Overview
Steve has more than 35 years of experience counseling and defending employers in connection with local, state and federal laws. He also represents employers in court and before administrative agencies.
His advice practice is dedicated to helping employers solve problems such as employee discipline and discharge, leaves of absence, discrimination and harassment claims, and threats of employee violence.
Steve prepares and negotiates employment, confidentiality and non-compete agreements. He also counsels executives and professionals on employment and separation agreements, and assists with corporate transactions such as purchases and sales of businesses. Steve also advises boards of directors, and their executives, on employment, management and governance issues.
Steve has extensive litigation experience and represents public and private employers in lawsuits claiming discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge and violations of wage and hour, employee benefits, trade secrets and non-compete obligations. He also appears before local, state and federal administrative agencies and arbitrators in employment and labor matters.
Areas of Focus
Admissions
- Washington, 1999
- Illinois, 1983 (inactive)
Education
- J.D., Cornell Law School (cum laude), 1983
- B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison (with distinction), 1978
- Phi Beta Kappa
Honors & Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America©
- Labor Law – Management, 2012-present
- Litigation – Labor & Employment, 2013-present
- Best in the Business: Leading Lawyers in the Puget Sound Region, Seattle Business magazine
- Labor – Management, 2013
- Litigation – Labor & Employment, 2013
Clerkships
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Law Clerk for the Hon. John C. Shabaz, 1982-1983
Community Activities
Seattle Theatre Group, Board Member 2002-present
- Chair, 2022-2024
- President, 2020-2022
Experience
Representative Work: Cases
- Won jury trial for an employer accused of age discrimination by laid-off union employee.
- Prevailed in hearing before the U.S. Department of Labor brought by a union business agent who claimed that the company conspired with the union to discharge him.
- Co-counsel in class action claiming pay for commuting in company vehicle; certification defeated and individual claim resolved promptly.
- Co-counsel for large employers in two U.S. Department of Labor collective actions claiming that employees worked off the clock; summary judgment obtained in one case, and the other settled favorably.
- Won summary judgment on discrimination/harassment claims for financial services companies.
- Obtained temporary restraining orders in two cases where employees refused to return computerized documents and information.
- Won summary judgment on sex bias claim by male employee of performing arts client.
- Convinced OSHA that a safety whistleblower on a construction site was not subject to a hostile work environment.
- Obtained anti–harassment orders against former employees.
- Defended company in ERISA cases brought by former executive seeking payments under a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan and by pension funds seeking payment of withdrawal liability.
Representative Work: Transactions
- Employment and labor counsel in sales of business, including due diligence, drafting of purchase agreement language, preparation of offer letters, executive employment agreements and employee communications.
- Assistance to client in reductions in force.
- Counseling of clients facing threat of workplace violence.
- Creation of documentation for background investigations, hiring, leaves of absence, requests for disability accommodation, last chance agreement and severance agreements.
- Preparation of policies such as travel pay, use of cell phones and social media.
- Management training on employment law topics, including avoiding harassment and discrimination, performance management, and hiring.
- Advice to and training of boards of directors on employment and governance issues.
