John Chun is a trial lawyer and client counselor whose practice focuses on employment and commercial matters.

Experience: John has extensive experience in state and federal court, arbitration proceedings, mediation, and administrative matters. He has represented businesses and individuals in various types of employment, commercial, and international cases. His work has involved a broad range of industries, including aviation, financial services, venture capital, legal services, hospitality, telecommunications, fishing, construction, real estate, transportation, healthcare, computers and software. He has also represented a number of public sector employers.

Representative engagements:

Employment Cases

Lead counsel for employer/federal contractor in U.S. Department of Labor investigation of claims of discrimination by group of employees. Successfully obtained dismissal of all charges of discrimination.

Lead trial counsel for plaintiff in gender discrimination action. Successfully obtained judgment in favor of plaintiff at trial. Also obtained award of attorney fees and costs.

Lead counsel for employer in discrimination action. Successfully obtained dismissal of disability discrimination claim.

Lead counsel for employer in wrongful termination action. Successfully obtained arbitration award in favor of employer on former employee's claim of wrongful discharge.

Represented city in gender discrimination action brought by former police officer. Successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of city.

Represented employer in fraud action brought by former executive. Successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of employer.

Represented employer in race discrimination action. Successfully obtained defense judgment at trial.

Commercial Cases

Lead trial counsel for hotels in breach of contract action brought by airport shuttle service. Successfully obtained defense judgment at trial. Also obtained award of attorney fees and costs.

Lead counsel for hotels in appeal of above case by airport shuttle service. Successfully obtained dismissal of appeal by using judgment on award of attorney fees and costs to execute on plaintiff�s claims.

Lead counsel for foreign company in action to enforce foreign arbitration award against U.S. company. The court ordered the U.S. company to deposit the amount of the award into the court's registry pending the resolution of a related foreign arbitration proceeding.

Lead counsel for trade associations in "reverse-FOIA" action against federal government. Successfully obtained injunctive relief prohibiting federal government from releasing information at issue.

Lead counsel for commercial landlord in fraud action brought by tenant. Successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of landlord. Also obtained award of attorney fees and costs.

Represented local software company in arbitration hearing against national wireless company. Successfully obtained arbitration award, including award of attorney fees and costs, in favor of software company.

Preston Gates & Ellis LLP (Partner, 2005-2006)

Mundt MacGregor L.L.P. (Partner, 2002-2005; Associate, 1995-2001)

Judicial Law Clerk, Hon. Eugene A. Wright, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1994-95)

Professional Recognition: Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America; "Super Lawyer," Washington Law & Politics (2004-2007); "League of Justice" and Top Lawyer, Washington CEO (2006 and 2007, respectively); "40 Under 40," Puget Sound Business Journal (2005); "Rising Star," Washington Law & Politics (2003); Community Leadership Award, Korean American Bar Association of Washington (2007).

Education: Columbia College, Columbia University (B.A. 1991); Cornell Law School (J.D. 1994); Cornell Law Review (Note Editor, 1993-94; Associate Editor, 1992-93); American Jurisprudence Award, Torts.

Professional & Community Activities:

Academic: Adjunct Professor, Seattle University School of Law (2002-2005)

Neutral & Quasi-Judicial Activities: Neutral, American Arbitration Association, Commercial and Employment Panels (2005-present); Rule 39.1 Neutral, United States District Court, Western District of Washington, Official Register of Qualified Mediators and Arbitrators (2004-present); Hearing Examiner Pro Tem, City of Seattle, Civil Service Commission (2004-2005); Arbitrator, King County Superior Court Arbitrator Panel (2002-2005)

Memberships & Associations: American Bar Association; Washington State Bar Association; King County Bar Association (member, Litigation and Labor & Employment Law Sections); Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington; Litigation Counsel of America; American Arbitration Association; Delegate, Governor Christine Gregoire�s Trade Mission to the Republic of Korea (2006); National Asian Pacific American Bar Association; Asian Bar Association of Washington; International Association of Korean Lawyers (co-chair, Seattle 2006 Conference Planning Committee); Korean American Bar Association of Washington (President, 2003; Board Member, 2002-2004); Northwest Next Leaders Council (Member, 2006-present; Board Member, 2007-present)

Presentations & Publications:

Presentation, Social and Legal Considerations of Video Interviews and Video Resumes for Employers and Recruiters, Webinar, November 15, 2007

Presentation, Just Cause and Grievance Arbitration, State of Washington Training, April 18, June 13, and July 11, 2007

Co-Presenter, Avoiding the Train Wreck: Don�t Let Procedural Rules Derail Your Discipline Decisions, Labor Relations Institute, May 16, 2007

Co-Presenter, Personnel Policy Hotlist, Summit Law Group Employment Law Seminar, March 30, 2007

Presentation, "Legal Issues When Doing Business in Korea," Doing Business With Korea Conference, St. Martin's University, November 22, 2006

Presentation, Labor & Employment Law Panel, CLE, International Association of Korean Lawyers Conference, August 25, 2006

Author, Surprise Decision: Washington Supreme Court Narrows Definition of Disability Under State Law, Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington HR Advisor, August 2006

Presentation, "Reality HR: New Employment Cases," Preston Gates & Ellis Breakfast Briefing, October 26, 2005

Presentation, Employment Discrimination in Washington, At-Sea Processors Association Breakfast Meeting, March 17, 2005

Presentation, Labor & Employment Law Panel, CLE, International Association of Korean Lawyers Conference, September 24, 2004

Presentation, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Technical Assistance Program Seminar, September 14, 2004

Presentation, United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Technical Assistance Program Seminar, August 26, 2003

Presentation, Motion Practice in Washington, CLE, December 6, 2002

Presentation, Current Employment Discrimination Law Issues, CLE, November 21, 2002

Co-author, Securing Insurance Coverage for Employment Law Claims, CLE, October, 2002

Presentation, "The Basics of Interviewing and Investigation in Washington," CLE, September 10, 2002

Presentation, "Employment Discrimination in Washington," FIS Marine, March 27, 2002

Presentation, "Addressing Employment Discrimination Complaints," Iquique, U.S., January 2001

Author, "The New Citadel: A Reasonably Designed Products Liability Restatement," 79 CORNELL L. REV. 1654 (1994)

Community Service: King County Bar Foundation, Future of the Law Institute (Board, 2005-2006; Governing Council, 2004-2005; Project Planning Committee, 2002); Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (Executive Board Member and Treasurer, 2005-present); Board Member, North Seattle Boys and Girls Club (1999); Volunteer Attorney, King County Bar Foundation and Korean Community Counseling Center Legal Clinics (1996-2005).