Experience

• Obtained summary judgment dismissal for faith-based university in religious discrimination lawsuit, affirmed by court of appeal.
• Favorably resolved multi-student U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) complaint related to student housing accommodation issues and threatened litigation against private university.
• Obtained early dismissal and attorney fees award by anti-SLAPP motion in defamation claim brought against large public university and department chair by faculty member who was denied promotion.
• Obtained dismissal at pleadings stage of federal civil rights and retaliation lawsuit filed by former medical resident against public university and 18 faculty and department administrators related to his dismissal from a residency program.
• Assisted with resolution of OCR complaint and threatened litigation against private university in high-profile matter brought by transgender student related to public accommodation and disability issues.
• Obtained dismissal of individual administrator from lawsuit and dismissal of majority of claims at summary judgment for public university in federal action alleging section 1983 due process, equal protection, employment, contract, wage-and-hour, and tort claims.
• Successfully defended health care provider in multimillion-dollar lawsuit alleging hostile work environment based on race, gender, and national origin discrimination; retaliation; negligent supervision; intentional infliction of emotional distress; family leave violations; and wage-and-hour violations.
• Obtained favorable pretrial settlement for large regional health care system in $7 million age and gender discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit.
• Obtained favorable pretrial settlement in nurse practice act retaliation lawsuit.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal of lawsuit with zero-dollar settlement for large regional health care system in failure to accommodate disability discrimination claim.
• Obtained favorable resolution in advance of class certification in multistate collective action wage-and-hour lawsuit on behalf of assisted living and memory care centers.
• Obtained summary judgment dismissal for Fortune 500 manufacturer in federal failure to accommodate, family leave, and disability discrimination lawsuit.
• Successfully represented large North American forest products company in whistleblower administrative charge with simultaneous OSHA and DEQ enforcement actions.
• Obtained favorable resolution for Fortune 500 manufacturer in same-sex sexual harassment, workers’ compensation retaliation, protected medical leave retaliation, and wrongful termination lawsuit.
• Obtained summary judgment dismissal for high-tech manufacturer in wage-and-hour lawsuit involving discretionary incentive compensation and enforcement of employee separation agreement.

Honors & Activities

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (currently: Employment Law—Management), 2021–2023
• Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers^® (Employment Litigation: Defense, Schools & Education), 2019–2020
• Listed among Rising Stars (Employment Litigation: Defense, Schools & Education), Oregon Super Lawyers^®, 2012–2018
• Selected as a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation, 2019–2023
• Campaign for Equal Justice: Board of Directors, 2017–present; Associates Committee, 2013–2016; Associates Committee Recognition, 2013
• Oregon State Bar Committees: Legal Services Program (past chair), 2014–present; Pro Bono Committee, 2010–2013
• Member, National Association of College and University Attorneys
• Member, Oregon State Bar and American Bar Associations, Litigation and Labor and Employment Sections
• Member, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
• Mentor, member, Multnomah Bar Association
• Co-Chair, Stoel Rives/SHRM Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, 2013–2016
• Volunteer Attorney, Stoel Rives Pro Bono Night Clinic and U.S. District of Oregon and Ninth Circuit Pro Bono programs
• Stoel Rives Pro Bono Award, 2009–2010, 2013

Insights & Presentations

• Speaker, “Best Practices in Employee Separations, Including Reductions in Force,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 21st Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2023
• Speaker, “What’s on Our Mind in 2023: Workplace Trends and Legal Updates,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, February 2023
• Speaker, “Legal & Legislative Update,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2022
• Presenter, “Investigations: 2020 Title IX Regulations,” The Alliance Webinar Series, June 2020
• Speaker, “Addressing Harassment in the Workplace,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2020
• Speaker, “Oregon’s New Equal Pay Act,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2019
• Speaker, “Issue Spotting for Higher Ed Institutions: It’s Not Scary When You Are Prepared,” Stoel Rives education seminar, October 2018
• Speaker, “Navigating the Modern Workforce,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2018
• Speaker, “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 15th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2017
• Speaker, “Effective Supervisory Practices,” Willamette Valley Higher Education HR Consortium Management Development Series, 2016–2017, 2013–2014
• Speaker, “Employee Classification Best Practices with an Update on the New Department of Labor Regulations,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Briefing Seminar, September 2016
• Speaker, “Effective Tips for Working with Outside Counsel,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 14th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2016
• Speaker, “What You Need to Know About Off-Duty Conduct & Employee Discipline,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 13th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2015
• Speaker, “Hot Topics & Legal Updates for HR Professionals in Higher Education,” Oregon College and University Professional Association for Human Resources Spring Conference, 2014
• Speaker, “Litigation 101: What Every HR Professional Should Know,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 12th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2014
• Speaker, “Ingredients and Substitutions: Practical ADA Inquiries,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 11th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2013
• Author, “Oregon Supreme Court Holds Employee’s Detrimental Reliance on Employer’s Statement Created Binding Job Offer,” The Verdict, 2013

Related News & Publications