Marc Cote

MEDIATOR

Expertise Areas:

  • Employment Law and Class Actions
  • Discrimination and Wage and Hour Claims
  • Disability Rights
  • Civil Rights Violations
  • General Civil Litigation
  • Commercial and Contract

WAMS Mediator Certification: 2021

Accomplishments:

Marc Cote is a partner with Frank Freed Subit & Thomas LLP with an emphasis on employment law and class actions. His mediation practice primarily encompasses cases involving all aspects of discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour disputes, and other employment issues. More specifically, Mr. Cote’s mediation work often involves claims under the Washington Law Against Discrimination, Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and state and federal wage and hour laws. As an experienced class action attorney, Mr. Cote has a keen sense of the ins and outs of class action settlement structure and the settlement approval process under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 and Washington State Civil Rule 23.

As an advocate, Mr. Cote works on the cutting edge of emerging employment law issues and has achieved significant successes at the Washington Supreme Court that have changed the legal landscape for employment rights in Washington. He also advises small businesses on employment law issues and represents business professionals, lawyers, and doctors in employment and business negotiations and disputes. Mr. Cote has been named to the Washington Super Lawyers list, and prior to that was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for many years. He often speaks on employment law subjects for bar associations, legal aid organizations, law school classes, and CLE seminars.

Mr. Cote has a knack for assessing risk and helping parties make reasoned decisions to reach pragmatic resolutions of their disputes. His listening skills, creativity, and empathy for all involved helps him guide parties toward settlement in challenging cases. His extensive litigation experience gives him important perspective on how judges and juries see the legal issues parties are confronting, providing valuable insight that he is able to share in the mediation process.

Education:

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University SOL, Mediating the Litigated Case Program; University of Washington School of Law, with high honors (2nd in class), JD; Seattle University, Sullivan Scholar, summa cum laude, BA

Affiliations:

Washington Arbitration & Mediation Service • Washington Employment Lawyers Assn • King County Bar Association • Washington State Bar Association • Planning Committee of Pacific Coast Labor and Employment Law Conference • Co-Author Wage and Hour Law Chapter, Washington Association of Justice Employment Law Deskbook