Offering remote consultations through video or voice from the comfort of your home, just call!
From your first contact, you will reach me personally--not an associate, paralegal or legal assistant. You will have direct access throughout the representation relationship because I am committed to ensuring that you receive prompt, clear, and effective representation.
Practice areas
30 years, 75 cases
30 years, 200 cases
30 years, 250 cases
30 years, 100 cases
Languages spoken
English
Vanguard Law
PO Box 939
Poulsbo, WA, 98370
9125 - 15th Place South
Seattle, WA, 98108
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
OR | Inactive | 1991 | 06/12/2022 |
WA | Active | 1990 | 05/07/2022 |
Legal answers | 307 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Appointment to Public Employment Relations Commission | Governor Jay Inslee | 2018 |
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar | Columbia Law School | 1989 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Senior Labor Relations Counsel | Air Line Pilots Association | 2016 - 2017 |
Managing Attorney | Vanguard Law | 2015 - 2017 |
Managing Partner | Swedlow Thal, PLLC | 2012 - 2015 |
General Counsel | Teamsters Local Union No. 117 | 1996 - 2016 |
Attorney | Schwerin Campbell Barnard | 1993 - 1996 |
Associate | Heller Ehrman | 1990 - 1993 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Public Employment Relations Commission | Commissioner | 2018 - 2019 |
Washington State Bar Association | Chair, Labor and Employment Section | 2005 - 2005 |
Washington State Bar Asssociation | Executive Committee, Labor and Employment Section | 2003 - 2005 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Oxford Journal of Legal Studies | The Inequality of Bargaining Doctrine | 1986 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Oxford University | MA - Masters | 1994 |
Columbia University School of Law | J.D. | 1990 |
Oxford University | BA - Bachelor of Arts | 1986 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Washington Labor and Employment Relations Association Conference | Labor and Employment Law Meets Contract (CBA) | 2018 |
Washington Labor and Employment Relations Association Conference | Advanced Contract Negotiations | 2017 |
Washington Labor and Employment Relations Association Conference | Grievance, Gripe or Unfair Labor Practice | 2016 |
Washington Labor and Employment Relations Association Conference | Advanced Collective Bargaining | 2015 |
Teamsters Local 959 Steward Seminar | Contract Negotiations and Enforcement | 2015 |
Washington Labor and Employment Relations Association Conference | Contract Negotiations: Layers of Players | 2013 |
Training Academy | Union Representation | 2012 |
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section | Information Technology and Employee Rights | 2011 |
LERA Conference | Negotiation Ethics | 2010 |
Washington Labor and Employment Relations | Advanced Contract Interpretation | 2009 |
Teamsters Leadership Academy | Advanced Arbitration | 2009 |
Warehouse Division Conference | Bargaining and Costing Contracts | 2008 |
LERA Conference | Hard Bargaining and Bad Faith | 2007 |
Washington LERA | Negotiating Economics | 2006 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Race Discrimination | Significant Settlement |
Employment Discrimination | Significant Settlement |
Teamsters Local 117 v State of Washington | Victory |
Teamsters Local 117 v. Department of Corrections | Victory |
Teamsters Local 117 v Port of Seattle | Victory |
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Kevin Smith, Employment and labor Attorney on Feb 24, 2022
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I fully endorse Spencer. He has proven himself to be extremely knowledgeable and effective counsel. He is also very responsive to communications being sure to inform you of major developments every step of the way. Spencer will be my first contact for possible referrals of plaintiff side employment related matters.
Peter Altman, Employment and labor Attorney on May 16, 2019
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer. I've worked with Spencer at several different public agencies. He is a zealous advocate for his clients, but also fair and reasonable. If you're looking for legal counsel on labor & employment matters, look no further.
Kevin Smith, Employment and labor Attorney on Feb 24, 2022
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I fully endorse Spencer. He has proven himself to be extremely knowledgeable and effective counsel. He is also very responsive to communications being sure to inform you of major developments every step of the way. Spencer will be my first contact for possible referrals of plaintiff side employment related matters.
Peter Altman, Employment and labor Attorney on May 16, 2019
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
I endorse this lawyer. I've worked with Spencer at several different public agencies. He is a zealous advocate for his clients, but also fair and reasonable. If you're looking for legal counsel on labor & employment matters, look no further.
Lauren Berkowitz, Personal injury Attorney on May 16, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Without reservation, I endorse Spencer. He is straightforward, honest, and easy to work with both as a lawyer and as a client of his. He has a talent for getting insurance companies to respond and negotiate in PI cases, and his wealth of knowledge in labor cases is formidable.
Robert Lavitt, Employment and labor Attorney on May 15, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Spencer is an excellent, creative and highly experienced labor and employment attorney.
Jon Zimmerman, Employment and labor Attorney on May 15, 2019
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Spencer is one of the best (if not the best) employment attorneys in the Seattle area. He is like a ninja, only faster and smarter. Employers respect him and some employers fear him because they know he will go to the mat for workers. Spencer will use legal jiu jitsu on employers, stunning them into submission and creating victory for Spencer’s smart, hard-working clients. Wise workers have Spencer in their corner.
James Smith, Employment and labor Attorney on Feb 2, 2013
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
Spencer is a brilliant attorney. I endorse him.
Mark Busto, Employment and labor Attorney on Jan 6, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have worked with Spencer on Bar-related matters and cases. He is smart, committed and great fun to work with. I would trust him implicitly to represent me.
Dmitri Iglitzin, Employment and labor Attorney on Jan 6, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have known Spencer and his work for almost 20 years. I can unreservedly recommend him for his professionalism, expertise, honesty and work ethic. Any worker who is in need of legal services would be well-advised to give Spencer a call.
Daniel Swedlow, Employment and labor Attorney on Jan 6, 2013
Relationship: Co-worker
Avvo will only let me endorse Spencer Thal in one category which is unfortunate because in addition to being a fantastic labor and employment lawyer, he is also a highly capable personal injury attorney. Spencer has a razor sharp mind and consistently achieves outstanding results for his clients. I am proud to call Spencer a top notch lawyer, a partner and a friend.
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