Overview

Daniel L. Thieme is experienced in all areas of employment relations law. He has particular expertise in the areas of wage and hour law – including all aspects of employee compensation, business sales and restructuring, executive compensation, discrimination law, and employee intellectual property issues.

With respect to wage and hour and compensation law, Dan’s experience includes:

  • Wage and hour class action defense
  • Overtime and minimum wage compliance
  • Commission plans, bonus plans, and all other forms of employee incentive compensation
  • Arbitration programs with class action waivers

With respect to business sales and restructuring, Dan’s experience includes:

  • Reductions-in-force planning
  • Adverse impact analysis
  • Release of claims drafting and enforceability
  • Older Workers Benefit Protection Act compliance
  • Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) compliance

With respect to executive compensation, Dan’s experience includes negotiating executive employment contracts for both companies and executives and structuring executive incentive compensation plans.

With respect to discrimination law, Dan’s experience includes:

  • Defense of discrimination, harassment and disability accommodation litigation
  • Disability accommodation advice
  • Pre-termination advice
  • Leave rights

With respect to trade secrets and non-competition agreements, Dan’s experience includes:

  • Prosecution and defense of non-competition and trade secrets litigation
  • Intellectual property protection advice
  • Drafting non-competition and nondisclosure agreements

Dan chairs the Incentive Compensation subgroup of the Wage and Hour Practice Group, and the WARN Act subgroup of the Business Restructuring Practice Group.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Labor and Employment / Litigation Sections

American Bar Association

Member

Labor and Employment / Litigation Sections

Washington Bar Association

Member

Labor Law Section

King County Bar Association

Member

Employment Law Advisory Committee

Association of Washington Business

Former Member

Gender and Justice Commission

Washington Supreme Court

Recognition

Named, Lawyer of the Year

Labor Law - Management

The Best Lawyers in America®

2023

Named, Lawyer of the Year

Litigation - Labor and Employment, Seattle

The Best Lawyers in America®

2022

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2013-2025

Named, Super Lawyer

Washington Law and Politics

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Ranked, Labor & Employment

Chambers USA

2022-2024

News, Analysis & Press

Sequester delay resurfaces WARN standoff

Politico Pro

January 4, 2013

Books & Book Chapters

  • Wage and Hour Laws, A State-by-State Survey, Washington State Chapter, American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law, BNA, 2007-2014

Speaking Engagements

Timely Talk About Wage and Hour Law: 'Tis the Season for Updating Incentive Plans

December 11, 2018

Commission Plans

Littler Executive Employer, Phoenix, AZ

May 4, 2018

Timely Talk About Wage and Hour Law: Sales-Based Incentives (aka Commissions)

October 12, 2017

DOL's Proposed Changes to the White Collar Regulations: What Should Employers Do Now?

Seattle, WA

February 25, 2016

What Employers Can do to Secure Effective Releases, Separation Agreements, and Settlement Agreements Despite the EEOC and NLRB’s Recent Enforcement Agendas

December 11, 2014

Wage & Hour Boot Camp

Seattle, WA

April 9, 2013

Wage & Hour Boot Camp

Seattle, WA

March 20, 2013

Seattle Paid Sick Time and Paid Safe Time Ordinance

Seattle, WA

June 26, 2012

2012 Wage & Hour Boot Camp – A Guide to Combating Wage & Hour Liability

Seattle, WA

March 20, 2012

Employment Law Update

February 1, 2012

Seattle Paid Sick Time and Paid Safe Time Ordinance

December 6, 2011

Advanced HR Workshop: 10 Thorny Employment Law Challenges You Must Know How to Handle

October 6, 2011

The New DOL Regulations Take Effect May 5, 2011 - Are You Ready?

May 4, 2011

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 1982cum laude
  • B.A., Whitworth College, 1979summa cum laude

Bar Admission

Washington

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • US District Court: Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington