Providing proactive, common-sense legal advice on employment issues for companies operating in the Pacific Northwest is my main focus.As service group leader of Schwabe's Employment and Labor practice group, I work with a wide array of companies but have particular experience in the timber, agricultural, construction, and emerging technology industries. While my goal is always to help prevent or resolve disputes before litigation, I have extensive experience defending companies against claims of discrimination, retaliation and wage issues (including class actions) in administrative and court proceedings. In addition, I regularly represent companies in non-competition, non-solicitation and trade secret misappropriation disputes.I have represented clients in securities-related matters since 2002, primarily broker-dealers involved in employment and customer-related disputes in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitration. Appreciating the drivers behind each dispute (from the claimant's and respondent's perspectives) and the respective business issues, I am proactive and creative in resolving disputes.Testimonial"I have worked with Stephanie Berntsen for a number of years. She's amazing. Very smart, ?knowledgeable and responsive.?"- Venture General Contracting

Bar Admissions

• Oregon State Courts
• Washington State Courts

Education

• University of California, Davis School of Law, Juris Doctor degree (2000)
• Colby College, Bachelor of Arts degree (1995)

Significant Accomplishments

• Regularly advise and defend a timber client in multiple employment-related discrimination issues and disputes.
• Successfully represented and resolved a disability discrimination and retaliation lawsuit on behalf of a Fortune 500 shipping company arising from an alleged mental health disability that created unique evidentiary challenges.
• Successfully defended and resolved a series of customer disputes against a broker-dealer regarding the suitability of Real Estate Investment Trust investments. These matters involved nearly 200 individual claimants.
• Obtained a temporary restraining order on behalf of a maritime client in a unique employee dishonesty matter.
• Provide proactive advice and counsel to construction and emerging technology clients on disability, Family and Medical Leave Act, wage classification, independent contractor agreements, retaliation-related issues, hiring, background checks and termination.
• Represented clients in preliminary injunction hearings arising from the enforcement or defense of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
• Represented financial services firms in enforcement of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements in both court and in arbitration.
• Obtained defense verdict on behalf of a national play structure manufacturer against gender discrimination and retaliation claims arising from a dress code violation.

• Washington Supreme Court Alters State's Agricultural Exemption in the Minimum Wage Statute

  By Stephanie Berntsen |November 2020

• CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry (Updated 06/15/2020)

  By Stephanie Berntsen |June 2020

• CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry (Updated 6/9/2020)

  By Stephanie Berntsen |June 2020

Additional Articles

• Top 10 Employment Law Red Flags
• OP-ED: What If You Need to Do a Layoff? Practical Steps for Reduction in Force
• HB 1732 and 1733: Washington's Long-Term Care Act
• Aftermath of Martinez-Cuevas v. DeRuyter Brothers Dairy: ESSB 5172 and Overtime Pay for Agricultural Workers
• Tax Implications of Payments Received under the Washington Paid Family Medical Leave Program
• Washington Supreme Court Alters State's Agricultural Exemption in the Minimum Wage Statute
• Paycheck Protection Program Portal
• CARES Act Questions for the Manufacturing, Distribution and Retail Industry
• CARES Act Questions for the Agricultural Industry
• CARES Act Questions for the Real Estate and Construction Industry
• CARES Act Questions for the Transportation, Ports, and Maritime Industries
• CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry
• Women Who Lead, Virtually: Key Takeaways
• PPP Loan Rules Clarified for Fishing Boat Owners/Operators; OSHA and CDC Interim Guidance for Seafood Processors
• COVID-19: Preventative Steps to Consider for Workers on a Jobsite
• CARES Act Resources
• New Requirements for Noncompetition Agreements in Oregon and Washington
• Wage Gap and #MeToo Movement Legislation: Impact on Washington Employers
• Department of Labor and Industries Issued Final Paid Sick Leave Rules
• Washington Dairy Farmers Rest Breaks and Meal Periods: Tips to Stay in Compliance
• Oregon Dairy Farmers Rest Breaks and Meal Periods: Tips to Stay in Compliance
• Impactful Wage Litigation for Washington Farmers
• Schwabe in the Field: New Paid Rest Break Ruling Burdens ‎Washington Agriculture - Oregon May ‎Be Next?‎
• Schwabe in the Field: Oregon's New "Ban the Box" Law Has Implications for Agriculture
• Subcontracting Work Out to Third Parties Could Still Lead to Joint Employer Liability for Companies
• Asking for Facebook Passwords? Not in Washington.

Seminar

• COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Compliance for Federal Contractors in the Real Estate and Construction Industry
• Agrotech and Labor Laws Affecting Washington's Agricultural Industry
• Women in Business: Women Who Lead, Virtually
• 2019 Washington State Employment Law Webinar
• 2018 Washington Dairy Conference
• Key Employment Law Developments in Oregon and Washington: What Employers Need to Know
• Central Washington Agriculture Seminar
• Dairy Safety Conference (Speaker: Stephanie Berntsen)
• The New Overtime Exemption Rules Are Here: What Does Your Business Need to Do to Comply?
• Hot Topics in the Workplace
• Protecting Your Company's Value-Seattle, Oct. 27th