Amy Kangas Alexander
Shareholder | Seattle
Areas of Practice
Amy is an employment advisor, litigator, and investigator. She offers practical solutions to companies and individuals to avoid and resolve their most challenging workplace issues.
Advocacy Overview:
Amy represents companies through all employment stages. Whatever the concern, Amy does more than spot problems. She offers options-based advice tailored to an employer’s priorities.
Amy’s practice includes advising employers on the full spectrum of employment and HR issues that include discrimination, harassment and retaliation, disability accommodations, workplace policies and handbook development, leaves of absence, hiring and firing, wage and hour compliance, and, drafting and enforcing employment agreements and restrictive covenants. In addition to supporting companies, Amy helps individuals navigate workplace transitions, including severance agreements, non-solicitation, non-competition, and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans (SERPs). She also works with individuals facing unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in the workplace.
When disputes arise, Amy represents employers and employees in litigation. Whether at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), arbitration, state superior court, or federal district court, Amy’s creative and vigorous advocacy is always focused on the best outcomes for her clients.
Workplace Investigations:
Drawing on her experience representing both employees and employers, Amy has investigated numerous complaints in both public and private workplaces. She is a certificate holder with the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI-CH) and an approved panelist for the Washington State Risk Management Pool (WSRMP) investigator panel.
Prior to joining the firm, Amy worked at the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I as a staff attorney and law clerk to the Hon. Michael S. Spearman. Before her court service, she was a Medical-Legal Partnership attorney with the Northwest Justice Project where she partnered with medical institutions to provide legal services to immigrants and individuals with autism or a mental illness.
Admissions
- Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, J.D. (2011)
- Wesleyan University, B.A., Honors in History and Latin American Studies (2007)
Recognition & Honors
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2023- 2024) - Labor and Employment Law – Employee; Labor and Employment Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
Publications & Presentations
- “2023 Federal and State Update,” Stokes Lawrence Annual Employment Update Seminar (November 2023)
- “What to do before you hire or fire your first employee,” SCORE Greater Seattle Chapter (September 2023)
- "Best Practices for Multi-State Employers,” Stokes Lawrence Annual Employment Update Seminar (November 2022)
- “Understanding Your Employment Agreement,” presenter, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (November 2022)
- “Washington Employment Agreements - Fact or Fiction?” presenter, Stokes Lawrence Presents Webinar Series (April 2022)
- “Drafting Must-Have Policies for Today’s Handbooks,” presenter, NBI Employment Law: 2020 Comprehensive Guide (October 2020)
- “Utilizing Alternative Dispute Resolution Tactics in Employment Matters,” presenter, NBI Employment Law: 2020 Comprehensive Guide (October 2020)
- "Yes, You Can Require Your Employees to Get Vaccinated . . . and Other Answers About COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace," co-author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (December 2020)
- "What Employers Need to Know About the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package, HR 133," co-author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (December 2020)
- "Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, 2020 Edition," presenter, 2020 Employment Law Update (November 2020)
- "Employers: Apply By September 30, 2020 for Unemployment Tax Relief," co-author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (September 2020)
- “Experience Ratings and COVID-19: Take Action to Keep Your Unemployment Premiums Down,” author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (May 2020)
- “Protect Your Business and Employees From Massive Unemployment Fraud in Washington State,” co-author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (May 2020)
- “Phasing Back to Work: Unemployment Benefits and Return-to-the-Workplace Issues,” co-author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (May 2020)
- “COVID-19 and Unemployment Insurance: What's New in Washington,” author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (April 2020)
- “Chief Justice Approves Remote Depositions Upon Request by Stokes Lawrence Client, Washington Court Reporters Association,” author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (April 2020)
- "New in 2020: Paid Leave, Non-Competes, Rising Minimum Wage, and More Overtime Eligibility," author, blog post, StokesLaw Briefs (December 2019)
- "Non-Competes and Other Restrictive Covenants: What's Enforceable After January 1, 2020?" co-presenter, 2019 Employment Law Update for Washington Employers (November 2019)
Professional & Community Activities
- Washington Women Lawyers Judicial Evaluation Committee
- Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference Planning Committee
- King County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section
- Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle
