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Shirley

Shirley S. Lou-Magnuson

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Shirley Lou-Magnuson is an experienced litigator who dedicates her practice to defending public and private entities from civil and regulatory liability in employment law matters. Shirley regularly litigates on behalf of employers before federal and state courts, administrative bodies, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Washington State Human Rights Commission on claims such as discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and retaliation.

Although she is always prepared to zealously defend employers in litigation, Shirley’s strategic counsel empowers clients to find business-driven solutions that avoid litigation whenever feasible. Shirley advises on a wide range of employment law matters, including strategic recruitment, employment agreements, wage and hour compliance, employee performance management, workplace investigations, leave and disability accommodation, as well as layoffs and terminations. Before joining Lane Powell, Shirley served as a clerk at the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Professional Experience

Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch, Inc., P.S., Associate (2017-2019)

Aerospace Company, Contract Risk Manager (2016-2017)

Carlsmith Ball LLP, Associate (2014-2016)

Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of Appeals, Law Clerk to the Honorable Katherine G. Leonard (2013-2014)

U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Judicial Extern to the Honorable Richard R. Clifton (2012)

Hawai‘i Supreme Court, Judicial Extern to the Honorable Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. (2012)

Community Involvement

Washington State Bar Association, Member

Hawai‘i State Bar Association

Secretary, International Law Section (2015)
Member

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow (2023)

Thought Leadership

September 12 & October 9, 2024Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar 2024
Now in Portland & Seattle!
August 15, 2024News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 Recognizes 128 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 31, 2024News
Fifty-seven Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Washington for 2024
Awards & Honors
April 3, 2024Event / CLE
Wage & Hours
Association of Washington Business | Virtual
April 1, 2024Publication
Beyond the Thanksgiving Dinner Table: Washington Legislature Bans Mandatory Captive Audience Meetings for Politics and Religion
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
February 2, 2024News
Lou-Magnuson Elected to Yellow Wood Academy’s Board of Directors
Awards & Honors
November 13, 2023News
Lane Powell Recognized as 2023 Top Performer & Compass Award Winner by Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
Awards & Honors
September 15 & October 6, 2023Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar 2023
Now in Seattle & Portland!
August 17, 2023News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Recognizes 123 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 14, 2023Publication
Telecommuting in the Post-Pandemic Age and Legal Considerations
Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington
July 31, 2023News
Forty-seven Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Washington for 2023
Awards & Honors
April 21, 2023Event / CLE
Managing a Remote Workforce
Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys | Blaine, WA
April 12, 2023Event / CLE
Wage & Hours
Association of Washington Business | Virtual
February 21, 2023News
Lou-Magnuson, Patterson & St.Clair Selected for 2023 Leadership Counsel for Legal Diversity Programs
Awards & Honors
October 13, 2022Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar
Lane Powell | Seattle, Washington
October 5, 2022Event / CLE
Avoiding Gotcha: Steps Employers Should Take to Investigate Complaints and Reduce the Risk of Retaliation Claims
Northwest Human Resource Management Association | Spokane, Washington
September 9, 2022Publication
Silenced No More Laws – Employers Should Know What Not to Say
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
August 18, 2022News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 14, 2022News
Forty-four Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Washington for 2022
Awards & Honors
April 21, 2022Publication
Washington Employers Will Be Obligated to Disclose Salary, Wage, and Benefits Information for All Job Postings
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
January 4, 2022News
Lane Powell Elects New Shareholders
Firm Announcement
October 6 - December 8, 2021Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Webinar Series
Lane Powell | Virtual
November 18, 2021Publication
Court Orders and Challenges to OSHA ETS Mandating Vaccination and Testing: What Does This Mean for Employers?
COVID-19 Resource
November 10, 2021Event / CLE
New Strategies for Managing Workers During the Pandemic Era
Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
October 18, 2021Event / CLE
Employee Relations: Legal Solutions for Sensitive Workplace Issues
National Business Institute | Virtual
August 20, 2021Event / CLE
Public Employer’s Perspective
The Seminar Group | Virtual
August 19, 2021News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
April 22, 2021Publication
Washington State’s Paid Family Medical Leave
Lane Powell Live | Podcast
October 15 - December 17, 2020Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Webinar Series
Lane Powell | Virtual
October 29, 2020Event / CLE
'If You Leave Me Now': What Employers Need to Know About Leave and Accommodation Obligations During the Pandemic
Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
October 22, 2020Event / CLE
Investigation of Workplace Complaints
Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Fall Conference | Virtual
August 27, 2020Event / CLE
Introduction to Labor and Employment Law for Attorneys and HR Professionals
The Seminar Group | Webinar
August 20, 2020News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 Recognizes 92 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
April 17, 2020Publication
How Should Washington Employers Accommodate 'High Risk' Employees Under Governor Inslee’s Proclamation?
COVID-19 Resource
April 1, 2020Event / CLE
Wage & Hour Webinar
Association of Washington Business | Webinar
March 23, 2020Publication
Seattle and Washington Continue to Expand Financial Support for Workers in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 Resource
August 26, 2019News
Lou-Magnuson Joins Labor, Employment & Benefits Team
Firm Announcement
October 2018Event / CLE
Sexual Harassment in the #MeToo Era
Washington School Personnel Association School Law Conference | Tukwila, Washington
July 2018Event / CLE
Local Rules Survey of King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane Counties
CLE | Seattle
Spring 2012Publication
Announcing the Ten Most Influential Cases of 2012
Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal

Practices & Industries

Labor, Employment & Benefits
Wage & Hour

Education

University of Hawai‘i Williams S. Richardson School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2013
- Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal, Co-Editor in Chief
- Saul Lefkowitz Intellectual Property Moot Court Team, Captain
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award: Contracts, Immigration Law, Legal Research & Writing
- Best Appellate Brief Award
- Lawrence C. Foster Scholarship Recipient
- Carol Mon Lee Scholarship Recipient
Whitman College, B.A., Economics and Asian Studies, 2008

Admissions

Washington
Hawai'i
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Hawai'i

Language

Chinese (Mandarin) (Native)

Honors

"Ones to Watch," Best Lawyers®, Labor and Employment Law – Management (2021-2025); Labor and Employment Law – Employee, Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024-2025)

"Washington Rising Star," Thomson Reuters, Employment & Labor (2022-2024)

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