Seyfarth Appoints Lauren Parris Watts as Labor & Employment Practice Office Lead in Seattle

January 7, 2026 – Seyfarth Shaw LLP has named Lauren Parris Watts as the international law firm’s new office lead for the Labor & Employment practice in its growing Seattle office.

Parris Watts has established herself as a go-to lawyer in crisis response and complex discrimination litigation, especially in the Seattle market. Her proficiency in navigating high-stakes legal challenges has made her an invaluable asset to major clients seeking to manage crises effectively and mitigate litigation risks.

Parris Watts, who has been with Seyfarth since 2021, defends against high-stakes, bet-the-company claims that could potentially disrupt business operations and impact company reputation. She guides clients through sensitive investigations and crisis situations, offering legal counsel on messaging, discipline, training, and implementation of best practices.

Her ability to navigate the intricate legal landscape of discrimination cases, coupled with a strategic approach to minimizing exposure and achieving successful resolutions, underscores Parris Watts’ role as a leading authority in this challenging field.

The City of Seattle entrusted Parris Watts to lead its defense in a series of vaccination litigation cases with more than 75 plaintiffs collectively. Across the litigation, the exposure is estimated to be in the tens of millions. Mayor Bruce Harrell and former Mayor Jenny Durkan were among the co-defendants.

Parris Watts and her team of Seyfarth lawyers won summary judgment on behalf of Seattle dismissing a total of 45 plaintiffs in Rochester v. City of Seattle, as well as winning two separate motions for sanctions against plaintiffs based on court rules violations.

“We are thrilled to have Lauren step into this leadership position as we continue to expand our top tier Labor & Employment practice in Seattle,” said Laura Maechtlen, chair of Seyfarth’s Labor & Employment department. “Lauren plays a key role in recruiting and mentoring associates, co-chairing the Workplace Investigations & Crisis Management practice group, and leveraging Seyfarth’s innovative technology solutions to drive client value through innovation. Her dedication to training and mentorship has fostered a collaborative and supportive environment within our firm and made her a natural choice to head our L&E practice in Seattle.”

Parris Watts succeeds Molly Gabel as Labor & Employment office lead for the Seattle office. Gabel will continue to serve as vice-chair of Seyfarth’s Labor Management Relations practice group.

“I am truly excited and honored to build upon the success Molly has had in helping to establish Seyfarth as a go-to firm for labor and employment in Seattle,” said Parris Watts. “There are tremendous growth opportunities ahead as we combine our unmatched national reputation with a supreme knowledge of the employment challenges clients face in the Pacific Northwest and, particularly, the state of Washington and the Seattle metropolitan area.”

Parris Watts earned her JD at Seattle University School of Law and her BA at Johns Hopkins University.

Seyfarth’s market-leading and award-winning Labor and Employment practice delivers strategic counsel and defense of disputes across the full employee lifecycle and every facet of labor and employment law, backed by more than 400 attorneys and a global reach spanning nearly 200 countries. This integrated approach positions Seyfarth as an industry leader and go-to advisor, offering clients innovative solutions and a deep bench of experienced attorneys to address the most challenging workplace legal issues.

About Seyfarth: With approximately 1000 lawyers across 17 offices, Seyfarth Shaw LLP provides top-tier advisory, litigation, and transactional legal services to clients worldwide.