Biography
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.
Mr. Earnhart has over 25 years of practice before Alaska state courts, U.S. District Courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and arbitration panels, specializing in employment, commercial, professional malpractice, construction, and injury defense litigation. He has substantial trial experience with more than 20 jury trials to verdict and has successfully litigated dismissal of cases with up to $12,000,000 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.
Practice Areas
- Labor Negotiations
- Complex Litigation
- Administrative Law
- Mediation
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington
- J.D. - 1994
- Willamette University
- B.A. - 1990
Admitted to Practice
- Alaska, 1994
- Oregon, 1995
- Washington, 1996
- U.S. District Court District of Alaska
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
Past Positions
- Wohlforth, Brecht, Cartledge & Brooking, LLP, Counsel, 2014 to 2015
- Municipality of Anchorage, Senior Labor and Employment Attorney, 2010 to 2014
- Richmond & Quinn, P.C., Anchorage, Alaska, Counsel, 2006 to 2009
- Lane Powell then Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, Anchorage, Alaska, Partner, 1994 to 2006
Pro-Bono Activities
- President, Nordic Ski Association, Anchorage
- Safety Officer, Board Member, Knik Little League
- Member, Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission
- Vice President, Eagle River Valley Community Council
- Chair, Zoning Board of Examiners and Appeals Pro Bono Committee
- President, Bayshore Owners’ Association