Peter A. Altman

Peter works closely with HR professionals, senior managers, executives, and elected officials on a range of HR and business topics, including employee relations, proactive pre-defense strategies, workplace investigations, risk management, and business strategy. As former in‑house employment counsel at Microsoft, Peter understands both the day-to-day and strategic legal needs of employers. Clients appreciate his no-nonsense, good-humored, and practical legal and operational advice.

Peter’s practice includes:

Labor and employment counseling.  Peter advises on a full range of employment issues, including discrimination claims, leave laws, wage and hour issues, performance management, investigations, discipline and discharge, breach of contract, non-compete agreements, employee benefits, and employee privacy.

In the realm of labor law, Peter has represented employers at the collective bargaining table and, behind the scenes, he counsels employers on collective bargaining strategies and long‑term labor relations techniques.

Dispute resolution.  A former litigator and trial lawyer, Peter brings his experience in dispute resolution to the advice he provides to clients regarding grievance arbitrations, interest arbitrations, unfair labor practice complaints, and PERC/NLRB administrative matters.

Workplace training.  Peter regularly presents training on a range of employment and labor law topics, including annual legal updates, HR best practices, and collective bargaining/labor relations.

Clients.  Peter has represented public sector entities including cities, counties, and a variety of special purpose districts (fire, libraries, courts, sewer, water) as well as tech companies and other private employers of all sizes.

Credentials

Awards & Accolades

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2024
• Listed in Washington Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" (2014-2019)

Memberships

• Washington Public Employer Labor Relations Association (WAPELRA)
• Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association (WDTL)
• King County Bar Association
• Washington State Bar Association
• American Bar Association

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Publications:

• Author, “The Basics of Collective Bargaining in Washington," published for the Association of Washington Cities (2019 updates)
• Author, “Setting the Table: Smart Cities Put ACA Compliance into the Bargain,” City Vision Magazine (2013)
• Author, “Criminal Background Checks in Hiring: EEOC Provides Updated Title VII Guidance,” HR Advisor, Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (2012)

Speaking Engagements:

• “Basics of Bargaining,” Association of Washington Cities, Labor Relations Institute (2016, 2018, 2019)
• “Preparing For, Defending Against, and Sometimes Filing ULPs,” Association of Washington Cities, Labor Relations Institute (2019)
• “Labor Relations: The HR Perspective,” Labor and Employment Relations Association (2017)
• “Interest Arbitration Trends,” Labor and Employment Relations Association (2016)
• “Navigating Labor Relations: The Human Resources Perspective,” Labor and Employment Relations Association (2016)
• “Navigating the Cadillac Tax,” Washington State Association of Counties (2014)
• “Healthcare Reform 101 for Employers,” Association of Washington Cities, Labor Relations Institute (2014)
• “Negotiation Strategies to Avoid the Cadillac Tax,” Association of Washington Cities, Healthcare Reform Summit (2014)
• Co-presenter, “The Hourly Challenge: Did Final Regulations Make It Any Easier?” Association of Washington Cities, Healthcare Reform Summit (2014)
• “Hot Topic Affordable Care Act Issues,” Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts (2013)
• “Real Life Bargaining and the Affordable Care Act,” Washington Public Employer Labor Relations Association (2013)
• “Big Picture Affordable Care Act Perspective,” Association of Washington Cities (2013)

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