Overview

Adam Belzberg represents employers, from small businesses to international corporations, in all aspects of labor and employment law. He has particular experience representing employers in the agriculture, construction, energy, healthcare, and retail industries.

He is a seasoned traditional labor attorney. In addition to negotiating collective bargaining agreements, and arbitrating labor and employment disputes, Adam regularly represents employers before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in cases involving union representation and unfair labor practices.

Adam has extensive experience litigating wage and hour class and collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state law. In addition to administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies, he also defends employers in federal and state court in class and individual cases arising under state and federal law—including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the H-2A program, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA), and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Adam also provides daily advice and counsel to employers on employment issues including employment policies, non-compete, non-solicitation, and trade secret issues.

He is a frequent speaker and author on a wide range of labor and employment topics, and regularly provides on-site client training on topics including labor relations, harassment and discrimination, and wage and hour compliance.

Education

Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College, J.D., 2002

University of Western Ontario, B.A., Philosophy, 1994

Admissions

Washington

Oregon

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

United States District Court, Western District of Washington

United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington

United States District Court, Oregon

United States District Court, Maryland

Experience

Labor Relations

  • Lead management negotiator for numerous labor contract negotiations throughout the United States.
  • Representation of construction, retail, and healthcare employers in labor arbitrations, strike planning, and union prevention strategies.
  • Representation of non-NLRB covered agricultural employers in labor arbitrations, strike planning, and union prevention strategies.
  • EGT v. Port of Longview. Represented the Port in multi-union jurisdictional dispute.
  • Washington State Nurses Association v. MultiCare Health Systems. LMRA Section 301 preemption issue requiring the court to interpret CBAs at issue.
  • Northwest Grocery Association v. City of Seattle. Federal court action alleging that the City’s hazard pay ordinance was preempted by the NLRA.

Employment Litigation

  • Williams v. Legacy Health. Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of healthcare employee’s religious discrimination claims for refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Demmings v. Pacific Maritime Association. Successfully dismissed plaintiff’s case alleging claims of Section 301, Title VII, WLAD and Section 1983 violations.
  • Powell v. American President Lines. Plaintiff’s Title VII and Jones Act case dismissed on summary judgment.
  • Cephas v. Pepsi Bottling Group. Fourth Circuit affirmed dismissal of plaintiff’s Title VII case.
  • Watkins v. Infosys. Plaintiff’s discrimination case dismissed on summary judgment.
  • Rosas v. Sarbanand Farms. Successfully represented H-2A visa administrator in class action alleging federal Farm Labor Contractor Act (FLCA) claims
  • Dahlstron v. Life Care Centers of America. Plaintiff’s discrimination case dismissed on summary judgment.
  • Bradshaw v. Downtown Emergency Service Center. Plaintiff’s discrimination case dismissed on summary judgment.

Wage and Hour Litigation

  • Levias v. Pacific Maritime Association. Defeated class claims on summary judgment. Upheld by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Koshman et al. v. MultiCare Health System. Representation of employer in this putative class action challenging healthcare system’s practices regarding the provision of meal and rest breaks. Result: case settled on favorable terms.
  • Ehrmin, et al. v. Overlake Medical Center. Representation of employer in this putative class action challenging healthcare system’s practices regarding the provision of meal and rest breaks. Result: case settled on favorable terms.
  • Pereira, et al. v. Overlake Medical Center. Representation of employer in this putative class action challenging healthcare system’s practices regarding the provision of meal and rest breaks. Result: case settled on favorable terms.
  • Lopez Demetrio v. Sakuma Brothers Farms. Representation of employer in this putative class action challenging agricultural employers’ practices regarding the piece-rate pay and the provision of rest breaks. Result: case settled on favorable terms.
  • Baum v. Platinum Nine Holdings. Representation of employer in this putative class action challenging ambulance system’s practices regarding the provision of meal and rest breaks. Result: case settled on favorable terms.
  • Rosas v. Sarbanand Farms. Representation of employer in this putative class action challenging agricultural employer’s practices regarding the provision of meal and rest breaks. Result: case settled on favorable terms.

Insights

Insights & Presentations

  • “Washington Meal and Rest Break Class Actions Continue Unabated: What Employers Should Be Doing Now” (co-author), Stoel Rives World of Employment, July 2026
  • “ICE Operations: Internal Checklist for Employers,” Navigating Uncertainty: A Field Guide for Business Leaders Facing Real-World Risk, Stoel Rives LLP, July 2025
  • Quoted, "Bellingham roofing company knew in advance about ICE raid that arrested dozens," KUOW, May 2025
  • “The Legal Landscape of 2025,” and “Labor Updates and Risk Mitigation Strategies for All Employers,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 23rd Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2025
  • Contributing Editor, “Fair Labor Standards Act,” treatise supplement, BNA, 2004–present
  • “The 411—Farmworker Unionization,” H-2A Summit 2024, Worker and Farmer Labor Association, Pasco, WA, November 2024
  • “Ag Retail Labor Issues and On The Farm Labor Issues,” Northwest Regional Cooperative Institute Educational Seminar and Annual Meeting, November 2024
  • “Bargaining Proposals Have Consequences - What to Expect,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 22nd Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2024
  • “NLRB Updates – Recent Decisions and Rules Affecting Union and Non-Union Employers,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, December 2023
  • “Labor Law Update,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2022
  • “Living in a White Collar World,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, October 2020
  • “Webinar: Taming the Covid Chaos Part 7: Union Management Issues,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, May 2020
  • “Labor and Employment Breakfast Briefing: Debriefing the 2019 Legislative Session and New Employment Laws,” Stoel Rives LLP, September 2019
  • “Traditional Labor Update,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 15th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2017
  • “Extra Pay for Piece Rate,” Washington Farm Labor Association webinar, March 2016
  • “If You Don’t Like the Score, Change the Rules: The Campaign to Increase Unionization,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, November 2014
  • “Workplace Drug Testing,” Washington Farm Labor Association, July 2014

Recognition

  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America® (Labor Law—Management), 2023–present

  • Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Washington) by Chambers USA (Labor & Employment), 2017–present

  • Listed in Washington Super Lawyers® (Labor & Employment, Employment Litigation), 2014-2015

Affiliations

Professional

  • Washington Farm Labor Association, Preferred Provider
  • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Practice and Procedure Under the NLRA Committee, Member
  • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Fair Labor Standards Legislation Committee, Member
  • King County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Member
  • Oregon State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Member
  • Washington State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, Member

  • As stated by labor & employment clients, “Adam is no-nonsense and gets down to the point. He is great to work with.”

    “Adam is always responsive, has excellent knowledge of complicated local issues and is very practical.”

    “He always shows a personal commitment to providing us with extraordinary legal advice and services.”

    Chambers USA
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