A leader in labor and employment law, Stoel Rives is consistently recognized in top legal ranking publications such as Best Lawyers® and Chambers USA. Our more than two dozen employment advisors, litigators, and labor relations attorneys provide counseling and dispute resolution services across the full spectrum of labor and employment law. We work with employers throughout the nation to ensure compliance and avoid disputes by providing practical counseling and training. Should litigation or other employment-related disputes arise, we provide you with a vigorous, thorough, and well-reasoned defense with the goal of meeting your business objectives at a reasonable cost.
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Bryan Hawkins, Labor & Employment Partner and Managing Partner for Stoel Rives’ California offices, outlines the biggest compliance challenges facing employers in the state’s uniquely complex labor environment. Hawkins emphasizes that wage and hour issues—especially the prohibition on rounding employee time—remain at the forefront of litigation risk. He also warns that retaliation claims are under heightened scrutiny, with courts increasingly presuming adverse actions against employees who engage in protected conduct to be retaliatory unless well-documented otherwise.
As workplace accommodation claims surge, employers face evolving compliance challenges under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). Jenny Palmer, Partner at Stoel Rives LLP, outlines key trends reshaping employment law, from the rise in mental health-related ADA claims to growing requests for remote and hybrid work accommodations. These cases, often involving invisible disabilities, demand nuanced, case-by-case analysis through the interactive process.
Karen O’Connor, Partner in the Labor & Employment Group at Stoel Rives, highlights the firm’s deeply collaborative culture and its value to clients. She explains that collaboration extends beyond individual practice groups to span offices, disciplines, and areas of expertise—allowing the firm to meet a wide range of client needs effectively.
Karen O’Connor, Partner in the Labor & Employment Group, discusses how employers can navigate today’s heightened scrutiny of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives. Speaking from her experience counseling clients through complex employment issues and litigation, O’Connor notes a growing trend of organizations scaling back or altering their DE&I programs out of legal concerns.
Karen O’Connor, Partner in the Labor & Employment Group at Stoel Rives, shares why she joined the firm and what has kept her there for more than a decade. Coming from a labor and employment boutique, O’Connor and her colleagues recognized Stoel’s strong market presence—often winning the work they competed for—and decided to join the team they respected most.
Karen O’Connor, Partner in the Labor & Employment Group, reflects on her recent move from Stoel Rives’ Portland office to Boise after spending her entire career in one city. While she admits to feeling some nerves about the transition, O’Connor was immediately struck by the warm reception from her new colleagues.
