lane Powell in Multiple Categories for 2014
Awards & Honors
January 29, 2014News
Twenty-two Lane Powell Attorneys and 12 Practice Groups Recommended in Chambers® USA 2014
Awards & Honors
September 26, 2013Event / CLE
Tips on How to Conduct an EEO Investigation
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | Seattle
July 2013Event / CLE
Holistic Guide to Handling High Profile Employment Cases
Human Resource Law Forum
June 25, 2013Event / CLE
New Challenges, New Opportunities: What to Expect When Arbitrating Employment Disputes
Washington State Bar Association Employment Law Institute
June 14, 2013News
Thirty-Six Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers’ and Sixteen Named as ‘Washington Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
September 11, 2012Event / CLE
The Interactive Process and the Interplay of the ADA, FMLA, and Worker’s Compensation
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Special Topics Seminar | Seattle
August 9, 2011News
Thirty-six Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
Awards & Honors
July 27, 2011Event / CLE
Preparing for New and Anticipated Legislation, Regulations and Amendments Affecting the Retaliation and Discrimination Landscape
National Forum on Defending and Managing High Exposure Claims of Retaliation and Discrimination | New York City
July 21, 2011Event / CLE
Winning the Class Certification Battle in Wage/Hour Litigation
American Conference Institute | San Francisco
June 20, 2011News
Twenty-six Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Washington Super Lawyers;’ Ten Lane Powell Attorneys Named As ‘Washington Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
November 9, 2010Event / CLE
Ethical Obligations of Pleadings and Briefing
Washington State Bar Association’s “8th Annual Law of Lawyering Conference”
July 20, 2010News
58 Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
Awards & Honors
June 6, 2010News
28 Lane Powell Attorneys Named Washington Super Lawyers 2010
Awards & Honors
February 25, 2010Event / CLE
The Surge in High-Exposure Retaliation Claims
American Conference Institute
November 2009Event / CLE
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
June 13, 2006Event / CLE
ERISA and Employee Benefit Litigation Law Update
National ERISA Law Forum
2005Publication
ERISA Fiduciary Claims: Planning, Protecting and Preparing for Class Actions
Employee Relations Law Journal

Practices & Industries

Labor, Employment & Benefits
Secondary & Higher Education Representation, Title IX
Wage & Hour
ERISA, Life, Health & Disability
International Arbitration
Investigations, Compliance & White Collar

Education

Catholic University of America, J.D., 1984
- Catholic University of America Law Review, Board of Editors
Gonzaga University, B.B.A., cum laude, 1981
- Outstanding Student of the Year Award
- School of Business Administration Excellence Award
- Loyalty in Leadership Award
- Albert Mann Debate Award

Admissions

Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Admitted Pro Hac Vice in a number of other jurisdictions

Honors

"Seattle Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers®, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Litigation (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020)

“Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys in the Nation,” Human Resource Executive® (2012-2019)

The Best Lawyers in America©, Employment — Management, Labor — Management, ERISA Litigation (2010-2019); Employee Benefits (ERISA) (2010-2013, 2018-2020)

Chambers® USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor and Employment

“Top Business Lawyers,” Seattle Business magazine

“Washington Super Lawyer,” Thomson Reuters, Employment Litigation: Defense (2003-2019)

AV Preeminent® in Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™

Boom: The ERISA Law Blog

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