Overview

Breanne Martell advises and represents employers in many industries, including healthcare, transportation, restaurant, retail, technology, manufacturing, financial services, security, and franchising. She focuses her practice on defending employers in class and collective actions under federal and Washington state law, and providing practical advice and conducting audits on compliance with wage-and-hour and pay equity laws, and drafting incentive compensation plans including commissions and bonuses. She also regularly represents employers who are facing audits and investigations by government agencies. In addition, Breanne has significant experience defending employers in discrimination, equal pay, and wrongful termination lawsuits.

Breanne’s creativity and dedication have achieved positive results for her clients in numerous settings, including:

  • Obtaining complete dismissal of nationwide class action allegations in a case asserting claims for misclassification and unpaid commissions under 48 states’ laws
  • Winning summary judgment in a case challenging a company’s nationwide bonus practices with respect to calculation of the regular rate
  • Obtaining complete dismissal of nationwide claims under the FLSA related to off-the-clock work for security screening on the grounds that the time was not compensable
  • Obtaining dismissal of nationwide collective action allegations in an FLSA case asserting regular rate claims
  • Defeating conditional certification of multiple FLSA collective actions asserting off-the-clock and regular rate claims
  • Defeating class certification of employees and volunteers in multiple Washington state and federal court wage-and-hour class actions
  • Prevailing on an appeal to a federal Court of Appeals in a precedent-setting win regarding a class action settlement
  • Securing a complete defense verdict in a federal disability discrimination trial
  • Obtaining a dismissal with prejudice on the pleadings in a federal discrimination case
  • Winning summary judgment in a high-stakes race and gender discrimination case
  • Winning summary judgment in a wage-and-hour case brought by a volunteer
  • Persuading a state agency to dismiss a child labor citation on appeal
  • Obtaining a determination of compliance from a federal agency regarding independent contractors
  • Obtaining a determination of compliance from a Washington state agency regarding allegations of unpaid wages

Breanne is a member of Littler’s Pro Bono Committee and Associates Committee.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Washington State Bar Association

Member

King County Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Chair

Legal Voice Senior Workgroup

Recognition

Named, Rising Star

Washington

Super Lawyers

2014-2019

Recipient, Special Contributions to Legal Voice

Legal Voice

Recipient, Pro Bono Publico Service Commendations

Washington State Bar Association

Recipient, Civic Service Award

Seattle Jaycees

Recipient, E. Blythe Stason Award

University of Michigan Law School

Recipient, Jeffrey Lehman Legal Practice Award

University of Michigan Law School

Recipient, Yeoman Service Award

University of Michigan Law School

News, Analysis & Press

Washington State Legislative Updates

Insight

March 27, 2024

Top W&H Developments For Women In The Workforce In 2021

Law360 Employment Authority

December 15, 2021

Equal Pay Act's 'Other Than Sex' Defense Meaning Still Murky

Law360 Employment Authority

July 27, 2021

10 Seattle Women Business Leaders Discuss the Power of Mentors

Seattle Business Magazine

April 25, 2018

The Choice to Limit Choice

40 U. Mich. J. L. Reform 401

2007

Books & Book Chapters

  • Washington State, Wage and Hour Laws: A State-by-State Survey, BNA, co-authors: Thieme and Subit, 2011-2024
  • Handbook for Washington Seniors: Legal Rights and Resources, Legal Voice, editor-in-chief, 2012
  • The FLSA – A User's Manual, 5th Edition, FLSA, LRIS, co-author, 2010

Speaking Engagements

To 2025 Compensation…and Beyond!

Southwest Washington SHRM Annual Conference, Vancouver, WA

September 10, 2024

Show Me the Money! Incentivizing the Workforce of the Future

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

Show Me the Money: Incentivizing the Workforce of the Future

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

Equal Justice and the Law: Diversity & Inclusion and Equal Pay Initiatives in the Workplace

December 4, 2020

Understanding Pay Equity

Seattle, WA

November 7, 2019

Predictive Scheduling: 5 Tips to Stay Compliant

Deputy Webinar

August 6, 2019

Top Wage and Hour Compliance Tips

2019 PAC West Retailer Summit

July 18, 2019

Home Care in the Trump Era: A Practical Guide to Building Compliance

Home Care Association of Washington

April 25, 2018

Top 10 HR Strategies to Mitigate Risk & Ensure Compliance

2018 Washington State Employment Law & HR Conference - Washington State SHRM

April 20, 2018

Bring Your “A” Game: Arbitration Agreements with Class Waivers

Association of Corporate Counsel of Washington

January 25, 2018

Preparing for Change: An FLSA Seminar on the New Overtime Rule

Accounting Principals

August 10, 2016

DOL's Proposed Changes to the White Collar Regulations: What Should Employers Do Now?

Seattle, WA

February 25, 2016

The $50,440 Question

LWHRA Symposium

February 9, 2016

Top 10 Wage and Hour Compliance Tips

Seattle, WA

April 23, 2015

Conducting Lawful Investigations Workshop

Seattle, WA

September 12, 2013

Wage & Hour Boot Camp

Seattle, WA

April 9, 2013

Wage & Hour Boot Camp

Seattle, WA

March 20, 2013

Employment Law Update

Seattle, WA

January 24, 2013

Top 10 Wage and Hour Compliance Tips

August 24, 2012

2012 Wage & Hour Boot Camp – A Guide to Combating Wage & Hour Liability

Seattle, WA

March 20, 2012

New FLSA Initiatives and Issues Under the Obama Administration

Association of Washington Business

May 18, 2011

Education

  • J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 2007cum laude
  • B.A., University of Puget Sound, 2001summa cum laude

Bar Admission

Washington

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • US District Court: Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida