Brian Padgett

Brian Padgett is the owner and managing attorney of Employer Solutions Law. He concentrates his practice primarily in workplace safety and fighting DOSH/WISHA violations, workers’ compensation advocacy, employment law, and appearing before the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. He is also a sought-after speaker, and has given scores of presentations to companies, industry associations, and state agencies on a wide range of employment law matters.

Brian Padgett believes that the vast majority of employers want to give employees a safe workplace and fair treatment, and he offers them the legal support they need to do that. His goal is for employers to have a better and more robust safety culture after working with him. Brian’s commitment to keeping Washington workers safe was recognized when he was named the 2024 Safety Professional of the Year by the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals. He is the only attorney to whom the chapter has ever given that honor.

Before joining Employer Solutions Law in 2014, Brian gained valuable experience in workers’ compensation matters from the claimant’s perspective at a Washington State plaintiff’s firm, where he handled workers’ compensation and disability cases. Prior to that, he worked for a national disability advocacy law firm based in New York City.

It was Brian’s own experience as a worker that led him to the law in the first place. After graduating from Southern Oregon University, Brian was a successful stage actor on both the West Coast and in New York City. As many actors do, he also held a variety of other jobs, from construction to working in a shipyard to painting houses to bartending and waiting tables. His coworkers at a New York City restaurant elected him union shop steward. That experience was his first taste of advocacy, and spurred him to go to law school.

These days, Brian is known for his skill in resolving complex matters through creative negotiation, and his tenacity as a litigator when necessary to protect his clients’ interests. He is respected by Washington agencies and Assistant Attorneys General for his integrity. He notes, “I am not the person you call if you have a bad safety program and you don’t want to improve it. I am the attorney to call when the government gets something wrong, or you need to make sure you’re getting things right.” Washington employers benefit from Brian’s skill and reputation, and appreciate his accessibility and clear communication.

Brian lives on the Cedar River in Maple Valley with his wife and their dog Ziggy. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his friends and family—especially outdoors when the sun is shining! He is also active in the Greater Northwest Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.