Stephanie P. Berntsen
Overview
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
Experience
Experience
- 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.
Memberships & Awards
Memberships
- Mentoring Association of Mother Attorneys of Seattle (“MAMA Seattle”), Immediate Past President, Board of Directors (2009-present)
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, Employment Section, Co-Chair (2014-2015)
- California State Bar, Member
- Washington State Bar, Member
- King County Bar Association, Member
Awards
- Washington Super Lawyers Top 50 Women Attorneys (2015-2018)
- Washington Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor (2014-2022)
- Seattle Met Magazine, Top 50 Women Lawyers, Super Lawyers (December 2015)
- Rising Star (2003-2013)
Resources & Ideas
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- November 8, 2021
- Zoom, March 9, 2021
- July 15, 2020
- December 18, 2018
- 2018 Washington Dairy ConferenceDecember 4, 2018
- Key Employment Law Developments in Oregon and Washington: What Employers Need to KnowJune 12, 2018
- April 6, 2018
- Ellensburg, WA, November 7-8, 2016
- June 15, 2016
- Vancouver Hilton, April 26, 2016
- Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt US Bank Centre, 1420 5th Avenue, Suite 3400, Seattle, WA 98101, October 27, 2015
Publications
- August 19, 2022
- Daily Journal of CommerceJuly 15, 2022
- February 4, 2022
- April 28, 2021
- February 19, 2021
- November 9, 2020
- August 12, 2020
- August 7, 2020
- August 7, 2020
- August 7, 2020
- August 7, 2020
- August 7, 2020
- July 20, 2020
- July 1, 2020
- DOWNLOAD THE ONE-PAGERMay 13, 2020
- March 31, 2020
- May 20, 2019
- March 27, 2018
- October 23, 2017
- April 3, 2017
- April 3, 2017
- March 10, 2017
- July 24, 2015
- June 22, 2015
Community Activities
Community Activities
- Work Force Development Center, Board of Directors, President and Secretary (2006-2015)
Services
Education
- Colby CollegeBachelor of Arts degree (1995)
- University of California, Davis School of LawJuris Doctor degree (2000)
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
Outside The Office
- Nordic and alpine skiing, golf, tennis (when it’s not raining), slow jogs, long walks and playing with my children.