Overview

Chris Wall is a trial lawyer who has won jury verdicts in state and federal courts and has prevailed in arbitration and administrative proceedings. He is well-versed in traditional labor, trade secret and non-compete litigation, and claims of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Chris strategically defends employers in putative class actions, especially those involving wage and hour claims.  He has obtained denials of class certification in state and federal courts and summary judgment on putative class claims.  Chris also helps businesses prepare and enforce arbitration agreements to avoid class litigation. He represents employers from various industry sectors, including health care, agribusiness, manufacturing, and transportation.

Employment Advice and Counsel  

Chris provides strategic advice on issues arising under the federal Equal Pay Act, Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, and other state pay equity laws. Chris has developed a Pay Equity Toolkit to help businesses achieve pay equity and avoid potential liability.  Chris also helps businesses navigate issues arising under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other state and federal employment laws. 

Environmental Litigation

Chris litigates a broad range of environmental matters.  He has won summary judgment on Model Toxics Control Act claims in state court, and he has successfully defended environmental claims before the Pollution Control Hearings Board, among other agencies. 

Trucking Regulatory

Chris helps businesses navigate the complex regulatory requirements of the trucking industry. He assists businesses in due diligence, compliance and trucking litigation. 

Education

University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2012; Chief Articles Editor; Washington Journal of Environmental Law & Policy

Santa Clara University, B.A. & B.S.; summa cum laude; Valedictorian

Admissions

Washington

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Western District of Washington

Eastern District of Washington

Languages

  • German
  • Nepali

Experience

Class Action Defense

  • Obtained denial of class certification for regional healthcare client in rest and meal break litigation in Pierce County Superior Court.
  • Obtained denial of class certification for hospitality client on class action wage and hour claims in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
  • Compelled multiple putative class claims to individual arbitration.
  • Obtained summary judgment on all claims in a class action data breach case in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Noncompete and Trade Secret Litigation

  • Obtained summary judgment on trade secret and noncompete claims in Thurston County Superior Court and in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
  • Negotiated early resolution of threatened noncompete claims.

Traditional Labor

  • Prevailed on unfair labor practice charge at the National Labor Relations Board, leading to a cessation of unlawful picketing.
  • Helped businesses set up dual gate systems.

Employment Litigation

  • Won jury verdict on Washington Minimum Wage Act and USERRA claims in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
  • Won jury verdict on Washington Law Against Discrimination claims in Pierce County Superior Court.
  • Defended multi-plaintiff litigation alleging wage and hour claims and compelled claims to private arbitration.
  • Defended regional health care system in Yakima County Superior Court on wage and hour claims of misclassification and joint employer. Plaintiff walked away after summary judgment was filed.
  • Successful representation of many employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Washington State Human Rights Commission assisting in responses to Charges of Discrimination and achieving agency findings of no probable cause.

Insights

Insights & Presentations

  • Contributor to Stoel Rives LLP “World of Employment” blog
  • "Washington Powerhouse: Stoel Rives” (quoted), Law360, September 2024
  • “Pay Equity Disputes May Be the ‘Sleeping Giant’ of Wage Transparency Laws, Employment Lawyers Predict” (quoted), Law.com, April 2024
  • “Assessing Harm From Pay Transparency Violations Is Tricky” (quoted), Law360, January 2024
  • “Issues in the Modern Workforce,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 21st Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2023
  • “Five Ways a Tight Labor Market Could Affect Equal Pay Claims,” Bloomberg Law, June 2022
  • “Why Big Law Needs More Than New Pay Transparency Laws” (quoted), Bloomberg Law, June 2022
  • “Important Changes to Nondisclosure and Settlement Agreements,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, June 2022
  • “Leave Laws,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2022
  • “Navigating the Return to the Office,” CFO Leadership Council, Seattle Chapter, January 2022
  • “The Delta Variant: What Do Employers Do Now?” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, August 2021
  • “Mastering the Fundamentals: The ADA and the Interactive Process,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, April 2021
  • “Law School for CFOs,” CFO Leadership Council, Seattle Chapter, March 2021
  • “Legislative & Labor Law Update,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2021
  • “Law School for the CFO,” CFO Leadership Council, Seattle Chapter, May 2020
  • “Taming the COVID-19 Chaos: What Employers Need to Know Part 5” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, April 2020
  • “Paid Leave Developments,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2020
  • “Washington State New Equal Pay Laws,” Washington Farm Labor Association webinar, November 2019
  • “Debriefing the 2019 Legislative Session and New Employment Laws,” Stoel Rives, September 2019
  • “Washington’s Evolving Leave Laws,” SHRM Seattle, June 2019
  • “Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act,” CFO Leadership Council, April 2019
  • “Traditional Labor Update,” SHRM Portland, March 2017
  • “Hiring to Termination: A Three-Part Series on HR Best Practices,” Stoel Rives, September 2016

Recognition

  • Included in Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch in America (Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law—Management, Litigation—Labor and Employment), 2021–present
  • Listed among Rising Stars (Employment & Labor, Civil Litigation, Environmental Litigation), Washington Super Lawyers®, 2017–2023

Affiliations

Professional

  • CFO Leadership Council Steering Committee, 2019–2024
  • Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference, Special Topics Subcommittee former Co-Chair
  • Washington State Bar Association, Member
  • King County Bar Association, Member
  • Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association, Member

Civic

  • Tacoma-Pierce County Courthouse Legal Clinic, Pro Bono Attorney, 2013–present
  • Pro Bono Work:
    • Planting Justice
    • Project Access Northwest
    • Cascade AIDs Project
    • Choose180
    • EarthCorps
    • Chelan-Douglas Land Trust
    • Northwest Outward Bound
    • Green Plate Special
    • Tall Timber
    • Homeward Pet Adoption Center
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