Attorneys/Staff
Michael Church| Principal
Assistant: Taryn White
(509) 326-4800
Education
- Gonzaga University School of Law (J.D., 1994)
- Oregon State University (B.S., 1990)
Honors and Awards
- AV Preeminent, Martindale.com (May 2013)
- Selected to Super Lawyers (2014-2015)
- 10.0 Superb Rating, Avvo.com (December 2012 through current)
- Business Person of the Year -- Making Spokane Better/The Salvation Army (2014)
- Silver Service Award (Life Time Service Award -- NECCA) (2015)
- The Fred K. Jones Memorial Award (2015 Rotarian of the Year)
- Paul Harris Fellow
- Rotary District 5080 Club Builder Outstanding Rotarian (2018)
- Skils'kin Challenge Coin --Recognizing our firm's corporate relationship in working to employ individuals with disabilities (2024)
Professional Memberships
- Washington State Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Spokane County Bar Association
Areas of Emphasis
Michael focuses his practice on employment litigation and advice. Michael's experience includes representing clients in class and collective action litigation, as well as other complex and multiparty disputes before state and federal courts and in arbitration. Michael's experience includes:
- Noncompetes and trade secrets
- Breach of contract
- Discrimination and retaliation
- Workplace investigations
- Title VII
- Class actions
- Reductions in force
- Employment termination
- Employee discipline
- Wage and hour
- Healthcare
- Commercial and business litigation
- Federal and state appeals
Michael counsels and represents clients in both enforcing and defending noncompetition, nonsolicitation, trade secret, and related matters, as well as assists clients in drafting and revising restrictive covenants to stay current with a constantly evolving legal landscape. In litigation, Michael regularly represents clients in state and federal courts and arbitration.
In addition to litigation, Michael helps his clients comply with employment laws by counseling employers on employment agreements, employee classification and hiring, discipline, and termination. Additionally, he helps employers prepare contracts, separation agreements, and general employee policies.
Background
Michael began his law career with Stamper Rubens, P.S. in 1995. Michael has extensive experience representing employers in all aspects of employment law with a focus on complex and high-stakes litigation. Michael has particular skill in wage and hour class/collective actions, workplace investigations, unfair competition claims, trade secrets, as well as class actions relating to other employment-related matters. Michael is admitted to practice before all Washington State Courts, the U.S. District Courts for Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Michael is very active in the Spokane community and serves as General Counsel for the Spokane Home Builders Association, General Counsel for Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest, Past President of Spokane Rotary Club #21 (current member, chair of the President's Advisory Council, and chair of the Human Resources Committee). Michael also serves on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest, and he is a Board Member and Past President of the Inland Northwest Society of Human Resource Managers (INSHRM). Michael currently serves as the Legislative Affairs Director for Washington State SHRM.