Employment Law - Management Labor Law - Management Litigation - Labor and Employment
Jeffrey A. "Jeff" James
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Jeffrey A. James is a shareholder with SEBRIS BUSTO JAMES and serves as the firm's Managing Partner. He has represented employers in labor and employment matters since 1988. Jeff's practice focuses on helping employers comply with state, federal and local employment laws and defending employers when litigation arises. He also prosecutes matters on behalf of employers seeking to enforce employment agreements, restrictive covenants, or other obligations. Jeff is a trial and appellate attorney who has successfully represented clients in proceedings before state and federal courts at all levels, as well as before administrative agencies and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Jeff is a frequent speaker at legal and industry seminars on issues affecting the workplace. Jeff has been actively involved in federal, state, and local bar associations for over two decades. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Easter Districts of Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is the past-Secretary of the Executive Board of the Washington State Bar Association – Labor & Employment Law Section, and past- Chair of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers – Employment Law Committee. He is also a member of the Washington Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section; the King County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section; and the American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, where he serves as Management Co-Chair of the Trial and Appellate Advocacy/Employee Rights and Responsibilities Subcommittee. He is a past member of the Washington State Bar Association Labor and Employment Executive Committee, past member of the King County Bar Association Board of Trustees, past Management Co-Chair of the ABA-ERR Technology Subcommittee and past member of the Seattle Children’s Pediatric Bioethics Advisory Council. Jeff has been repeatedly named as a "Super Lawyer" by Washington Law & Politics and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers in Seattle and in Chambers USA. He has received the highest possible peer review rating for competency and ethics (AV) by Martindale-Hubbell. He was named a 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" for Employment Litigation - Seattle.
Overview
- English
- Seattle University, J.D. magna cum laude, graduated 1988
- Western Washington University, BA cum laude, graduated 1984
- Washington, WSBA
- ABA-ERR - Management co-chair
- United States Court of Appeals
- English
- Washington, WSBA
- ABA-ERR - Management co-chair
- Seattle University, J.D. magna cum laude, graduated 1988
- Western Washington University, BA cum laude, graduated 1984
- United States Court of Appeals
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Labor and Employment, Seattle (2016)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Employment Law - Management
- Labor Law - Management
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus:
- Arbitration and Mediation
- Class Actions
- Covenants Not to Compete
- COVID-19
- Defense
- Disability
- Electronic Discovery
- Health Care
- Management
- State and Federal
- Title VII Litigation
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Examples of Recent Litigation Experience
Trials
Washington v. Group Health Cooperative, King County Superior Court Case No. 13-2-19841-0. Unanimous defense verdict for our client on all counts. Plaintiff claimed his termination was the result of disability discrimination and for requesting reasonable accommodation. Trial took 10 days.
PR Connections, dba Dynamo Recruiting, Inc. vs. RBL Partners, Pierce County Cause No. 12-2-10769-1. Unanimous defense verdict for our client after 3-week jury trial, plus over $500,000 awarded on counterclaims for breach of contract, defamation, and tortious interference. Over $1M in fees and costs awarded post-trial as prevailing party.
Lodis v. Corbis Corporation, Case No.: 08-2-20301-8 SEA. Three separate jury trials totaling 10 weeks in trial. Unanimous defense verdicts for our clients on all of plaintiff's claims (age discrimination, retaliation, aiding and abetting), verdict on counterclaim against plaintiff for breach of his fiduciary duties, with an award of over $42,000 in damages; verdicts and positive evidentiary rulings upheld on appeal.
Andrews v. Harrison Medical Center, Kitsap County Superior Court Case No. 07-2-01630-1. Two-week jury trial involving claim for marital status discrimination following remand from the Washington State Court of Appeals, Div. II, overturning grant of summary judgment. Jury returned a unanimous defense verdict for our client after deliberating for little over an hour.
Washington v. Group Health Cooperative, King County Superior Court Case No. 13-2-19841-0. Unanimous defense verdict for our client on all counts. Plaintiff claimed his termination was the result of disability discrimination and for requesting reasonable accommodation. Trial took 10 days.
PR Connections, dba Dynamo Recruiting, Inc. vs. RBL Partners, Pierce County Cause No. 12-2-10769-1. Unanimous defense verdict for our client after 3-week jury trial, plus over $500,000 awarded on counterclaims for breach of contract, defamation, and tortious interference. Over $1M in fees and costs awarded post-trial as prevailing party.
Lodis v. Corbis Corporation, Case No.: 08-2-20301-8 SEA. Three separate jury trials totaling 10 weeks in trial. Unanimous defense verdicts for our clients on all of plaintiff's claims (age discrimination, retaliation, aiding and abetting), verdict on counterclaim against plaintiff for breach of his fiduciary duties, with an award of over $42,000 in damages; verdicts and positive evidentiary rulings upheld on appeal.
Andrews v. Harrison Medical Center, Kitsap County Superior Court Case No. 07-2-01630-1. Two-week jury trial involving claim for marital status discrimination following remand from the Washington State Court of Appeals, Div. II, overturning grant of summary judgment. Jury returned a unanimous defense verdict for our client after deliberating for little over an hour.
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