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Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt

Stephanie P. Berntsen

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Expertise

Non-Compete and Trade Secrets
Financial Institutions
Employment, Labor and Benefits
Employment Litigation

WSG Practice Industries

Activity

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
Washington, U.S.A.

Local Time: Mon. 13:14

206-689-1235

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WSG Leadership

WSG Coronavirus Task Force Group

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Profile

Stephanie Berntsen provides proactive, common-sense legal advice on employment issues for companies operating in the Pacific Northwest.

As service group leader of Schwabe’s Employment and Labor practice group, she works with a wide array of companies, but has particular experience in the timber, agricultural, construction and emerging technology industries. While Stephanie’s goal is always to help prevent or resolve disputes before litigation, she has extensive experience defending companies against claims of discrimination, retaliation and wage issues (including class actions) in administrative and court proceedings. In addition, Stephanie regularly represents companies in non-competition, non-solicitation and trade secret misappropriation disputes.

Stephanie has 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, she is 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

California State Courts
Washington State Courts
United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington
United States District Court, Western District of Washington
United States District Court, Central District of California
United States District Court, Eastern District of California
United States District Court, Northern District of California
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Education

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

Areas of Practice

Professional Career

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.

Articles

Washington Supreme Court Alters State's Agricultural Exemption in the Minimum Wage Statute
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, November 2020

On November 5, 2020, the Washington Supreme Court altered a 60-year provision of Washington’s Minimum Wage Statute when it issued its decision in Martinez-Cuevas v. DeRuyter Brothers Dairy. The court held that the agricultural overtime exemption at RCW 49.46.130(2)(g), which exempted agricultural employers from paying overtime at a rate of 1.5 times the regularly hourly rate, violated article I, section 12 of the Washington State Constitution as applied to dairy workers...

CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry (Updated 06/15/2020)
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, June 2020

Congress recently passed the economic stimulus package referred to as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (“PPPHCE Act”), and the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (“PPP Flexibility Act”). Ttogether, the CARES Act1, PPPHCE Act, and PPP Flexibility Act are called the “CARES Act”...

CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry (Updated 6/9/2020)
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, June 2020

Congress recently passed the economic stimulus package referred to as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act1”), the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (“PPPHCE Act”), and the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (“PPP Flexibility Act”). Together, the CARES Act1, PPPHCE Act, and PPP Flexibility Act are called the “CARES Act”...

Additional Articles

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
Oregon Dairy Farmers Rest Breaks and Meal Periods: Tips to Stay in Compliance
Washington 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

Blogs