Skylar A. Sherwood
Principal
Skylar focuses her practice on representing and advising businesses in labor and employment matters. Her practice regularly includes counseling, mediation, and litigation in a wide-range of employment issues involving discrimination, sexual harassment, unfair competition, trade secrets, drafting and enforcement of employment agreements, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, labor arbitrations, and wage/hour compliance, including representation of employers in class action wage/hour lawsuits. Skylar also is experienced in advising and representing businesses regarding employment of military service-members and claims of military discrimination under USERRA and state law. At all stages, she strives to identify practical solutions to meet clients’ business needs.
Prior to joining Riddell Williams, Skylar served as a judicial clerk for Washington State Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland (Ret.).
Education and Admissions
Skylar earned her B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington and her J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio. In law school, she was a Senior Editor of Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine and received the CALI Award for Excellence in Trial Practice. She was a competitor in the Dunmore Moot Court Competition and later served as a moot court Brief Advisor.
Skylar is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Washington.
Memberships
King County Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, Washington Women Lawyers
Professional and Community Activities
Skylar volunteers with and serves on the Board of Directors for PROVAIL, an organization that helps children and adults with disabilities live independently and fulfill their life choices. She also volunteers with the King County Neighborhood Legal Clinics, helping Seattle’s low-income residents obtain legal services. She regularly participates in various local fundraising events such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Race for the Cure and AIDS Walk.
Skylar is a member of Riddell Williams’ Women Attorneys group that unites with local businesswomen and charities and is a reflection of the firm's commitment to diversity.
Awards and Recognition
Skylar has been designated a Rising Star by Washington Law & Politics magazine.
Publications and Presentations
“Employee Blogging and Social Networking - What's all the Twitter About?,” November 2009.
“Religion in the Workplace: Does Faith Have a Place at the Office?,” April 18, 2007.
“The Americans with Disabilities Act - It's Time to Get Reacquainted,” September 26, 2006.
“Internal Investigations: Getting the Job Done Right,” April 18, 2006.
Author, “Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful…and Intelligent…and Athletic: Constitutional Issues in Genetic Enhancement and the Appropriate Legal Analysis,” 11 Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine 633 (2001).
