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Overview
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Experience
Introduction
Nancy was ranked by Chambers USA for several years in recognition of her practice transition and long-term dedication to labor and employment clients.
Nancy Williams has counseled and represented employers in labor and employment matters for more than 45 years. Her experience includes defense of employers in litigation, equal employment opportunity, discipline and discharge, and a wide range of other employment issues. She is knowledgeable about and responds efficiently to a multitude of employment matters.
Nancy has served as managing partner of Ashurst Perkin Coie’s Seattle office, as firmwide personnel partner, and as chair of the Seattle Labor & Employment practice. She has been an active contributor and leader in civic, cultural, and professional organizations, including the American Bar Association and Washington State Bar Association. She served as a trustee of the King County Bar Association and remains an active participant in its Labor and Employment Law Section.
Nancy maintains an active pro bono practice and volunteer commitment. Her recent pro bono work focuses on employment law advice for nonprofit organizations. She has also represented Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children in child dependency cases and assisted immigrants seeking Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and other adjustments to immigration status. Although Nancy no longer practices full-time, she actively continues to advise private-sector clients while expanding her pro bono and community engagement efforts.
For more than a decade, Nancy has volunteered hundreds of hours with United Way of King County to prepare federal income tax returns for low-income clients. She is a former board member of the Seattle Repertory Theatre and an alumna of the Peace Corps, where she served in Colombia.
Education & credentials
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1980
- Northwestern University, B.S., Journalism, 1967
- Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
- U.S. Department of Labor, Public Information Officer, 1973-1978
Professional recognition
Selected by Best Lawyers as "Seattle Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year," 2011-2012
Listed in Chambers USA, "America’s Leading Labor and Employment Lawyers," Ranked Senior Statesman, 2012-2017
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 1995-2021: Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor & Employment
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Washington’s Super Lawyers," 2003-2021
Recognized as 2017 Outstanding Lawyer of the Year by King County Bar Association
*Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Impact
- American Bar Association, Labor and Litigation Sections
- Washington Employment Law Letter, Co-Editor, 1994-2011
- King County Bar Association, Membership Committee, 2010-2013; KCBA BOLD section, ad hoc Chair, 2010-2013; Central District Trustee, 2007-2010; Labor and Employment Section, Trustee, 2004-2007; Section Chair, 2006-2007; Pacific Coast Labor Law Conference Planning Committee, 2001-2007, 2014-2022, Conference Chair, 2006
- Peace Corps, Volunteer, 1967-1969
Beck, et al. v. The Boeing Company, et al.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Defense of Title VII sex discrimination class action with 30,000 class members. Settled on eve of trial.
EEOC v. Alaska Airlines
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Age discrimination class action, involving hiring age for pilots.
EEOC v. Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
Race and national origin discrimination class action.
EEOC v. The Boeing Company
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Age discrimination class action case, involving retirement age for pilots.
Fields v. Beech Aircraft
U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
Defense of race discrimination class action.
Solomon Williams, et al. v. The Boeing Company
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Race discrimination class action, 4,000 class members. Summary judgment before trial dismissed compensation claims. Obtained victory in a jury trial and obtained a positive ruling from the bench on the disparate impact claim.
Abston v. Alaska Airlines
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Gender discrimination case, defense judgment.
Erickson v. Fisher Communications Inc.
King County Superior Court (Washington), Washington State Court of Appeals
Disability discrimination and wrongful discharge claims, summary judgment affirmed on appeal. (Unpublished decision 2009)
Gaglidari v. Denny’s Restaurants Inc.
King County Superior Court (Washington), Washington State Supreme Court
Wrongful discharge claim; plaintiff's verdict reversed on appeal and standards established for definition of "just cause" and limitation on emotional distress damages. 815 P.2d 1362 (Wash. 1991)
Huff v. The Boeing Company
King County Superior Court (Washington), Washington State Supreme Court
Gender and national origin discrimination, defense judgment.
Jeppe, et al. v. Alaska Airlines
King County Superior Court (Washington)
Age discrimination; wrongful discharge; various tort claims; defense verdict.
Klontz v. Puget Sound Power & Light Company
Superior Court of Washington, Kitsap County, Washington State Court of Appeals
Defamation and breach of implied contract claim by discharged employee, summary judgment affirmed on appeal. 951 P.2d 280 (Wash. Ct. App. 1998)
Mace v. Alaska Airlines
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Disability/AIDS discrimination, defense judgment.
McIntyre v. VICI Gig Harbor Group
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Age discrimination; wrongful discharge; various tort claims; partial summary judgment followed by defense verdict.
Nguyen v. Matsushita Avionics Systems Corporation
King County Superior Court (Washington), Washington State Court of Appeals
Pregnancy discrimination and various tort claims; summary judgment affirmed on appeal. 131 Wash. App. 1064 (2006)
Ray v. Univar
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Age discrimination claim, defense verdict.