Charles N. Eberhardt
With more than 35 years of experience, Char advises clients in all aspects of labor and employment law.
Char Eberhardt represents clients in employment class and collective action litigation, TRO and injunction litigation, complex labor arbitrations, unfair labor practice proceedings, and collective bargaining. Char also advises on wage-and-hour law compliance, reductions in force, executive employment and noncompetition agreements, mergers and acquisitions, employee privacy, subcontracting and work movement, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission compliance.
Education & Credentials
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, Note Editor, Cornell Law Review, 1987
- The Evergreen State College, B.A., Political Economy and Environmental Studies, 1982
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
- State Supreme Court of 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
Clerkships
- Hon. Albert W. Coffrin, U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont
Professional Recognition
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Education Law; Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor & Employment, 2009-2025
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America: Education Law, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2023, 2025
Impact
Professional Leadership
- American Bar Association, Labor Law Section
- King County Bar Association, Labor Law Section
- Washington Council of School Attorneys
- Federal Bar Association, Pro Bono Screening Panel
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Class and Collective Action
Ginsburg, et al. v. Comcast
Defense of putative wage and hour class action involving alleged class of call center employees. Class certification denied.
Lucke, et al. v. Comcast
Defense of putative wage and hour class action involving alleged class of service technician employees. No motion for class certification filed.
Gerard v. Les Schwab Tire Centers, Inc.
Defense of putative class claims alleging violations of California state wage and hour laws.
Rogers v. Les Schwab Tire Centers, Inc.
A wage and hour case involving alleged classification of assistant managers filed in state court in California.
EEOC v. Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc. and Strange & Morris v. Les Schwab Tire Centers Inc.
Defense of consolidated EEOC pattern and practice claims and private putative class action discrimination claims brought against Les Schwab Tire Centers.
Calender v. The Boeing Company
Defense of class race discrimination claims brought in Chicago federal court by a purported nationwide class comprised of employees of Boeing's merger partners, McDonnell Douglas and Rockwell Corporation.
Loosier v. The Boeing Company, et al.
Defended Boeing in a wage-and-hour class action.
Schultz, et al. v. Snocom/Medic 7
FLSA collective action regarding paramedic overtime.
Adair, et al. v. City Of Kirkland
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective action regarding law enforcement overtime.
George v. United Parcel Service Inc.
Defense of class action state law wage-and-hour claim regarding exempt status of on-car supervisors under FLSA.
Labor & Employment Litigation
Houston v. Seattle School District
Defense of racial discrimination claims. Three week jury trial, defense verdict.
Nelson v. General Motors Corp.
Defense of race discrimination jury trial.
Grover v. Microsoft
Gender discrimination claim.
Sauter v. Mount Vernon School District
Successful defense of school district following allegations by teacher of wrongful termination. 58 Wn. App. 121, 791 P.2d 549 (Wash. Ct. App. 1990)
Dressel v. City of Everett
Judicial review of sick leave dispute.
IAFF Local 46 v. City of Everett
Recovery of attorneys’ fees in labor arbitration.
Association of Flight Attendants v. Alaska Airlines Inc.
Represented air carrier in TRO and preliminary injunction action arising from "CHAOS" strike under the Railway Labor Act.
Airlines for America v. Port of Seattle, et al.
Represented trade group for major American air carriers in challenge to wage ordinance adopted by the Port of Seattle, imposing minimum wage, training, and other requirements. Case involves challenge based on labor preemption, Airline Deregulation Act (ADA), and state statutory authority issues.
Bartos v. IAM, et al.
Federal court lawsuit regarding alleged retaliation for not participating in a strike.
Doe v. The Boeing Company
Bench trial concerning employee's claim that company failed to reasonably accommodate his disability; defense verdict; affirmed by Washington Supreme Court. 121 Wn. 2d 8, 846 P.2d 531 (Wash. 1993)
AMPA v. The Boeing Company
Lawsuit to compel expedited arbitration.
IAFF v. City Of Everett
Recovery of attorneys' fees in labor arbitration.
IAM V. The Boeing Company
Defended Boeing in a federal court lawsuit to enjoin subcontracting.
Keener v. OKS
Preliminary injunction to enforce non-compete agreement.
Robert Half International Inc. v. Senner, et al.
Preliminary injunction action to enforce non-compete agreement.