GEOFFREY M. BOODELL
Of Counsel
Main Phone: 206.689.8500
Direct Line: 206.346.3922
Email: gboodell@forsberg-umlauf.com
Business Card: 
PRACTICE EMPHASIS AND EXPERIENCE
Labor and Employment Law
General Liability Defense
Geoff is of counsel with Forsberg & Umlauf, P.S. and is a seasoned employment law litigator and counselor with a strong professional background in human resources and labor-management relations. He presently chairs the Employment Practices Group. Prior to entering private practice, Geoff served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington. He has represented employers before judges and juries in both state and federal court and has arbitrated many labor and employment matters. His practice focuses on working with management to implement and maintain proactive employment practices, and he defends employers when litigation arises. Geoff currently chairs the Washington Defense Trial Lawyer's Employment Law Section, and is the immediate past chair of the King County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section.
EDUCATION
J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law, 1992, cum laude
B.S., California State University, Sacramento, 1987
BAR / COURT ADMISSIONS
State of Washington, 1992
United States District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington
United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
HONORS / AWARDS / UNIQUE RECOGNITION
- Designated a “Rising Star” 2000-2003 by Washington Law & Politics magazine.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Representation of a publicly traded technology provider in a three plaintiff lawsuit for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, retaliation and wrongful discharge; received a defense jury verdict.
- Representation of a home health care agency in a wrongful discharge and breach of employment contract lawsuit; received a defense jury verdict
- Representation of a restaurant chain in a three plaintiff lawsuit for sexual harassment, sex discrimination and retaliation; received a defense verdict.
- Representation of a large, commercial construction company in three related lawsuits for wrongful termination and retaliation; obtained summary judgment on all matters.
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
Washington State Bar Association
King County Bar Association
--Trustee, Labor and Employment Law Section, 2006-Present
--Chair, Labor and Employment Law Section, 2009-10
--Chair, Planning Committee, Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference, 2008-09
--Planning Committee, Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference, 1996–Present
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association
--Chair, Employment Law Section
The American Legion
The Disabled American Veterans Association
ARTICLES AND PRESENTATIONS
- Author: "Textual Harassment," Defense News, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, 2010
- Author: "Social Media & the Workplace," Defense News, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, 2010
- Author: "Health Care Reform: What Every Employer Needs to Know," Bar Bulletin, King County Bar Association, 2010
- Chair: "Health Care Reform: A Practical Guide to What Employers Need to Know," King County Bar Association CLE, September 2010
- Presenter: "Retaliation: The New Vogue in Employment Litigation," Risk Management Seminar, 2010
- Presenter: "Internal Investigations: Pitfalls, Pratfalls, and Practical Pointers," Risk Management Seminar, 2010
- Presenter: "Employment Law Year in Review," West Sound Human Resources Management Association, 2010
- Contributing Author: Employment Law in Washington, Legal Reference Guide, Forsberg & Umlauf, 2009
- Presenter: CLE on Employment Law Updates, Risk Management Seminar, November 2009
- Presenter: “Workplace Harassment: The Issue Is Respect,” Client Seminar, 2008
- Presenter: “Employment Law Basics,” Client Seminar, 2008
- Presenter: “Managing Employees: The Challenge of Performance Reviews, Counseling, and Discharge,” Client Seminar, 2008
- Presenter: “Workplace Investigations,” Client Seminar, 2007
