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 discrimination against and constructive discharge of pregnant employee.
• Obtained full summary judgment in lawsuit alleging failure to accommodate current employee under the ADA.
• Obtained full summary judgment in lawsuit alleging disability discrimination, family leave interference and retaliation.
• Part of a trial team that obtained defense verdict following two-week jury trial on whistleblower retaliation claims.

Traditional Labor

• Prevailed in multi-day Oregon Employment Relations Board proceeding involving implementation of COVID-19 vaccination mandate for healthcare workers.
• Prevailed in discharge arbitration for large health care client involving 20+ year 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.
• Prevailed in discharge arbitration for non-profit organization involving employee terminated for attendance.
• Obtained favorable settlement for client in matter involving termination of 8(f) agreement.

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 labor and employment-related aspects of corporate transactions, including advising on successorship obligations and drafting employment and retention bonus agreements.
• Regularly conducts internal investigations for private and public sector employers concerning potential harassment, discrimination and retaliation matters.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

• Selected by the Portland Business Journal as a Forty Under 40 honoree, 2020
• Included in Best Lawyers^®: Ones to Watch in America (Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment), 2021–2023
• Listed among Rising Stars (Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation: Defense), Oregon Super Lawyers^®, 2013–2020
• Contributing Editor, The Developing Labor Law (6th Ed.), 2012–present
• Board Member and Treasurer, Oregon Southwest Washington Industry Liaison Group, 2014–present
• Chair, Vice Chair and Publications Liaison of Employment Practice Group, 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

Insights & Presentations

• Regularly contributes to the Stoel Rives World of Employment blog
• “Advanced Leave and Accommodation Issues for Defense Counsel,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Annual Convention, June 2022
• “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Moving Forward from Discussion to Solutions,” The CFO Leadership Council, June 2022
• “Law School for the CFO: Employment Law Issues,” The CFO Leadership Council, April 2022
• “Accommodations,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2022
• “2 Things for Manufacturers to Keep in Mind About Mental Health Issues in the Workplace” (co-author), Portland Business Journal, November 2021
• “Mental Health in the 2021 Workplace,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, September 2021
• “Oregon’s Health Care Vaccine Mandate,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, September 2021
• “Returning to In-Person Work,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, May 2021
• “The Latest and Greatest in Oregon Employment Law,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, April 2021
• “The Leave Law Jigsaw Puzzle,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2021
• “Law School for the CFO: Employment Law Issues,” The CFO Leadership Council, March 2021
• “Back-to-Work from Home,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, December 2020
• “Implications for Employers as we Return to Work Following COVID-19,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Employment Practice Group, May 2020
• “Impact of COVID-19,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Employment Practice Group, April 2020
• “Taming the COVID-19 Chaos: What Employers Need to Know Part 5” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, 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, February 2020
• “Legislative Update: Compensation with Emphasis on the Oregon Pay Equity Law,” Total Rewards Portland, February 2020
• “Employment Law Legislative Update: What Defense Lawyers Need to Know,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Employment Practice Group meeting, October 2019
• “Labor and Employment Breakfast Briefing: Debriefing the 2019 Legislative Session and New Employment Laws,” Stoel Rives LLP, September 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, February 2019
• “Labor and Employment Lightning Round,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2019
• “Stem the Tide of Unionizing Workforces: Labor Issues,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2018
• “Lightning Round: Staying Anchored with Your Top 10 Legal Updates,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 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, November 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, December 7, 2015
• “Oregon’s New Statewide Sick Leave Law,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, December 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, November 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, February 21, 2014
• “Portland Paid Sick Leave,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, February 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, November 4, 2013
• “Labor and Employment Law 101,” Willamette University College of Law, September 6, 2013
• “Be Cautious When Classifying Workers as Independent Contractors,” The Young Lawyer, July/August 2013
• “Putting Out Kitchen Fires: Dealing with Workplace Emergencies,” SHRM 11th Annual Employment Law Conference, February 28, 2013
• “Workplace Investigations of Employment Issues,” Pacific Northwest Paralegal Association, November 28, 2012
• “High School Diploma Required: Employers Should be Cautious about Educational Qualifications when Hiring,” Daily Journal of Commerce, December 21, 2011
• “Employers Should Beware of ‘Cat’s Paw’ Liability,” Coast River Business Journal, August 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, January 28, 2011

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