News & Insights
Blog Posts
News
71 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2026 Best Lawyers in America; Paul Trinchero Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.21.25
65 Foster Garvey Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® 2025, Three Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.15.24
Client Highlight: Seattle Indian Health Board’s Acquisition of a Crucial Rehabilitation Facility
09.06.23
57 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2024 Best Lawyers in America; Two Portland Attorneys Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.17.23
45 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among The Best Lawyers In America®
08.18.22
Steve Peltin Shares Best Practices for Terminations in the Remote Environment in Inc. Article
02.18.22
38 Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America; 11 Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
08.19.21
43 Attorneys Named 2021 Best Lawyers in America; 10 Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
08.20.20
Seattle Indian Health Board Research Helps Create Government Task Force for Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives
01.07.20
50 Foster Garvey Attorneys Named 2020 Best Lawyers in America
08.15.19
Increasing Civic Engagement Through Technology Platforms
01.01.19
Cenorin Closes Sale of AquaGuard Division
11.01.18
Events
WSAMA 2025 Spring Conference
04.23-04.25.2025
“Workplace Accommodations,” Policy to Practice Educational Series, Session 2
10.16.24
“Recruiting & Hiring, Performance Management,” Association of Washington Housing Authorities
10.14.24
“2024 Employment Law Update,” Association of Washington Housing Authorities
05.16.24
“Home Is Where the Employee Is,” The Seminar Group’s 25th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conferences
08.19.22
“Home Is Where the Employee Is,” Managing Multi-State Employees, CLE Seminar
04.26.22
“Working From Home – A Panel Discussion,” The Seminar Group’s 24th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference
08.19.21
“#METOO and the Role of the CU Board,” Montana Credit Union – 2021 Directors’ Conference
08.07.21
“Employment Law Challenges During (or After) the Pandemic: Returning Employees to the Office or Managing Them at Home,” NASCUS (The National Voice of the State Credit Union System)
05.28.20
“Hospitality Employment Law Challenges: Returning Employees to the Workplace”
05.27.20
“Tribal Employment Law Challenges: Returning Employees to the Workplace”
5.8.20 and 5.11.20
“Legal Update Regarding Issues Arising in the Pandemic Environment,” Washington Trucking Associations Webinar
04.27.20
“Workplace Violence and Bullying,” 22nd Labor & Employment Law Conference
08.22.19
“#MeToo and the Corner Office – The Credit Union CEO’s (or Regulator’s) Role in Preparing for and Responding to Sexual Harassment Claims,” National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors State System Summit 2019
08.13.19
“Effective Strategies for Performance Management,” Association of Washington Housing Authorities
05.01.19
“Where Governance and Employment Law Meet,” Credit Union Association of the Dakotas Directors College
04.11.19
“Effective Strategies for Performance Management,” Lorman Education Services Webinar
04.01.19
“Where Governance and Employment Law Meet,” NASCUS Michigan Directors’ College
04.01.19
“Workplace Investigations in the Age of #MeToo”
11.27.18
“Interviewing and Hiring,” 21st Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, The Seminar Group
08.01.18
“Is Your Workplace Ready for Washington State’s New Employment Laws?”
05.15.18
“Top New Employment Law Developments Affecting Washington Housing Authorities,” Association of Washington Housing Authorities
05.01.18
“Symposium on Current Issues in Credit Union Board Governance”
09.15.17
“Seattle Ordinances Affecting Employers – Hear from the City”
05.04.17
“Reasonably Accommodating Employees With Disabilities: Fulfilling Legal Duties and Addressing Management Challenges,” International Association of Venue Managers Region Conference
05.01.17
“Top 3 Employment Law Issues That Should Keep You up at Night,” Northwest Credit Union Association, MAXX Annual Convention
10.13.16
“Politics and the Workplace”
10.11.16
“Employment Law Considerations for New U.S. Employers,” Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Washington State
10.01.16
“Evaluating Potential Employee Violence: Protecting the Employer and Co-Workers,” Lorman Education Services
September 27, 2016 and October 23, 2019
“Bullying and Violence in the Workplace: Legal and Practical Considerations,” Washington Housing Authorities Accounting Professionals Conference
09.01.16
“FMLA and Leave Law Update,” 19th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, The Seminar Group
08.26.16
“Legalization of Marijuana: Impact on the Washington Workplace”
06.14.16
“Bullying and Violence in the Workplace: Legal and Practical Considerations,” Association of Washington Housing Authorities
04.01.16
“Top Emerging Issues in Employment and Labor Law,” 2015 WHAAP Annual Conference
10.08.15
“Employee Handbooks: 2015 and Beyond,” American Public Power Association
09.30.15
“Top 3 Employment Law Issues for 2015 That Should Keep You up at Night,” Foster Pepper’s 10th Annual Bankers Briefing
05.21.15
“Is Your Employee Handbook Ready for Prime Time?”
