Diana Shukis
Overview
Diana has more than 25 years of experience partnering with employers to help them navigate challenging workplace issues with a business-minded and practical approach.
Diana advises and counsels employers on the many issues that arise in today’s complex workplaces. Whether an employer needs key, timely advice during potentially volatile workplace situations, help managing complex workplace investigations, guidance on wage and hour compliance, or advice on how to handle a sensitive termination – Diana is there to assist. Diana also represents employers when they need representation in litigation, arbitration or before administrative agencies. Diana has served as lead counsel in a number of complex, multi-party matters. Diana has substantial experience leading all aspects of matters – case development, discovery, alternative dispute resolution efforts, trial preparation and trial.
Areas of Focus
Admissions
- Washington
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Education
- J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 1999
- Oregon Law Review, Staff Member, 1997-1998
- B.A., Michigan State University (with honors), 1994
Honors & Recognition
- Chambers USA (Washington), Leading Individual, Labor & Employment, 2022-23; 2017-2018
- The Best Lawyers in America©
- Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2026
- Employment Law – Management, 2013-present
- Labor & Employment Law, 2013-2016
- Washington Super Lawyers list, 2024-present
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers, 2004-2013
- Super Lawyers Washington Women’s Edition, 2013
Professional Activities
- Foster Garvey, Firm Co-Chair, 2020-present
- Foster Garvey, Opportunity & Progress Council, Member, 2020-present
- Society for Human Resource Management, Member
- Washington Lodging Association, Member
Community Activities
- Garfield Jazz Foundation, Co-Treasurer
- Mother Attorney Mentoring Association of Seattle, Former Board Member
- The Learning Tree, Former Board Member
Experience
Representative advice and counseling experience:
- Regularly advise human resource professionals, executives, and in-house attorneys on wide variety of workplace issues, for example, performance management, disability accommodation, leave management, wage and hour compliance, addressing workplace complaints, succession planning, and separations.
- Advise and assist clients in managing complex workplace investigations with an eye toward managing legal risk and navigating challenging workplace issues.
- Assist clients with updating, drafting and implement key workplace policies to comply with legal requirements, while recognizing operational and labor market realities.
- Conduct workplace investigations aimed at effectively assessing and reporting out on concerns while also providing important insights based on information learned.
- Provide tailored manager and employee training on a wide-variety of topics, including anti-harassment and effective performance management.
Representative litigation experience:
- Successfully represented regional public entity in retaliation and wrongful termination lawsuit brought by two former employees. Served as lead counsel in seven-week jury trial in King County Superior Court. Case resolved during trial in confidential settlement.
- Secured defense verdict in a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit by a former employee of regional public entity. Served as lead counsel in bench trial in King County Superior Court. Result was not appealed.
- Secured favorable decision upholding terminations of two employees by regional public entity in labor arbitration. Served as lead counsel in one-week arbitration.
- Successfully represented regional public entity in disability discrimination and failure to accommodate lawsuit brought by four employees in King County Superior Court. Served as lead counsel in discovery, mediation efforts, and negotiation of settlement on favorable terms after key depositions.
- Successfully represented regional public entity in gender and pregnancy discrimination lawsuit brought by two employees in US District Court. Served as lead counsel in all aspects of case. Negotiated settlement on favorable terms before the completion of discovery.
- Successfully represented business owners in multi-party lawsuit alleging breaches of contractual obligations in both employment and business activities. Served as lead counsel on all aspects of case leading to three-week jury trial in US District Court, which abruptly halted on the eve of trial due to a bankruptcy filing.
- Served as lead counsel in representation of regional employer defending against high-profile claims of discrimination and retaliation in pre-litigation setting. Successfully resolved claims in confidential settlement, which avoided many potential negative impacts for employer.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of an employer in a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by a former employee in King County Superior Court.
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of individual manager sued in sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit filed by former direct report in King County Superior Court.
