Valarie Zeeck joined GTH in 1997. Her primary areas of practice are employment law and litigation. She advises and provides training to owners, managers and employees in employment law in order to help them reduce litigation expense and risk. She also defends employers in employment-related litigation, focusing on extracting clients from litigation at the earliest possible stage.

Valarie has written and co-authored several papers for legal publications and periodicals and has been a frequent speaker on legal matters at educational and business seminars. She is a member of the Pierce County chapter of Washington Women Lawyers.

A stellar corporate citizen, Valarie has contributed her time and knowledge to a great number of civic organizations and community causes including Families Unlimited Network, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, Chambers Creek Foundation, Ark Institute of Learning, Tacoma-Pierce County YMCA, Tacoma Philharmonic, Charles Wright Academy, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, and the Association of Washington Business.

Advises and trains owners, managers and employees regarding employment law with the goal of reducing litigation expense and risk.
Defends employers in employment-related litigation, focusing on extracting clients from litigation at the earliest possible stage.

EDUCATION

J.D., University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Law, 1979
B.A., University of Missouri, Kansas City, 1976
Graduated with Honors

JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

Washington State Courts
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Missouri State Courts

PROFESSIONAL & BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

Robert J. Bryan Inns of Court
Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

Chair, Continuing Education Committee, 1998

King County Bar Association

Member, Labor and Employment Law Section

American Bar Association

Member, Litigation Section
Member, Employment Section

Washington Women Lawyer’s Association, Pierce County Chapter
Washington State Bar Association
The Missouri Bar

Chair – Probate and Trust Committee, October 1993 -August 1994; Vice Chair, 1991-1993
Vice Chair – Legal Education Committee, 1990-1994
Chair – Subcommittee on Participation of Women and Minorities in Continuing Legal Education
Chair – Drafting Committee, Durable Power of Attorney for health care purposes

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

Executive Committee Member at Large, 1992-1994
Chair – Women in the Profession Committee, 1993-1994
Association of Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, 1979-1994 (Honorary Membership after 1988)

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

Joined firm, 1997
Judicial Commissioner, 16th Judicial Circuit, Jackson County (Kansas City), Missouri, 1988-1994
National Judicial College, 1989
Jackson County Merit System Commissioner, 1982-1988
General civil practice of law, Kansas City, Missouri, 1979-1988

HONORS & AWARDS

AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell
Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, 2011.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

University Place Economic Development Task Force and Commission.
University Place Parks and Recreation Commission.
Families Unlimited Network, Member, Board of Directors.
Chambers Creek Foundation, President (2003-2004, 2006).
R. Merle Palmer Scholarship Foundation.
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, General Counsel.

PUBLICATIONS

Washington’s New Paid Leave Law – effective 2018.