Heather Shook

Clients rely on Heather Shook for her deep knowledge of federal and state employment laws—including Washington’s and California’s complex statutory frameworks—and her ability to craft efficient, aggressive strategies that minimize exposure and deliver results. She brings extensive courtroom experience and a strategic, results-oriented approach to complex class and collective actions, multi-plaintiff litigation, arbitrations, and single-plaintiff jury trials. 

Heather has built her practice at the forefront of the wage-and-hour class and collective actions that have become commonplace throughout the country, as well as California Private Attorneys General Act representative actions. She also has an impressive track record in single-plaintiff discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, trade secret, breach of contract, privacy, and other complex employment matters. Her litigation experience encompasses all phases of complex employment cases, including motion practice, managing expansive discovery involving expert witnesses and statistical evidence, arbitration proceedings, mediations, and proceedings before administrative agencies. She has secured complete dismissals at the dispositive motion stage, summary judgments, favorable settlements, and defense verdicts. 

Heather emphasizes proactive risk management and preventive strategies to help employers avoid litigation. She conducts comprehensive audits of employment practices to identify and mitigate exposure, advises on the full range of workplace compliance issues—including employment and executive compensation agreements, workplace policies, employee relations, performance management, and leave and accommodation obligations—and counsels corporate leadership, legal departments, and HR professionals on compliance strategy. Heather also guides employers through the rapidly evolving legal landscape surrounding the use of AI in the workplace. She addresses labor and employment issues during due diligence and transition planning in M&As. 

Heather also has significant experience conducting sensitive internal investigations into workplace misconduct, including allegations of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as potential theft of trade secrets and confidential information, and guides clients through the investigation process with strategic insight and practical judgment. 

Heather is deeply committed to pro bono service and has represented clients in impact litigation and direct legal services on a variety of civil rights issues.