News & Insights
Blog Posts
The New Overtime Regulations Are on Hold
11.23.16
U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies That Employers May Not Make Religious Practices, Confirmed or Not, a Factor in Employment Decisions
06.05.15
DOJ’s Recent Focus on Food Allergies Not Yet Cause for Alarm
07.26.13
NLRB’s April 30 Posting Requirement Delayed by Court Rulings
04.27.12
NLRB Employee Rights Posting Requirement – Deadline Extended to April 30, 2012
01.27.12
Seattle’s Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Requirement — Ready or Not, it’s Here
09.27.11
Washington’s Medical Use of Marijuana Act NOT a Blanket Protection Against Issues Arising From Medical Marijuana Use
06.17.11
Conference Follow-up: HR in Hospitality Conference
04.12.11
“Economic Realities” Test Determines Worker Status in Washington
03.22.11
Harassment in the Workplace: Be Proactive to Reduce Risks
11.30.10
News
Foster Garvey Named in SurePoint® Technologies’ 2025 LLFI Mid-Sized 200
05.05.26
71 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2026 Best Lawyers in America; Paul Trinchero Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.21.25
19 Foster Garvey Attorneys Named to the 2025 Washington Super Lawyers Lists; Emily Harris Gant Earns Special Recognition
08.01.25
Diana S. Shukis Featured in Portland Business Journal on Federal DEI Shifts and Employer Impacts
06.12.25
65 Foster Garvey Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® 2025, Three Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.15.24
14 Attorneys Named to 2024 Washington Super Lawyers Lists; Emily Gant Featured Among Top Attorneys
07.31.24
Foster Garvey Named in 2024 Best Law Firms® Rankings; Receives Multiple Honors in National and Metropolitan Categories
11.02.23
57 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2024 Best Lawyers in America; Two Portland Attorneys Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.17.23
Foster Garvey Receives Honors in 2023 Chambers USA Guide; 21 Attorneys and 10 Practices Featured
06.01.23
45 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among The Best Lawyers In America®
08.18.22
Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Leading Law Firms in 2022 Chambers USA Guide; 21 Attorneys and 10 Practices Featured
06.01.22
Invested in the Future: Diana Shukis Interviewed in Mid-Market Report
11.11.21
38 Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America; 11 Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
08.19.21
Foster Garvey’s Policy Aimed at Creating a More Inclusive Workplace Highlighted in Best Lawyers
06.17.21
Foster Garvey’s Declared Name and Pronouns Policy Featured in Law360
06.15.21
Foster Garvey Celebrates Diversity and Supports Inclusion With Declared Name and Pronouns Policy
06.14.21
Foster Garvey Salary Restorations Mentioned in The Mid-Market Report; Diana Shukis Quoted
11.06.20
Foster Garvey Celebrates Its One-Year Anniversary
10.01.20
43 Attorneys Named 2021 Best Lawyers in America; 10 Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
08.20.20
Foster Garvey Stands Against Racism, Bias and Hate, and We Are Taking Action
07.08.20
50 Foster Garvey Attorneys Named 2020 Best Lawyers in America
08.15.19
Events
“Wage & Hour Compliance: People Leaders Matter,” Retirement Community Management
06.04.26
“Employment Legal Updates & Trends,” HR Leadership Retreat
05.20.26
“2026 Washington State Employment Law Updates & Trends,” Association of Washington Housing Authorities
05.14.26
“Best Practices for Avoiding Discrimination and Harassment Claims,” Labor Relations Institute
05.07.26
“Balancing Act – Risks/Rewards of AI in the Workplace,” American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) Joint HR and General Counsels Committee Meeting
April, 14, 2026
“Return from Leave Considerations,” Policy to Practice, Session 6
02.10.26
44th Annual Civil Service Conference
10.21-10.22.2025
“2025 Legislative Developments Every Washington Public Employer Should Know,” Policy to Practice, Session 5
09.16.25
WSAMA 2025 Spring Conference
04.23-04.25.2025
“HR Checkup – Best Practices for Public Employers in 2025,” Policy to Practice Educational Series, Session 3
02.12.25
“Leadership Matters – How to Comply With the Law and Retain Good People,” Retirement Community Management
01.28.25
“Legal Insights on Employee Leaves: Navigating the Complexities with an Attorney’s Perspective,” Washington Association of School Business Officials Payroll, Personnel & Retirement Workshop
11.05.24
“Employment Law Legal Update,” Leadership Retreat
10.30.24
“Employment Law Updates and Trends: How to Sort Through It All,” Leadership Retreat
04.26.23
“So Much Information – So Many Requests for It!” Association of Washington Cities Labor Relations Institute
05.07.21
“Personnel Challenges Relating to the Global Pandemic,” Washington Public Ports Association 2020 Virtual Finance Seminar
12.09.20
4th Annual Family and Closely Held Business Summit
10.25.18
“Paycheck or Pinkslip?” Moderator, Transportation Intermediaries Association, TIA 2015 Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition
04.16.15
“Policy Hash: A Review of Seattle’s Minimum Wage and Wage Theft Ordinances,” Panel Member, Seattle Chamber of Commerce
04.09.15
“Discussion re Seattle’s Minimum Wage Ordinance,” Panel Member, Seattle Hotel Association
03.26.15
“Avoid the Department of Anti-Labor. Make the FLSA Framework work for you,” Transportation Intermediaries Association, TIA 2014 Great Ideas Conference & Exhibition
04.10.14
“TIA Operations Committee Meeting,” Panel Member, Transportation Intermediaries Association, TIA Fall Meeting 2013
11.17.13
“Employment Liabilities. Addressing the challenges of employee classification & independent contractors,” Transportation Intermediaries Association, 2013 TIA Convention and Trade Show
04.12.13
Legal Alerts
Surging Unemployment Claims Pose New Challenges to Employers – Are You Ready?
04.24.20
Updates on the New Federal Paid Sick Leave and Paid Child Care Leave Laws
04.01.20
COVID-19 and the Workplace: What an Employer Should Know About the New Federal Leave Laws
03.24.20
The Wait Is Over – The New Overtime Rules Are Here: The Reconfiguration of Your Compensation System Is Just Beginning
05.19.16
Update on Seattle Wage Theft Prevention and Harmonization Ordinance
03.08.16
Employer Alert! Washington Passes Social Media Privacy Law
06.12.13
Publications
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