Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

James Oswald

Seattle,WA

Summary

From 1992 through 2010, I advised and represented most major labor organizations in Washington State regarding compliance with campaign finance requirements.

The balance of my career has been devoted, overwhelmingly, to representing employees, unions, and joint union-management employee benefit funds.

Overview

41
41
years of professional experience

Work History

Of Counsel

Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt LLP
01.2012 - 12.2023
  • Advised Union-side Trustees of Taft Hartley multi-employer benefit plan regarding compliance with federal laws, plan design, benefits appeals by participants, and disputes with service providers (2012-2023)
  • Litigated class action law suits on behalf of state employees challenging reduction in pension benefits, and failure to properly compute benefits in pension plan (2012-2014)
  • Occasionally consulted with attorneys in firm regarding campaign finance issues and disputes (2012-2020)

Sole Practitioner

Law Offices Of James D. Oswald
02.2001 - 12.2011
  • Represented individuals and classes of employees challenging denial or reduction in pension, disability, and medical benefits claims
  • Counseled labor organizations (including Washington State Labor Council, Martin Luther King County Labor Council, Teamsters JC 28, SEIU State Council,Washington State Council of Firefighters), environmental groups and professional organization regarding campaign finance matters
  • Under auspices of Washington State Labor Council, provided annual seminars for all labor organizations in Washington State regarding compliance with campaign finance laws
  • Represented organizations and individuals in connection with alleged violations of Washington State campaign finance laws
  • Counseled union trustees of Taft Hartley multi-employer benefit plan, and advised trustees regarding plan design, benefit claims, and disputes with service providers

Partner

Song Oswald & Mondress LLC
01.1998 - 01.2001
  • As noted above, counseled and represented labor organizations before Public Disclosure Commission regarding campaign finance issues; conducted annual educational events under auspices of Washington State Labor Council for all unions in state regarding campaign finance compliance
  • Litigated employee benefits disputes on behalf of single employer and Taft Hartley multi-employer benefit plans
  • Counseled both union and management-side trustees of multi-employer pension plan and multi-employer medical plan
  • As noted above, counseled union trustees of Taft-Hartley multi-employer benefit plan

Partner

Davies, Roberts, & Reid LLP
07.1982 - 01.1998
  • Successfully lobbied to Public Disclosure Commission and staff on behalf of Washington State Labor Council regarding rules implementing Initiative Measure No.134, which sought to reduce participation by labor organizations in the political process (1992-95)
  • Counseled and represented Washington State Labor Council, King County Labor Council, and Teamsters Joint Council 28 regarding campaign finance issues (1992-1998)
  • On behalf of Taft-Hartley Pension Trust Funds, litigated issues regarding withdrawal liability of employers terminating contributions to Trust Funds, and liability of Trust Funds to persons who had worked on Trans-Alaska Pipeline, but had not vested in pension benefits (1990-1997)
  • Represented labor unions in labor-management matters, including representation before NLRB, grievance arbitrations, negotiations, and compliance with Taft Hartley Act and Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (1986-1992)

Education

J.D. - Law

Berkeley School of Law (formerly Boalt Hall)
Berkeley, CA
06.1977

Bachelor of Arts - Economics

University of California
Berkeley, CA
06.1974

Skills

  • Familiar with Washington State Campaign Finance Law, and Public Disclosure Commission procedures
  • Significant experience operating in Taft-Hartley Trust Fund environment, where trustees with opposing interests must cooperate to serve goals of Trust Fund
  • Experienced in critically evaluating legal arguments advanced by opponents in litigation and by representatives of persons claiming employee benefits

Timeline

Of Counsel

Barnard Iglitzin & Lavitt LLP
01.2012 - 12.2023

Sole Practitioner

Law Offices Of James D. Oswald
02.2001 - 12.2011

Partner

Song Oswald & Mondress LLC
01.1998 - 01.2001

Partner

Davies, Roberts, & Reid LLP
07.1982 - 01.1998

J.D. - Law

Berkeley School of Law (formerly Boalt Hall)

Bachelor of Arts - Economics

University of California

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James Oswald