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Suzanne Kelly Michael

Partner


Seattle/Portland, OR

t:206.682.2308/503.205.8057

f:206.682.7908/503.242.4263

Email

Service Focus

  • Litigation and Trials
  • Workplace Safety and Catastrophe Management
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Overview
Recent Experience
Credentials
Recognitions
Affiliations
Insights

Overview

Suzanne Kelly Michael is a partner in the firm's Seattle and Portland offices and national co-chair of the firm's Litigation Practice group. She focuses her practice on employment law, employment litigation, civil litigation and workplace safety. Taking pride in her responsiveness to clients, Suzanne is deeply experienced handling sexual harassment, sexual orientation discrimination, age and national origin discrimination, disability discrimination, trade secrets, wage and hour and a host of other claims, including class actions.

Suzanne is frequently called upon to tap her decades of experience in jury trial work and assist in significant and groundbreaking trials across the country. Representing both public and private entities, she is often asked to defend lawyers, law firms, state bar associations, judges, and public employers including cities, counties, and state agencies. Some of her other clients include many businesses in the automotive dealership, technology, and healthcare industries.

Suzanne has been named one of the “Top Ten Female Litigators in Washington State.” She has regularly been named a “Washington Super Lawyer” in employment law and litigation, including for the year 2024, and is consistently rated among the “Top Employment Lawyers” in Seattle magazine. Suzanne was recently selected to become a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society whose membership is limited to fewer than one-half of one percent of North American lawyers, judges, and legal scholars that have significant trial experience.

Suzanne is a member of the American Bar Association, Washington Women Lawyers and Washington Defense Trial Lawyers and is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Rating Service, the highest rating available to a lawyer.

She has published articles on trial tactics, frequently presents at seminars and has taught at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA).

Recent Experience

Experience

(2022-2025)

  • Tried a case to a jury in the Federal District Court in Spokane, Washington. The EEOC had sued the client and was demanding monetary payment and a nationwide consent decree, to which the client was unwilling to agree. Shortly before closing arguments, the Judge agreed that the EEOC had failed to make their prima facie case, and the Court granted a directed verdict in favor of our client, dismissing the case in its entirety.

  • Won a complete defense verdict (including attorney’s fees and costs) for a medical practice in a multi-day arbitration involving a former partner’s claims of wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and breach of contract. Several million dollars were at stake.
  • Won a unanimous jury verdict after a two-week trial for a large southern city that was sued by police officers claiming more than $150 million in overtime pay.
  • Won complete summary judgment defending a technology company against a high-value, termination claim made by an employee working remotely from another country.
  • Won a unanimous jury verdict for a boat company against claims of negligent misconduct. The jury required only one hour to decide the case after a two-week trial.
  • Won a complete defense verdict after a seven-day arbitration involving a “back office” medical practice that terminated its CFO for incompetence.

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., Seattle University School of Law
  • B.A., cum laude, University of Washington

Bar Admissions

  • Oregon
  • Washington

Recognitions

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2024-2025)
  • Recommended as a leading practitioner for Labor & Employment Disputes – Defense by The Legal 500 United States (2023-2024)
  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment (2022-2024)
  • Listed in Lawdragon’s 500 Leading U.S. Corporate Employment Lawyers (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025)
  • Fellow – Litigation Counsel of America (LCA)

  • Washington Super Lawyers (numerous years)

Affiliations

Professional Activities

  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Washington Women Lawyers
  • Member, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
  • Member, Trial Law Institute
  • Member, Diversity Law Institute
  • Barrister, Order of Justitia
  • Advocate, Order of Certus

Insights

  • News

    06/10/24

    Fisher Phillips Earns Top Rankings Again as a Leading Firm in Labor and Employment Law by Chambers USA

    Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Andrew J. Sommer, Travis Vance, Kristin R.B. White, Danielle Hultenius Moore, Jocelyn Campanaro, Micah Dawson, Todd A. Fredrickson, Angelica M. Ochoa, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, Charles S. Caulkins, Christine E. Howard, Jeffrey E. Mandel, Cathy M. Stutin, Michael P. Elkon, Shanon R. Stevenson, Terri R. Stewart, Laurel K. Cornell, Raymond C. Haley III, Emily N. Litzinger, Todd B. Logsdon, Craig P. Siegenthaler, Megan Reese U'Sellis, Michelle I. Anderson, Edward F. Harold, Timothy H. Scott, David W. Erb, Daniel E. Farrington, Joseph W. Ambash, William E. Altman, Gregory V. Murray, Barbara Jean D’Aquila, Steven R. Cupp, Gregory D. Ballew, J. Randall Coffey, James R. Holland II, Brian J. Finucane, Melody L. Rayl, David B. Dornak, Scott M. Mahoney, Mark J. Ricciardi, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Rosemary S. Gousman, Michael R. Marra, David Klass, Richard A. Millisor, Clarence M. Belnavis, Todd A. Lyon, Michael P. Avila, Nan Sato, Christopher P. Stief, William D. Wright, Michael D. Carrouth, C. F. W. Manning II, Stephen C. Mitchell, J. Hagood Tighe, David S. Jones, Greg Grisham, Jeff Weintraub, Stephen J. Roppolo, Teresa Valderrama, Theresa M. Connolly, Davis C. Bae, Ralph Hua, Radhika Mehta, Suzanne Kelly Michael

