Overview

About Melissa

Melissa Healy represents employers in all areas of labor and employment law. She has significant litigation experience and has first- or second-chaired over 15 jury trials and arbitrations. She frequently counsels clients on a wide range of labor and employment-related issues, conducts training for employees and management, and provides employment-related assistance in connection with corporate transactions. Melissa has a strong traditional labor background and regularly represents employers in discharge and contract interpretation arbitrations and before the National Labor Relations Board. She particularly enjoys working with in-house counsel, Human Resources professionals, and managers to craft thoughtful and effective solutions to complex workplace challenges, and serving as their advocate in litigation.

Born and raised in Albany, Oregon, Melissa works with clients throughout the state. She has experience representing clients in several industries, including manufacturing, health care, and hospitality.

Before joining Stoel Rives, Melissa was an associate at Barran Liebman LLP and a judicial law clerk for Justice W. Scott Bales of the Arizona Supreme Court.

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Experience

Litigation

Obtained defense verdict for manufacturing client following jury trial on sex discrimination claims.
Obtained nuisance value settlement for manufacturing client following commencement of jury trial on retaliation claims.
Obtained full summary judgment in lawsuit alleging failure to accommodate current employee under the ADA.
Part of a trial team that obtained defense verdict following two-week jury trial on whistleblower retaliation claims.

Traditional Labor

Prevailed in discharge arbitration for large health care client involving nurse terminated for patient privacy violations.
Prevailed in contract interpretation arbitration for hospital client involving float employees.
Obtained dismissal of unfair labor practice charge against manufacturing client alleging termination based on union activity.
Prevailed in discharge arbitration for community-based, non-profit health organization involving pharmacist terminated for improper medication dispensation.
Prevailed in contract interpretation arbitration for health care client involving use of accrued vacation time.

Counseling/Transactional

Regularly counsels clients on issues including labor grievances, sick leave, family leave, disability law, and collective bargaining.
Conducts harassment, discrimination, performance management, and leave law training for employees and management.
Provides guidance to clients on employment-related aspects of corporate transactions, including advising on and drafting employment and retention bonus agreements.

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Honors

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

Listed among Rising Stars (Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation: Defense), Oregon Super Lawyers^®, 2013–2019
Contributing Editor, The Developing Labor Law (6th Ed.), 2012–present
Board Member and Treasurer, Oregon Southwest Washington Industry Liaison Group, 2014–present
Publications Liaison, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, 2019–present
Co-Chair, SHRM/Stoel Rives Labor and Employment Conference, 2017–2018
Campaign For Equal Justice Associates Committee, 2013–2018
Volunteer Attorney, Stoel Rives Pro Bono Night Clinic and U.S. District of Oregon Pro Bono Program, 2012-present
Stoel Rives Pro Bono Award, 2014
Member and Co-Chair, Stoel Rives Associates Committee, 2016–2017
Chair, Oregon New Lawyers Division Law Related Education Subcommittee, 2011–2015
Member, Oregon State Bar
Member, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Member, Oregon Women Lawyers
Member, Multnomah Bar Association
Member, American Bar Association

Civic Activities

Board Member, Kids Community Learning Center
Former Board Member, Classroom Law Project
Former Coach, Parkrose High School Constitution Team

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Insights & Presentations

Regularly contributes to the Stoel Rives World of Employment blog
“Impact of COVID-19,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Employment Practice Group meeting, April 2020
“Taming the COVID-19 Chaos: What Employers Need to Know Part 3,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, March 2020
“Taming the COVID-19 Chaos: What Employers Need to Know Part 2,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, March 2020
“Practical Approaches for Equal Pay,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Feb. 2020
“Legislative Update: Compensation with Emphasis on the Oregon Pay Equity Law,” Total Rewards Portland, Feb. 2020
“Employment Law Legislative Update: What Defense Lawyers Need to Know,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Employment Practice Group meeting, Oct. 2019
“Labor and Employment Breakfast Briefing: Debriefing the 2019 Legislative Session and New Employment Laws,” Stoel Rives LLP, Sept. 2019
“Employment Law – What Corporate Lawyers Need to Know,” Oregon State Bar Business Law Section, April 2019
“Department Of Labor’s proposed salary basis rule will make more employees eligible for overtime” (co-author), Idaho Business Review, April 2019
“Workplace Investigations,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Feb. 2019
“Labor and Employment Lightning Round,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Feb. 2019
“Stem the Tide of Unionizing Workforces: Labor Issues,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Feb. 2018
“Lightning Round: Staying Anchored with Your Top 10 Legal Updates,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, Feb. 2018
“Oregon Sick Leave,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 15th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2017
“Issues Facing Employers with a Primarily ‘Graying’ Workforce and a Primarily ‘Millennial’ Workforce,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 15th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2017
“Coaching the HR Professional: A Course on FMLA, OFLA, Oregon Paid Sick Leave & the ADA,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, Nov.3, 2016
“Best Practices in Employee Termination,”SHRM/Stoel Rives 14th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2016
“New Oregon Employment Laws for 2016,” OSWILG, Dec. 7, 2015
“Oregon’s New Statewide Sick Leave Law,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, Dec. 3, 2015
“Discrimination in the Workplace,” University of Oregon School of Law, April 17, 2015
“Weaving Through Complicated Americans with Disabilities Act Scenarios,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 13th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2015
“But I Was Off the Clock: Managing Off-Duty Conduct,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, Nov. 12, 2014
“Harassment & Discrimination in the Workplace: What You Need to Know,” SHRM Rogue Valley Chapter May Legal Seminar, May 15, 2014
“College Football Elections and ‘Negative Comment’ Protections: What’s New at the NLRB” (co-author), News & Views, the Portland Human Resource Management Association newsletter, May 2014
“Hot Topics: New Developments in Labor and Employment Law,” SHRM Rogue Valley Chapter May Legal Seminar, May 15, 2014
“Tips for Employers on Weathering the Storm This Winter“ (co-author), News & Views, the Portland Human Resource Management Association newsletter, March 2014
“Labor and Employment Law 101,” University of Oregon School of Law, Feb. 21, 2014
“Portland Paid Sick Leave,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, Feb. 5, 2014
“ORS 652.150: Tips to Address and Resolve Loopholes in the Statute’s 12-Day Safe Harbor Provision” (co-author), The Verdict, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel newsletter, Issue 2, 2014
“Portland Sick Leave: What Employers Need to Know,” Western Pension & Benefits Conference, Nov. 4, 2013
“Labor and Employment Law 101,” Willamette University College of Law, Sept. 6, 2013
“Be Cautious When Classifying Workers as Independent Contractors,” The Young Lawyer, July/Aug. 2013
“Putting Out Kitchen Fires: Dealing with Workplace Emergencies,” SHRM 11th Annual Employment Law Conference, Feb. 28, 2013
“Workplace Investigations of Employment Issues,” Pacific Northwest Paralegal Association, Nov. 28, 2012
“High School Diploma Required: Employers Should be Cautious about Educational Qualifications when Hiring,” Daily Journal of Commerce, Dec. 21, 2011
“Employers Should Beware of ‘Cat’s Paw’ Liability,” Coast River Business Journal, Aug. 2011
“Pitfalls of Summer Internships, and Summer in General,” Daily Journal of Commerce, June 23, 2011
“What to Know Before you Check an Employee’s Credit History,” Daily Journal of Commerce, Jan. 28, 2011