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Gretchen Graham SalazarP: (206) 382-1000
Assistant: Teresa Caceres Gretchen Salazar concentrates her practice on employment law, representing both employers and employees. Her work for employers includes advising clients with regard to compliance; representing clients before administrative agencies; employee relations counseling; and the review and drafting of handbooks and agreements. Gretchen provides employees with advice and counsel with regard to their rights and advocates for the enforcement of those rights through negotiation, mediation, administrative action, and litigation. Gretchen also practices commercial litigation and municipal law. |
Practice Areas
Education
- California Lutheran University, B.A. in Economics, cum laude and with departmental honors, 1988
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude and first in class, 1996
- Editor-in-Chief, Seattle University Law Review, 1995-96
Admitted to Practice
- Washington
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Representative Work
- Gretchen has represented clients in a wide variety of employment cases, including sexual harassment, discrimination (disability, age, race), wrongful termination, application of leave policies (FMLA), enforceability of employment contracts and non-competition agreements, trade secrets, wage and hour issues (overtime, minimum wage), and employment torts.
- She has successfully achieved a high percentage of summary judgments, including, in one particular situation, a summary judgment dismissing the sexual harassment claim of a municipal employee and a summary judgment dismissing the wrongful discharge claim of the alleged harrassor. She has also defended and prosecuted multiple cases involving claims of disability discrimination arising out of application or misapplication of leave policies.
Professional and Community Activities
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES - King County Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Washington State Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Sections)
- American Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
- Federal Bar Association
- Washington Women’s Lawyers
- Mother Attorney Mentoring Association of Seattle
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES - Seattle University School of Law (Member Alumni Board of Governors, 2003-2006)
- Program for Early Parent Support “PEPS” (Board of Directors, 2008-2010)
- Citizen’s Advisory Council to Seattle Public Library, 1996-1998
Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements
- WSBA CIVIL PROCEDURE HANDBOOK
Assistant Editor-in-Chief, 2001 - Gretchen has led classes and seminars on various employment law topics.
Recognition
- Rising Star, Washington Law & Politics Magazine, 2001-2002, 2004, 2007
Background and Interests
- Prior to attending law school, Gretchen worked for The Prudential Insurance Company of America in Woodland Hills, California, as an underwriter and consultant for new product development.