Alex Cates

Alex Cates is a labor and employment attorney in Holland & Knight's Seattle office. Ms. Cates focuses her practice on employment advice and counseling, workplace investigations and employment guidance on transactional matters for a wide range of employers.

Ms. Cates regularly counsels clients on all aspects of the employment relationship, including employee hiring and terminations, workplace misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour compliance, state and federal leave laws, accommodations, reductions in force (RIF) and performance management. She also assists clients in the negotiation and drafting of employment-related documents, including offer letters, employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, employee handbooks, arbitration agreements, separation agreements, incentive compensation agreements and confidentiality agreements.

Ms. Cates provides employment guidance on a variety of transactional matters and has worked on a large number of complex corporate transactions, spanning private equity, emerging company, capital markets and public company work.

Ms. Cates has significant experience overseeing and conducting sensitive internal investigations, including those involving allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, bullying and misconduct. Her investigations experience spans a broad range of industries and includes high-profile claims that have made national headlines. She is known for her clear, impartial approach and ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics with discretion and credibility.

Ms. Cates has represented employers in both single-plaintiff and class action litigation in state and federal courts, as well as before the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, California Labor Commissioner, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries and Washington Department of Labor and Industries. Her litigation experience and knowledge allow her to provide comprehensive guidance that minimizes legal risk while aligning with clients' strategic goals.

In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Cates maintains an active pro bono practice. She has assisted survivors of domestic violence in obtaining restraining orders against their abusers and is passionate about juvenile justice and election law compliance. In 2023, she successfully secured parole for a client who was sentenced to life in prison without parole as a juvenile in Louisiana.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Cates was an attorney at a global law firm in its Seattle office. Previously, she completed a secondment with the legal department of a global internet technology company, where she provided in-house support on complex employment matters across jurisdictions.