Emily A. Bushaw Partner

Known for resolving issues efficiently, Emily regularly wins summary judgment motions to help clients avoid lengthy and costly trials.

Emily Bushaw advocates for clients in employment litigation, arbitration, and counseling. She manages defense cases related to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour class actions, as well as whistleblower, trade secret, and noncompetition disputes.

Emily emphasizes preventive strategies in her practice, advising employers on how to avoid litigation. She provides guidance on human resources issues, discipline and discharge, employee handbooks and policies, wage-and-hour law, employee classification issues, and arbitration and separation agreements. In particular, she counsels employers on how to comply with federal and state statutes, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, National Labor Relations Act, Washington Law Against Discrimination, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

Emily conducts workplace investigations and assists in the resolution of prelitigation harassment, discrimination, and retaliation charges before state and federal agencies such as the Washington State Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Immigrant & Employee Rights Section. She handles confidential internal investigations involving allegations of misconduct, including race, gender, and age discrimination; sexual harassment or assault; and immigration/citizenship status or national origin discrimination. Emily works as an impartial investigator while counseling businesses on key litigation defense and go-forward strategies. She also counsels corporate boards, legal departments, and human resources professionals through the investigation process, from initial allegation through its conclusion.

Maintaining an active pro bono practice, Emily helps clients obtain lawful immigration status in the United States and represents clients before the Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board.