William A. Earnhart

About William

Mr. Earnhart has over 30 years of trial practice before Alaska state courts, U.S. District Courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and arbitration panels, specializing in employment, commercial, and injury litigation. He has substantial trial experience with more than 20 jury trials to verdict and has successfully litigated dismissal of cases with up to $37,000,000 in possible exposure. He has also often appeared before the Alaska Supreme Court in appellate matters. Mr. Earnhart is also a trained mediator and participated in the joint MIT and Harvard workshop on collaborative negotiations. He is a Board Member for Professional Mediators of Alaska. Mr. Earnhart heads BHBC’s labor practice group and serves as lead management negotiator and counsel representing utilities and public entities. In addition to his labor practice, he also regularly focuses on employment law, commercial litigation and appellate work, and municipal law. He serves as general counsel to Native Alaskan Village corporations, municipalities, and closely held private corporations. Mr. Earnhart previously served as the Senior Labor and Employment Attorney for the Municipality of Anchorage where he advised the Mayor, the Assembly, and various municipal departments in labor negotiations, arbitrations, trial practice, and appellate matters. He also has extensive experience before administrative agencies, including the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights, Anchorage Equal Rights Commission, and U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; and has successfully defended clients in wage and hour matters, claims of breach of contract, retaliation, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and race, age, gender, and disability discrimination.

Licensed States

Education

Colleagues at Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot

William H. Bittner

Partner

Suzanne Cherot

Of Counsel

Elisabeth H. Ross

Partner

Brian Durrell

Of Counsel

William P. Horn

Of Counsel

Jon M. DeVore

Partner