Laura Morse
Founding Partner
206.682.1678
206.660.5324
laura.morse@jmblawyers.com
Laura Morse has an extensive litigation practice, with an emphasis on employment claims involving race, sex, religion and disability discrimination claims, wrongful discharge, and failure to accommodate. Laura also has background in a variety of wage and hour matters, including wage and hour class actions. Laura has also litigated trade secret and non-compete claims.
In addition to her litigation background, Laura spends much of her time advising clients on how to best train their managers and employees, identifying and helping to resolve workplace concerns as they arise. This includes but is not limited to helping clients navigate the ever changing landscape of federal, state and local leave laws.
Laura has presented on these topics to clients individually and at legal seminars. She has also authored articles on many of these topics. Laura was previously the chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group for a large Seattle law firm. Additionally, Laura has her Yellow Belt certification in Legal Lean Sigma® and Project Management. Chambers USA’s Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business listed Laura as a “Leading Lawyer,” describing her as “very knowledgeable about the nuances of new laws and regulations” and “extremely bright, well organized and a forceful negotiator.” She has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers® magazine. She is rated “Superb” by Avvo.
Admitted to Practice
- Oregon
- Washington
- U.S. District Court, Oregon
- U.S. District Court, Eastern Washington
- U.S. District Court, Western Washington
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Practice Areas
- Labor and Employment
- Wage & Hour
- Litigation
- Class Actions
- Employee Benefits/ERISA
- Electronic Discovery, Technology and Strategy
Academics and Accreditations
- Chapman University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2003)
- Chapman Law Review, Articles Editor
- Appellate Moot Court Board
- Warren J. Ferguson Inn of Court, Member
- Western Washington University (B.A., English Literature, magna cum laude, 2000)
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Member
- Legal Lean Sigma® and Project Management — Yellow Belt Certification
Awards and Honors
- Recommended by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment (2014-2016)
- Named as a “Washington Rising Star,” Super Lawyers® magazine, Labor and Employment (2009, 2012-2013)
Speaking Engagements
- “‘Fast and Furious’: Annual Labor and Employment Update — Top Tips for Best Employers”
- “Burning Questions I Wish I Had Asked My Employment Attorneys,” Ultimate Software “Investing in Your Career”
- “Annual Labor and Employment Law Update — Lessons for Best Employers,”
- “Just the Facts, Ma’am: How the Seattle Criminal Background Check Ordinance Affects What, When and How You Can Inquire About Criminal Histories in the Hiring Process”
- “Exempt or Nonexempt? That is the Question”
- “Annual Labor and Employment Law Update: Lessons for Best Employers”
- “How the NLRB’s Recent Activities Affect Union and Non-union Employers Alike” and “The EEOC’s Focus on Issues Related to Domestic Violence, Stalking and Sexual Assault”
- “What You Need to Know NOW About Seattle’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Ordinance”
- “Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance — What Restaurant Owners and Operators Need to Know for September 1 Compliance!”
- “Responding To and Cooperating With Government Inquiries: Putting Your Best Foot Forward”
- “Annual Labor and Employment Law Update: Lessons for Best Employers From Judicial Decisions, New Laws and Regulations”
- “Health Care Reform: What Every Best Employer Needs to Know”
- “Best Practices” for Dealing With a Challenging Employee”
- “Treatment of Compensation and Benefits Under the Family Medical Leave Act”
- “FMLA: The Certification Process and Serious Health Conditions”
- “Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims: Employment At Will”
- “Best Practices for the Human Resources Filing Cabinet”
- “Controlling FMLA Abuse: Surveillance and Other Strategies”
- “Performance, Discipline, Documentation and, if Necessary, Termination”
Publications
- “A Deeper Dive Into the Pay Gap,” Human Resource Executive Online, Quoted
- “Seattle’s New Minimum Wage: Some Myths and Facts,” Puget Sound Business Journal Best Practices for Best Employers™: How to Become a Best Workplace Starting Today Special Insert
- “Dealing With Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance,” King County Bar Association‘s Bar Bulletin, Co-author
- “The Seattle Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance is Here: Are You In Compliance?” Puget Sound Business Journal Best Practices for Best Employers™: How to Become a Best Workplace Starting Today Special Insert
- “Can My Company Limit Employees’ Discussions About Politics Without Facing Liability?” Puget Sound Business Journal ADR and Litigation Q&A Column Titled “Ask the Legal Professionals”
Professional Experience
- Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II, Law Clerk for the Honorable J. Robin Hunt, Chief Judge (2003-2004)
- O’Melveny & Meyers LLP, Summer Associate (2002) (focusing primarily on litigation and labor and employment)
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Judicial Extern for the Honorable Stephen Reinhardt (2002)
- Orange County Superior Court, Judicial Extern for the Honorable William M. Monroe (2001)