Elizabeth Van Moppes
Counselor-at-Law and President
evanmoppes@workplacecounselor.com

For over a decade, Ms. Van Moppes’s practice has focused on workplace law advice and litigation, including the defense of sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination lawsuits.  A substantial portion of her practice is devoted to providing general advice and training to employers on workplace law topics such as harassment, discrimination, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as acting as an independent workplace investigator.  She has handled both federal and state cases in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah.  Ms. Van Moppes is a frequent speaker and moderator for the Council on Education in Management, Law Seminars International, and the Lorman Education Series.  She is a recurrent member of the Planning Committee for the annual Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference.  She has also presented for the Society for Human Resource Management and its various local chapters, as well as the Washington State Bar Association.

Ms. Van Moppes is admitted to practice in the state courts of Washington, the United States District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  Prior to opening her own firm, Ms. Van Moppes worked two years for the Washington State Attorney General’s office in the Labor and Personnel Division and a total of eight years at the Seattle offices of two nationally renowned employment law firms.  Ms. Van Moppes is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law, Tacoma, and earned a bachelor of arts at Scripps College, in International Relations.  She is also an alumna of University Preparatory Academy in Seattle.

For additional information on Ms. Van Moppes and further recommendations and testimonials, please go to http://www.linkedin.com/in/vanmoppes to see her LinkedIn profile.

Presentations

• Co-Panelist, Legal Rights for Working Mothers, MAMAS: Mother Attorneys Mentoring Associates of Seattle, 2009.

• Moderator, Internal Investigations, Finding the Facts & Avoiding the Landmines, Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference, 2009.

• Speaker, Drug Testing in the Workplace, Lorman Education Series, 2008.

• Speaker, Is Your Workplace Investigation Fair Game?, National Human Resource Management Association Conference, 2007.

• Speaker, FMLA Update, Council on Education in Management, 2007.

• Moderator and Speaker, Strategies to Solve Your Most Complex FMLA Challenges, Council on Education in Management, 2007.

• Speaker, The Bermuda Triangle: FMLA, ADA and Intermittent Leave, Society for Human Resource Management South King County Chapter, 2006.

• Speaker, Hiring the Competition, Society for Human Resource Management Employment Law & Legislative Conference, 2006.

• Speaker, Electronic Records and Evidence, IP, Technology & Trade Secrets in Employment Law, Law Seminars International, 2005.

• Speaker, Privacy Pot Holes When Investigating Employee Conduct, Society for Human Resource Management Employment Law & Legislative Conference, 2005.

• Co-Speaker, Metrics in Human Resources, Society for Human Resource Management Employment Law & Legislative Conference, 2005.

• Speaker, Family Medical Leave Act Update, Council on Education in Management, 2004.

• Speaker, What Now! Understanding the Proposed Changes to the FLSA and the Newest Wage of Wage and Hour Class Actions, Jackson Lewis 2nd Annual Women’s Employment Law Conference, 2003.

• Moderator, Council on Education in Management Generalists, Certificate in Human Resource Management Seminar, 2003.

• Speaker, Untangling the FMLA, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation Overlap, Council on Education in Management, 2003.

• Speaker, Reducing, Restructuring, and Reorganizing Your Workforce While Minimizing the Risk of Litigation, Jackson Lewis Women’s Corporate Counsel Conference, 2002.

• Speaker, Managing Leaves of Absence, 8th Annual WSBA Employment Law Institute, 2001.


Legal Writings

• Author, Employer Defenses, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association Deskbook, June 2009.

• Co-Author, Washington Law Amended to Add Sexual Orientation to Prohibited Categories of Discrimination, Society for Human Resource Management OnLine Magazine, February 2006.

• Co-Author, Wage and Hour Laws, Dorsey 2005 Employment Law Guide, A Practical Handbook for Washington Employers, 2005.

• Author, Employment and Labor Law Chapter, Doing Business in Washington, Washington State Bar Association, International Practice Section, 2001.

Testimonials

SUBJECT:                 Congratulations and “Job Well Done”

Beth,

I know that I have personally thanked you over the years for your support and guidance to my Company, but I felt compelled to write you a note which further reinforces the exceptional work done as a legal consultant/advisor and representative of EJT, Inc and its subordinating LLC’s.

First and foremost was your ability to conduct thorough reviews and research which then led to effective, organized and strategic interviews of people and agencies.  I was always impressed and 100% satisfied with this tedious process of yours, for I knew it would lead to a series of well thought-out recommendations and courses of actions.  Best case and worst case scenarios were always presented with financial, image, and short or long term consequences. Particularly noteworthy, during these candid dialogues, was your desire to always provide proactive solutions to avoid future reoccurrences of problems. You became a Coach and Mentor to myself and several of my key Directors and this in turn led us to willingly alter and revise systems and ideology which had existed within our Company for many years. 

I must also commend you for your interpersonal communication skills.  Specifically, your ability to build rapport and show respect to all you came in contact with – from the entry level technician through mid-management to me and my executive team.  I heard on many occasions that you were regarded as a member of the team, not just an outside consultant or professional advisor.  This, in itself, is one trait which most definitely sets you apart from others in your trade. 

I am thrilled and excited for you to take on your own law practice for I know that you will succeed.  You are a driven, knowledgeable professional with sound ethics and morals.  These traits and skills, coupled with your ability to build comfortable relationships with your clients will ultimately keep you practicing law for many, many years. 

I look forward to seeing you in the future and please do not hesitate using me as a reference.  Although I have taken on a new position as CEO, I do envision continued interface with you, particularly as it pertains to my continued need for “Coaching” from time to time.

Best of luck to you.

RJ
Rich Jennings
Chief Executive Officer, EJT, Inc.