Lucinda J. Luke joined Carney Badley Spellman in 2013. She is a member of the board of directors.  Her law practice focuses on advising employers on a broad range of day-to-day and strategic human resources issues, and employees on navigating workplace issues. She has 20+ years of experience representing employers and employees giving her a unique perspective that helps reach the best possible outcomes for her clients.  Ms. Luke represents clients in negotiations, mediation, arbitration, state and federal court, and before various administrative agencies including the Department of Labor and Industries, the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Employment Security Department.

Employment Law Counseling

Ms. Luke counsels clients in all phases of employment relations. Matters include employment contracts, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, wage and hour compliance issues, employment counseling for start-ups, employment policies and handbooks, workplace investigations, and employment litigation. She assists clients with workforce planning, recruitment, hiring, reduction-in-force, and termination processes. She also advises clients on start-up and executive compensation matters that include benefits such as restricted stock or stock options and incentives or bonuses based upon objectives set for operating performance and vesting.

Employment Litigation and Appeals

Ms. Luke and other Carney attorneys are experienced employment litigators. Although they strive to reduce the risk of litigation through strategic and pro-active counseling, management training, and pre-litigation dispute resolution, they recognize that sometimes clients face litigation for many reasons, some of which are beyond their control. State and federal employment laws and regulations are continually changing and are increasingly complex. They have experience in multiple jurisdictions and have handled complex multi-party and class action litigation.

We also have in-depth experience with employment law appeals. Our appellate advocacy group has over eighty years of combined experience arguing appeals in the state and federal appeals courts. They have won ground-breaking victories in the Washington Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. They are familiar with the judges, the internal procedures, and the personalities of these courts. They have applied this in-depth experience earned in the Pacific Northwest to win victories for clients in state and federal courts from Alaska to Florida, and from California to New York.