Frank Freed Subit & Thomas LLP

Employee and union representation

The clearest feature of this Seattle firm is its defined client base. Frank Freed Subit & Thomas LLP represents employees and labor unions in workplace matters across Washington. The firm dates to 1981 and handles individual employment claims as well as class actions.

Its employee work covers discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, unpaid wages and wrongful termination. Attorneys also handle severance terms, non-compete agreements and other employment contracts. This mix allows the firm to address disputes that arise during employment and claims brought after a working relationship ends.

Focus and practice areas

Workplace disputes and employee rights

Discrimination and harassment claims form part of the firm's stated employment work. The site also identifies disability accommodation and medical or family leave matters. These services may involve rights under workplace policies or laws such as the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Wage disputes are another named area. The firm handles unpaid wage claims for individual employees and can bring class actions when a dispute affects a group. Whistleblower and retaliation matters add a related focus on workplace conduct after an employee reports concerns or exercises a protected right.

Contracts, licensing and public employment

The firm's contract work includes severance negotiations and non-compete agreements. Sean M. Phelan also handles employment contract negotiation. These matters can call for advice before a client signs an agreement, while a dispute may lead to mediation or litigation.

Civil service appeals and professional licensing matters extend the firm's work beyond common termination and discrimination claims. Those areas may matter to public employees and licensed workers whose employment concerns involve an agency or licensing body. The site names both fields as part of the firm's employee representation.

Labor union work

Frank Freed Subit & Thomas has a separate labor law role for union clients. Its attorneys assist with contract negotiations, interest arbitration and grievance arbitration. The firm also handles unfair labor practice matters and duty of fair representation cases.

The website identifies several union clients by name. They include Amalgamated Transit Union Locals 587, 1576 and 883, Office & Professional Employees International Union Local 8, and SEIU Healthcare Local 775NW. Naming these clients gives readers a concrete view of the firm's work with transit, office and health care labor groups.

The union work also adds useful context to the employee side of the firm. Contract bargaining and arbitration differ from an individual lawsuit, yet both concern workplace rights and employment relationships. In my opinion, the stated mix gives the firm a clear identity within Washington labor and employment law.

How the attorney team is built

The firm's site names Jillian M. Cutler, Ellicott Dandy, Steven B. Frank, Anna Mendoza, Jack Miller, Sean M. Phelan, Catherine Sellers and Michael C. Subit. Steven B. Frank is a founding partner and became of counsel in July 2015. His continuing role connects the current attorney list with the firm's founding in 1981.

Attorneys with published background details

Jillian M. Cutler graduated from Yale Law School in 2004. Her work covers employment and labor matters, along with Social Security and disability matters. She was selected to Rising Stars for 2010 through 2017 and to Super Lawyers for 2023 through 2026.

Jack Miller handles employment and labor law, civil litigation, civil rights, class actions and mass tort matters. That stated work connects individual workplace disputes with broader civil claims and group litigation. His class action work also fits the firm's published description of its employee cases.

Sean M. Phelan earned his law degree from the City University of New York School of Law. He represents clients in negotiation, mediation and litigation involving harassment, discrimination and retaliation. His work also includes severance and employment contract negotiation.

Employment, civil rights and appeals

Michael C. Subit is a partner who earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1990. He also holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science and History from Yale University. His work focuses on employment law, civil rights and appellate matters.

Subit's stated case areas include discrimination, whistleblower claims, wage disputes and wrongful termination. Those subjects closely track the firm's main employee services. His appellate work adds a distinct court-focused area to the attorney profiles provided.

What the record shows

The published information supports a focused account of the firm. It has operated since 1981, represents employees and unions across Washington, and handles individual claims as well as class actions. It also works outside court through negotiation, mediation and arbitration.

The service list is detailed enough to help readers sort common employment concerns. A worker facing discrimination, unpaid wages, retaliation, a disputed termination, leave issues or a severance agreement can identify a matching area on the site. Union representatives can also see the specific bargaining, arbitration and labor dispute services offered.

The attorney information adds depth where individual backgrounds are stated. Cutler, Miller, Phelan and Subit each have described fields that connect to the firm's central employment work, while Frank's founding role supplies historical continuity. The full named roster also lets prospective clients identify the lawyers associated with the firm before making contact.

Reviewer assessment

Frank Freed Subit & Thomas presents a consistent employee and union focus. Its stated work covers claims inside and outside court, contract matters, class actions and union proceedings. The firm does not rely on a single type of workplace dispute to define its services.

The strongest evidence comes from the dated founding history, the named attorney roster, the detailed service categories and the identified union clients. Those facts give prospective clients a practical basis for deciding whether their matter fits the firm's work. The record supports consideration by Washington employees, groups of workers and labor unions seeking counsel for the listed employment or labor issues.