04.21.15
Privacy in the Workplace: Managing Employees in the Digital Age
11.18.14
“The Alphabet Soup of Federal Employment Law,” Tribal Employment Rights & Law: Sovereignty, Jurisdiction and Best Practices
07.01.14
“Social Media and the Workplace – Protecting the Hospital in the Digital Age,” Washington State Hospital Association’s NW Council’s Hot Topics Meeting
06.06.14
Legal Alerts
Washington State Enacts Sweeping Ban on Noncompetition Agreements
05.27.26
Washington’s Minimum Wage, Minimum Salary for Exempt Status and Noncompete Salary Thresholds Set to Increase in 2026
10.16.25
2025 Legislative Developments Affecting Washington Employers
07.30.25
Texas Court Invalidates Federal Rule That Raised Salary Thresholds For Overtime Exemptions
11.21.24
2025 Increases in Washington Minimum Wage and Other Employee Expenses
10.15.24
Federal Judge Blocks FTC’s Nationwide Ban on Noncompete Agreements
08.22.24
Pennsylvania Court Upholds FTC Rule on Employee Noncompetes
07.25.24
Texas Court’s Preliminary Ruling Delays FTC Noncompete Ban, but Ruling Affects Only Parties to Lawsuit
07.10.24
U.S. Department of Labor Sets New Salary Thresholds for 2024 and Beyond
05.15.24
Breaking Update: FTC’s Noncompete Ban and What It Means for Washington
04.24.24
Important Changes to Washington’s Noncompete Law
03.25.24
What Employers Should Know About the NLRB’s New Joint Employer Rule
03.13.24
2024 “To-Do” List for Employers
01.11.24
Form I-9 Practice Alert: End of COVID-19 Flexibility for Virtual Document Reviews
07.28.23
New Transparency Rules for Washington Job Postings
03.07.23
Washington’s “Silenced No More Act” Limits Use of Nondisclosure and Nondisparagement Agreements
07.07.22
Extended Rights for “High-Risk” Employees in Washington State
07.31.20
OSHA Imposes New Requirements on Employers to Investigate Potential Transmission of COVID-19 in the Workplace
05.20.20
City of Seattle Releases Rules for Hotel Employee Protections
05.18.20
New Proclamation from Governor Inslee Empowers “High-Risk” Employees and Creates New Duties for Washington Employers
04.16.20
New Washington Law Restricts Use and Enforcement of Noncompete Agreements
05.21.19
NLRB Permits Employers to Impose Stricter Workplace Rules
08.07.18
U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Guidelines for For-Profit Corporate Internship Programs
02.08.18
Family and Medical Leave Guide for Washington Employers
07.01.17
Department of Labor Targets Use of Independent Contractors
07.31.15
NLRB: Employers Cannot Ban Employees From Using Company’s Email System for Union-Related Communications
12.17.14
Washington Supreme Court Recognizes Joint Employer Liability Under the Washington Minimum Wage Act
08.07.14
Employers Should Confront Threats of Workplace Violence
08.23.13
Employee or Independent Contractor? Washington Supreme Court Changes the Rules – Part Two
07.25.12
Employee or Independent Contractor? Washington Supreme Court Changes the Rules
07.23.12
Interns & Volunteers: Do We Really Have to Pay Them?
07.15.11
Unsafe at Any Speed: Unauthorized Passengers in Employer-Owned Vehicles May Sue Employer for Driver’s Negligence
02.26.11
Publications
“Wage Transparency Legislation Brings Unique Challenges and Benefits for Employers”
05.02.23
“Wash. Noncompete Reform: What Employers Need To Know”
06.14.19
“Effective Negotiation of Executive Employment Agreements,” Inside the Minds: Negotiating and Employment Agreements, Leading Lawyers on Constructing Effective Employment Contracts 2012
04.22.12
“Employers: Beware of High School Diploma Requirements”
02.01.12
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