Rachael A. Curtis

Rachael represents companies and organizations in every facet of employment law, providing both seasoned advice and zealous advocacy in litigation. Her employment practice includes defense of claims for wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, wage and hour disputes, and contract claims. For clients whose employees are unionized, Rachael handles contract grievances and unfair labor practice complaints. She represents clients in state and federal courts, in mediations, depositions, and arbitrations, and in administrative hearings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the State of Washington Human Rights Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board. Rachael also advises her clients on a broad range of employment and labor topics including employee misconduct investigations and disciplinary matters, personnel policies and employee handbooks, executive and employee contracts, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and best practices for avoiding future employment-related litigation. 

Rachael has significant litigation experience, having conducted fifteen jury trials and dozens of oral arguments, arbitrations, and administrative hearings. Prior to joining GRSM, Rachael clerked on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, served as a sexual assault and violent crimes prosecutor, held a partnership at a Seattle-based law firm, and was general counsel to a four year regional university in Washington state.

Admissions

• Washington
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington 

Membership

• State Bar of Washington

• Rachael represented a Washington city in its defense of multiple, simultaneous employment lawsuits brought by several interconnected and disgruntled employees who served as witnesses to each others’ claims. She cross referenced discovery across cases and navigated conducting depositions of employees who were both plaintiffs and witnesses. Through motions practice, she obtained dismissals of some claims and suits based on procedural errors and lack of evidence. Through mediation, she obtained very favorable settlements of the remaining, outstanding claims.
• Rachael defended a national janitorial contracting company against claims of pregnancy discrimination, leave retaliation, and failure to accommodate, brought by a former employee. Through discovery, depositions, and motions practice, Ms. Curtis successfully narrowed the claims and facilitated an expedient settlement that enabled her client to avoid the expense associated with protracted litigation. 
• Rachael served as plaintiff’s counsel for a large, multi-state recycling company in its suit against a former executive who skimmed company profits, alleging claims of fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and tortious interference. Rachael litigated the arbitrability of the case before the Washington Court of Appeals, negotiated the cooperation of two co-conspirators to testify on behalf of her client, and ultimately, obtained a favorable settlement for her client.
• Rachael represented a Washington city in its defense of a labor contract grievance based on the city’s termination of a police officer who assaulted his girlfriend. Rachael conducted the arbitration and won, ensuring the city’s termination decision was upheld and the employee was not reinstated.

EDUCATION

J.D., magna cum laude, American University Washington College of Law, 2014

• Public Interest/Public Service Scholar
• American University Law Review, Articles Editor
• Mock Trial Honor Society
• Mooers Trophy in Trial Advocacy

B.A., magna cum laude, with honors, History, University of California, San Diego, 2008