Aviva Kamm
Shareholder | Seattle
Areas of Practice
Aviva represents employees and employers in workplace disputes, counsels companies on employment law compliance and conducts independent workplace investigations.
Employment
In her Employment practice, Aviva works with clients facing issues involving discrimination, wrongful termination, wage/hour issues, and noncompete and nonsolicitation provisions. She also advises employers on a broad range of day-to-day and strategic human resources issues, including worker classification, FMLA administration, disability accommodation, discipline and I-9 (employment eligibility) compliance. She investigates discrimination and harassment complaints, conducts employee trainings, and drafts handbooks and policies. Her work with individuals includes negotiating executive employment contracts and severance agreements.
Workplace Investigations
Aviva has investigated workplace complaints for both public and private entities, as well as allegations against executive-level company leaders. She works directly with the employer or with outside counsel to provide prompt, thorough and confidential investigations of employee complaints or suspected misconduct. In addition, she has experience working with interpreters to conduct interviews in foreign languages.
Because of her experience representing both employees and employers in her practice, Aviva has the unique perspective of viewing issues from both sides, which provides the neutrality needed for making the investigation the most productive for everyone involved.
Admissions
- Washington, 2005
- U.S. District Courts for the Western (2007) and Eastern (2008) Districts of Washington
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, J.D. (2005)
- McGill University, B.A., International Development Studies (2001)
Recognition & Honors
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers (2011 - 2012)
- Top 50 Women Lawyers, Washington Super Lawyers (2016 - 2018)
- Washington Super Lawyers (2013 - 2018)
- The Best Lawyers in America in Labor Law (2019)
Experience
- Law Clerk to the Hon. Anne Ellington of the Washington State Court of Appeals (2005 to 2007)
- Legal Extern for the Hon. Marsha Pechman of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington (2003)
- Legal Extern, EEOC ADR Program (Summer 2002)
Representative Work
- Obtained pre-summary judgment voluntary withdrawal of former employee's sexual harassment claim against nationwide technology retailer and service provider.
- Represented start-up company in defeating motion for preliminary injunction for alleged violation of non-compete agreement.
- Serves as employment counsel to nationwide construction industry manufacturer and distributor.
- Investigated allegations of age discrimination, gender discrimination and bullying claims by two employees against one another at a municipal employer.
- Investigated gender discrimination and bullying claims by an executive-level manager at a high-profile nonprofit.
- Created comprehensive policies for seasonal agricultural workers at multiple Eastern Washington fruit growers.
Publications & Presentations
Aviva is frequently invited to speak to peers and human resources professionals on a variety of topics. She presents an annual summary of developments in federal and appellate employment law decisions for the King County Bar Association. She also frequently speaks on workplace investigations and employment law issues in the agriculture industry, as well as on employment law responsibilities for nonprofit leadership and boards. Below is a select listing of Aviva's recent publications and presentations.
- "The Year in Review: Significant Federal Decisions in 2017 & 2018," presenter, King County Bar Association Employment Law Institute (October 2018)
- "Wage and Benefit Issues," presenter, Human Resource Law From A to Z, National Business Institute CLE (October 2018)
- "Coming to a Paycheck Near You in 2019: Paid Sick Leave in Washington," moderator, mini-CLE hosted by the WSBA Labor and Employment Law Section (June 2018)
- "Washington Paid Sick Leave Law & Other Hot Topics - Your Questions Answered," moderator, 2017 Employment Law Update for Washington Employers (October 2017)
- "Federal Employment Law Update," presenter, 2017 Employment Law Update for Washington Employers (October 2017)
- "The Year in Review: Federal and State Appellate Decisions and Legislation in Employment Practice," co-presenter with Kelby Fletcher, Employment Law Institute CLE, King County Bar Association (March 2017)
- "The Bermuda Triangle: Workers’ Compensation, ADA and FMLA," presenter, Stokes Lawrence Employment Law Institute (November 2016)
- "Federal Case Law Update," presenter, Stokes Lawrence Employment Law Institute (November 2016)
- "DOL Ruling Requires Home Care Employers to Pay Overtime," author, blog post, Stokes Law Briefs (June 2016)
- "Defend Trade Secrets Act Expands Remedies for Protecting Rights, Comes With New Requirements for Employee Contracts," co-author with Shannon Jost, blog post Stokes Law Briefs (May 2016)
- "Human Resources 101: Three-Part Series for Nonprofit Executives and Board Members," author, Washington Women's Foundation (February - April 2016)
- "8 Tips for Effective Workplace Investigations," author, blog post, Stokes Law Briefs (April 2016)
- "Everything I Needed to Know I Learned at WWIT: Employment Law Topics for Executives," presenter, Washington Women in Tax (April 20, 2016)
- "Will Your Tipping Policy Land You in Court?" co-author with Krista Nelson, blog post, Stokes Law Briefs (March 2016)
- "FMLA Update," presenter, Stokes Lawrence Employment Law Institute (December 2015)
- "Internal Investigations - Who, What, When Where and Why," co-presenter with Laura Sell, Stokes Lawrence Employment Law Institute (December 2015)
- "Not Your Grandpa's Farm: Personnel Issues in Agriculture in 2015," presenter, Whatcom County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting (October 27, 2015)
- "What Are You Growing Besides Fruit? Managing with a culture of compliance in the agricultural industry," co-presenter with Sarah Wixson, Washington Growers League, Bellingham (October 27, 2015), Pasco (November 16, 2015), Wenatchee (December 10, 2015), Yakima (December 11, 2015)
- "The Year in Review: Federal and State Appellate Decisions and Legislation in Employment Practice," co-presenter with Kelby Fletcher, Employment Law Institute CLE, King County Bar Association (September 2015)
- "Should you pay for travel time?" author, article in Good Fruit Grower magazine (September 1, 2015)
- "Who Reads This Stuff Anyway? A Lawyer’s-Eye View of Employee Handbooks," presenter, 18th Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar, The Seminar Group (August 20, 2015)
- "The Right to Equal Enjoyment of the Web," co-author with Krista Nelson, KCBA Bar Bulletin (February 2015)
- "Healthcare Reform: Compliance Topics for Agricultural Employers," presenter, Center for Latino Farmers' 4th Annual Small Farms Conference (February 2015)
- "Avoiding Personal Liability: Advice for Owners and Managers of Privately Held Businesses," co-presenter with Brad Axel, Sean Griffee and Shannon Jost, Stokes Law Brief (October 2014)
- "If It Walks Like a Duck...: Independent Contractor Classification Risk Avoidance," co-presenter with Joan Hemphill, Stokes Lawrence Employment Law Institute CLE (August 2014)
Professional & Community Activities
- Washington State Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section, Executive Committee member (2017 - present)
- King County Bar Association Labor & Employment Law Section, Treasurer & Trustee (2016 - present)
- Member, William L. Dwyer American Inn of Court, formerly served on the Inn's Executive Committee
- Member, Association of Workplace Investigators
- Volunteer, Friends of the Seattle Public Library
- Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference Planning Committee
