Heather Shook Counsel

Heather Shook focuses on counseling clients on best employment practices and representing companies in a wide range of employment-related litigation. She has obtained favorable results in a matters involving alleged employee misclassifications, independent contractor disputes, wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing and retaliation, wrongful termination, employee misconduct, unfair competition and trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, privacy, and other tort actions.

Heather defends employers in federal and Washington and California state courts, including in complex class actions, California Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) matters, and single plaintiff litigation. She also represents employers in response to charges filed with administrative agencies, including the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), California Department of Fair Housing and Employment (DFEH), and the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Heather utilizes her extensive litigation experience to advise employers on how to avoid litigation and mitigate risk through the development of sound employment policies. Heather conducts preventative audits of clients’ policies and procedures to identify potential liability in high risk areas such as workplace harassment, employee classifications, and compliance with wage-and-hour laws. Her guidance also includes analysis of ongoing exposure for clients considering newly emerging employment law issues, preparation of employee handbooks, policies and agreements, and advice on employee relations, performance management, background checks and privacy concerns, and employee leave and accommodation. Heather also guides companies through labor and employment issues during diligence and transition planning in mergers and acquisitions.

In addition to her litigation and counseling practice, Heather conducts internal investigations into workplace misconduct issues, as well as potential theft of employer confidential, proprietary or trade secret information.

Heather has an active pro bono practice and represents clients in impact litigation and direct services on a variety of civil rights issues.