    Read more 

  • Insights

    12/01/23

    FP’s Workplace Law Forecast 2024

    Cheryl L. Behymer, Steven M. Bernstein, Sheldon J. Blumling, Risa B. Boerner, Colin P. Calvert, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Jocelyn Campanaro, Jennifer B. Carroll, Collin D. Cook, Laurel K. Cornell, Germán de la Garza De Vecchi, Michael P. Elkon, Todd Alan Ewan, Todd A. Fredrickson, Christopher C. Hoffman, David S. Jones, Usama Kahf, Karl R. Lindegren, Todd B. Logsdon, Todd A. Lyon, Michael R. Marra, Suzanne Kelly Michael, Michael S. Mitchell, Joshua D. Nadreau, Kristen J. Nesbit, Alden J. Parker, Cheryl Pinarchick, John M. Polson, Andrea Brizio Rivas, Andria Lure Ryan, Nan Sato, Todd B. Scherwin, Matthew R. Simpson, Adam F. Sloustcher, Kristin L. Smith, Shanon R. Stevenson, Hannah Sweiss, J. Hagood Tighe, Travis Vance, David J. Walton, Sheila M. Abron, Erica G. Wilson, William D. Wright, Robert Yonowitz

    Read more 

  • News

    06/06/23

    Fisher Phillips Once Again Recognized as a Top Labor and Employment Law Firm by Chambers USA

    Edwin G. Foulke Jr., Andrew J. Sommer, Travis Vance, Kristin R.B. White, Danielle Hultenius Moore, Jocelyn Campanaro, Micah Dawson, Todd A. Fredrickson, Angelica M. Ochoa, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, Charles S. Caulkins, Christine E. Howard, Jeffrey E. Mandel, Cathy M. Stutin, Shanon R. Stevenson, Laurel K. Cornell, Raymond C. Haley III, Emily N. Litzinger, Todd B. Logsdon, Craig P. Siegenthaler, Megan Reese U'Sellis, Michelle I. Anderson, Edward F. Harold, Timothy H. Scott, David W. Erb, Daniel E. Farrington, Joseph W. Ambash, William E. Altman, Gregory V. Murray, Steven R. Cupp, Gregory D. Ballew, J. Randall Coffey, James R. Holland II, Brian J. Finucane, David B. Dornak, Scott M. Mahoney, Mark J. Ricciardi, Kathleen McLeod Caminiti, Rosemary S. Gousman, Michael R. Marra, Richard A. Millisor, Clarence M. Belnavis, Todd A. Lyon, Nan Sato, Christopher P. Stief, William D. Wright, Michael D. Carrouth, C. F. W. Manning II, Stephen C. Mitchell, J. Hagood Tighe, David S. Jones, Jeff Weintraub, Arthur V. Lambert, Stephen J. Roppolo, Teresa Valderrama, Theresa M. Connolly, Davis C. Bae, Ralph Hua, Radhika Mehta, Suzanne Kelly Michael, Barbara Jean D’Aquila

    Read more 

  • News

    06/01/22

    Fisher Phillips Recognized Again as a Top Labor and Employment Law Firm by Chambers USA

    Kristin R.B. White, Danielle Hultenius Moore, Jocelyn Campanaro, Micah Dawson, Todd A. Fredrickson, Angelica M. Ochoa, Steven M. Bernstein, Suzanne K. Bogdan, Charles S. Caulkins, Christine E. Howard, Jeffrey E. Mandel, Cathy M. Stutin, Shanon R. Stevenson, Laurel K. Cornell, Raymond C. Haley III, Todd B. Logsdon, Craig P. Siegenthaler, Megan Reese U'Sellis, Michelle I. Anderson, Edward F. Harold, Keith M. Pyburn Jr., Timothy H. Scott, David W. Erb, Daniel E. Farrington, Joseph W. Ambash, William E. Altman, Gregory V. Murray, Steven R. Cupp, J. Randall Coffey, Brian J. Finucane, David B. Dornak, Scott M. Mahoney, Mark J. Ricciardi, Rosemary S. Gousman, Michael R. Marra, Richard A. Millisor, Clarence M. Belnavis, Nan Sato, Christopher P. Stief, William D. Wright, Michael D. Carrouth, C. F. W. Manning II, Stephen C. Mitchell, J. Hagood Tighe, David S. Jones, Jeff Weintraub, Arthur V. Lambert, Stephen J. Roppolo, Teresa Valderrama, Theresa M. Connolly, Davis C. Bae, Ralph Hua, Radhika Mehta, Suzanne Kelly Michael

    Read more 

  • News

    05/09/19

    Fisher Phillips Announces Practice Group and Industry Leaders Amid Record Growth

    Davis C. Bae, Steven M. Bernstein, Sheldon J. Blumling, Laurel K. Cornell, David W. Erb, Todd Alan Ewan, Rosemary S. Gousman, Christopher C. Hoffman, David R. Kresser, Karl R. Lindegren, Todd B. Logsdon, Todd A. Lyon, Suzanne Kelly Michael, Stephen C. Mitchell, Kristen J. Nesbit, Alden J. Parker, Andria Lure Ryan, Matthew R. Simpson, Shanon R. Stevenson, Christopher P. Stief, A. Kevin Troutman, Travis Vance, Robert Yonowitz

    Read more 

  • News

    02/12/18

    Seattle Law Firm Merges Into Fisher Phillips

    Stephanie R. Alexander, Matthew J. Macario, Suzanne Kelly Michael

    Read more 

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