Britenae Pierce

Member

Practice Areas:

Legal Assistant:

Comprehensive employment, title insurance, real property, and commercial litigation and advising with practical solutions.

Britenae is the Chair of Ryan Swanson’s Employment Law Advising and Defense Litigation group and member of the firm’s Litigation Group. She also leads the firm’s Title Insurance Law practice. Britenae spends the majority of her practice handling both employment law and real property/title insurance matters, particularly title insurance defense cases including defending bad faith actions and representing insureds, as well as commercial and business litigation, contract/breach of contract cases, trade secret and misappropriation cases, dispute resolution, and state and federal appellate work.

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE

As Chair of Ryan Swanson’s Employment Law Advising & Employer Defense Litigation Group , Britenae works with company owners and HR professionals to implement practical, creative solutions that protect their businesses from potential threats that can disrupt their workforce or business operations. She counsels her clients on how to best comply with the law and meet the company’s business needs. She handles a wide variety of employer-side issues including defending claims of discrimination and harassment, wage disputes, requests for accommodation, hiring/termination, investigations, trade secrets, non-competes, and drafting releases and severance agreements. She most often helps employers comply with employment laws in their daily business and respond to various employee issues as they arise. When an employment matter reaches the litigation stage, Britenae is a thoughtful and zealous advocate, balancing business concerns with skilled courtroom experience whether in arbitration, a jury trial, or on appeal. She handles everything from the smallest companies with budding HR issues to national corporate clients with extensive employment and labor concerns and litigation.

Representative Employment Litigation Experience

Lead trial attorney representing national railroad in federal court jury trial with union plaintiff, securing defense verdict against claims of disability discrimination. Argued the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which court affirmed the defense verdict.
Sole trial counsel in labor arbitration, securing defense verdict against union employees’ claims.
Lead trial attorney representing national railroad in federal court case securing summary judgment dismissal of plaintiffs’ disability discrimination claims.
Lead trial attorney representing large technology company in settling employee’s state court claims of failure to accommodate and disability discrimination.

Representative Employment Advising

Advises national employers on various employee issues for both union and non-union employee population.
Drafts tailored separation and release agreements for companies to offer to departing employees.
Advises business owners and HR representatives on all employee issues including accommodations, leave, discipline, termination, performance, and more.
Analyzes classification of employees for business including in response to employee complaints or agency audits.
Assesses employer layoff considerations for local or nationwide layoffs.

REAL PROPERTY AND TITLE INSURANCE PRACTICE

In her real property and title insurance practice, Britenae handles a variety of disputes on behalf of title companies, escrow companies, property owners, and lienholders. Britenae works regularly as outside counsel for title companies, including defending against bad faith and Insurance Fair Conduct Act claims, providing opinion letters, advising on coverage matters, and in representing the title companies in all claims made by insureds. She also acts as appointed counsel for title companies, representing insureds in negotiated resolutions and litigation. She handles a range of matters including coverage defense, adverse possession, intricate lien priority issues, bankruptcies, receiverships, and many unusual and complex disputes in between. Britenae’s real property and title insurance practice often finds her in the courtroom on summary judgment motions, in trial, and arguing cases on appeal.

Representative Real Property Litigation Experience

Represented title insurance company in successfully defending on summary judgment a case for breach of contract, bad faith, Consumer Protection Act, Insurance Fair Conduct Act, and other claims.
Represented individual in quiet title action to resolve ownership of property and won ownership rights as a bona fide purchaser on both trial and appeal.
Sole trial counsel for title company in recoupment action and won requested damages at trial.
Represented national railroad in successful summary judgment dismissal of plaintiffs’ property claims in state court and succeeded in affirming the judgment on appeal.
Represented lienholders in various summary judgment motions securing requested lien priority.

Britenae is responsive, engaged, and genuinely enjoys helping individuals and businesses reach their goals, whether it is through advising, litigation, or an alternative resolution process. While her most exciting days are spent arguing her clients’ cases in court, her practical and creative approach often results in early resolution for her clients.

Ryan Swanson Leadership Ryan Swanson Leadership

Within Ryan Swanson, Britenae is a valued and active member of the firm, including the following groups and committees.

Chair, Employment Law Advising & Employer Defense Litigation Group (2018–present)
Leader, Associate Group
Leader, Mentor Group
Member, Executive Committee (prior)
Member, Strategic Planning Committee (prior)
Chair, Compensation Plan Committee (prior)
Member, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee (prior)
Member, Hiring Committee (prior)
Member, Lease Committee (prior)
Leader, Summer Associate Program (prior)
Member, Client Relations Committee (prior)

Speaking Engagements Speaking Engagements

Washington State Auto Dealers Association Webinar, “Performance Evaluations, Disciplinary Action, and Termination - Best Practices” (January 2025)
Ryan Swanson's Annual Employment Law Update (2005–present)
Association of Washington Business - Employment Law Webinar Series, "Performance Evaluations, Disciplinary Action & Termination" (2016–2023)
Washington State SHRM Annual Conference, "Risky Terminations" (2022)
Puget Sound Business Journal, “Straight Talk – Managing the Remote Workforce” (2020)
Association of Washington Business - COVID-19 Employer Resource Series, "Employment Law & Employee Benefits" (2020)
Women, Diversity & Change, Seattle, Panelist (2019)
Association of Washington Business Workplace Summit, “Legal Considerations for Workplace Practices” (2018)
Association of Washington Business Workplace Summit, “Generational Issues in the Workplace” (2017)
Puget Sound Business Journal Seminars, “Ten Tips for Avoiding Problems With Employees” (2016)
Various employment and real property CLEs

HONORS & AWARDS

Named to Washington Super Lawyers® list (2023–present)
Named “Top Female Attorney in Washington” Seattle Met Magazine (2014, 2019, 2024)
Named to Washington Rising Star® list (2008–2019)

Publications Publications

Washington Fair Chance Act Signed into Law (March, 2018)
Age Discrimination in the Workplace- Employment Law Q&A (May, 2017)
Answers to 9 Frequently Asked Employer Questions (November, 2016)
How to Properly Classify Independent Contractors and Employees in Washington (October, 2016)
3 Laws You Should Be Aware of to Help Prevent Discrimination and Harassment (July, 2016)
An Overview of the City of Seattle’s Sick/Safe Leave Ordinance (July, 2015)
Understanding Employee Wellness Programs (June, 2015)
How to Make Employee Reviews Meaningful – 8 Tips (May, 2015)
Defending Against Employee Complaints and Litigating (May, 2015)
Answers to Nine Employer Questions about Marijuana (April, 2014)
Ten Tips for Avoiding Problems with Employees (May, 2012)
Eight Great Dealer FAQs About Employment Law (May, 2011)

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Outside of work, Britenae enjoys the never-ending pursuit of sunshine, teaching her teens how to travel internationally with only a carry-on, the guilty pleasure of young adult dystopian novels, and many other creative endeavors to offset her hours spent at a computer screen.