Cline & Associates maintains a practice limited to labor and employment law with a focus on public safety labor organizations. Within that field, we maintain a special emphasis on labor organizations and we represent more than 30 public safety labor organizations throughout the state of Washington. We are located in downtown Seattle, in the heart of the local, state, and federal administrative district.

Commitment to Quality

Cline & Associates strives to maintain a strong commitment to quality representation. We hope that you would observe the following characteristics of our law practice:

• Excellent legal advocacy
• Superior knowledge and expertise
• Highly responsive, first-rate service

If you are a member of a public-sector employee organization and looking for representation, review our Practice Areas page for more information on how Cline & Associates can better protect your interests.

Unparalleled Resources

From years of work in litigating and bargaining for our clients, Cline & Associates has compiled a highly informative series of databanks and databases that have proven extremely useful for comparative analysis. Click here for more information on our unique resources.

Client Roster

While historically committed to law enforcement representation, including for some of the most recognizable police guilds and associations in the state, Cline and Associates' years of experience and insight in labor and employment law is applicable to all public sector labor environments, and is represented in its client roster by such groups as Skyway Firefighters Association, SNOCOM Dispatchers Guild, and Technical Employees Association. Click here to see the full roster.

Attorneys and Staff

James M. Cline
For the past 17 years, Jim has represented law enforcement labor organizations throughout the state of Washington, previously serving as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the King County Prosecutor’s Office. More

M. Katherine Kremer
With a strong background in civil litigation, Kate's responsibilities include legal research and writing, litigation and preparation of statistical analysis reports for labor negotiations and interest arbitration. More

Christopher J. Casillas
Chris joined the firm following his successful passage of the Summer 2003 Washington State Bar Exam. Chris' practice includes contract negotiations, discipline representation, grievance arbitrations, unfair labor practice hearings and other matters of litigation. More

George E. Merker
George has extensive experience in many facets of labor and employment law, including work representing a number of labor organizations and individuals. George handles a variety of matters for Cline & Associates, including discipline representation, labor arbitrations and other litigation. More

Rebecca Lederer
Rebecca came to Cline & Associates in early 2007. She is heavily involved in its litigation practice and takes a lead role in maintaining the firm’s brief bank and research materials. More

Reba Weiss
Reba's employment law expertise and her trial skills are heavily relied upon by the firm and she takes a lead role in much of the firm’s discipline representation and other litigation. She also came to Cline & Associates in early 2007. More

D.G. Pettersen
D.G. Pettersen is our senior legal assistant and is experienced in providing extensive litigation paralegal assistance in over a dozen legal fields. More

Jenifer Lopez
Jenifer serves as the firm’s office manager and bookkeeper but also provides general legal assistance. More