Brendan Monahan has more than 30 years of experience counseling and representing clients in Eastern Washington. He advises on all aspects of agricultural employment, including recruitment, immigration compliance, onboarding, health and safety, wages and benefits, and discipline and termination. His clients include some of the world’s largest producers of apples, cherries, pears, hops, and blueberries, for whom he also provides policy development and strategic planning.
Employment Litigation
Brendan has represented clients in a wide range of employment disputes, including unemployment claims, sexual harassment and assault allegations, and complex class action employment cases involving substantial financial exposure. He has argued employment matters of first impression before the Washington State Court of Appeals (Div. III), the Washington Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has also tried employment discrimination cases in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, as well as in Yakima, Kittitas, and Klickitat counties.
His litigation work also extends to contested proceedings involving wages, benefits, and health and safety before Washington’s Employment Security Department, Department of Labor and Industries, and Department of Agriculture. In addition, he has represented clients in multiple matters before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), including arbitrations and elections. Brendan also counsels on disputes involving wrongful death, severe crop damage, and corporate ownership and control.
Mediation and Arbitration
Brendan maintains an active mediation and arbitration practice, where he helps parties resolve disputes promptly and cost-effectively. Drawing on his extensive litigation background, he provides clear risk assessments and helps parties understand how judges or juries may perceive their case.
As a mediator, Brendan’s approach is grounded in efficiency and balance; he helps each party identify the most direct and least disruptive path to resolution while facilitating a comprehensive and nuanced examination of the legal and factual issues at stake. As an arbitrator, he emphasizes fairness, efficiency, and practical solutions that allow disputes to reach a final resolution with minimal disruption.
