Overview
Recognized by Chambers USA for more than 20 years for expertise in labor and employment law, Otto Klein advises employers in the public sector on a full range of workplace issues.
Highly regarded for his ability to focus on finding solutions through negotiation and now a mentor to more junior lawyers, Otto has helped employers nurture healthy and productive workplaces for more than 40 years.
Otto is known for his skill in helping clients understand their options and his creativity in helping them figure out the best way to achieve their organizational goals. He now focuses his practice on:
Collective bargaining. Otto represents public sector employers in collective bargaining, with a particular emphasis on negotiating Community Workforce and Project Labor Agreements and contracts with police unions.
Executive compensation and contracts. Otto represents both executives and employers in matters involving executive compensation and employment agreements, including restrictive covenants.
Interest arbitration. Otto has extensive experience representing employers in arbitrations to determine wages, hours, and working conditions to be contained in a collective bargaining agreement. Otto also has also served as the employer partisan arbitrator for interest arbitrations.
Clients. In addition to his work with executives, Otto’s clients include public sector employers such as cities, port authorities, fire districts, and communications districts, as well as a major public utility.
Employment counseling. Otto advises employers on both the day-to-day workplace issues that arise as well as strategic and long-range planning.
Credentials
Education
- Yale University Law School (J.D., 1976)
- University of Washington (B.A., 1973, magna cum laude)
Admissions
- Washington State
Awards & Accolades
- Named in The Best Lawyers in America® (1995-2025) for his high caliber of work in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Recognized by his peers since 1995.
- Listed in Washington Super Lawyers (2003-2024)
- Ranked in Chambers USA (2004-2024)
- Named Seattle Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law-Management by The Best Lawyers in America® (2015)
- Named one of Washington’s Best Lawyers by Washington Law & Politics magazine
- Included in Seattle Magazine’s list of best local lawyers
- Named Seattle Labor Law-Management Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America® (2012)
- Rated AV Preeminent (5.0 out of 5) by Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- King County Bar Association
Community Service
- Board of Directors, Children’s Home Society of Washington
Publications & Speaking Engagements
- Association of Washington Cities’ Labor Relations Institute: annual presenter for over 30 years
- Northwest LERA, 2023
- Washington Public Employer Labor Relations Association: 2012 Fall Conference
- American Bar Association: 2009 Labor and Employment Section Conference
- Labor and Employment Relations Association: 2009 Annual Collective Bargaining Conference
- Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs: 2009 Spring Conference
- Regularly presents topics at internal seminars and trainings given for Summit clients
Experience
Representative Matters
- Grievance Arbitration: Regularly represents employers in all facets of grievance arbitration.
- Collective Bargaining: Regularly involved in several different bargaining negotiations, representing management.
- Interest Arbitration: Has extensive experience representing employers in arbitrations to determine wages, hours and working conditions.
- Executive Compensation and Contracts: Has substantial experience representing both executives and companies in matters involving executive compensation and employment agreements, and restrictive covenants.