Amy Joseph Pedersen

Overview

Amy Joseph Pedersen is senior counsel to the Labor and Employment section of the Litigation practice group. She focuses exclusively on employment litigation and counseling, primarily on the employer’s side of a dispute but, on occasion, also represents executives and executive groups. Amy has substantial trial experience in state and federal courts, as well as in administrative proceedings and arbitration, in all areas of employment law including discrimination and wage class actions. She also has significant experience in noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreement negotiation, drafting and enforcement litigation and workplace investigations. Amy is a past member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Pro Bono Committee, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1985

University of Oregon, B.A., 1982; Phi Beta Kappa

Certification as Senior Professional in Human Resources

Admissions

Oregon

Supreme Court of the United States

United States District Court, District of Oregon

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Experience

Nike v. Dekovic, et. al. Obtained temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on behalf of Nike in misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, and business tort litigation involving Adidas and three former Nike footwear designers, ultimately securing confidential settlement after favorable discovery rulings.
Ossana v. Nike. Defense verdict after lengthy jury trial in which plaintiff sought $27M in damages, including punitive damages, for alleged whistleblower retaliation.
Ranza v. Nike & Nike European Operations Netherlands. Won motion to dismiss based on complex jurisdictional issues after extensive discovery in sex and age discrimination case. Decision affirmed by Ninth Circuit.
Townsend v. Nike. Defense verdict after lengthy jury trial in which employee alleged race discrimination in promotion process.
Nike v. McCarthy. Injunction obtained in hard-fought suit by Nike against former executive who left for Reebok in violation of his noncompetition agreement. Injunction upheld on appeal to the Ninth Circuit.
Callaway Golf v. Nike. Injunction avoided in case of first impression where Callaway Golf attempted to enjoin Nike’s hiring of executive by use of novel “inevitable disclosure” doctrine. Petition for writ of mandamus to Oregon Supreme Court by Callaway Golf defeated.
Confidential party v. Nike. Defense verdict in month-long arbitration involving complex endorsement contract claims for several hundred million dollars.
Injunction obtained on behalf of insurance company against former salesperson for violation of nonsolicitation clause.
James Hardie Building Products v. Johnson. Matter favorably settled after lengthy injunction trial and appeal on behalf of major manufacturer against former salesperson for violation of noncompetition agreement.
Valdez v. KOIN-TV. Favorably settled Equal Pay Act class action claims by female production technicians employed by television studio.
Guydish v. U.S. Bakery. Summary judgment obtained in overtime wage and hour class action in Washington.
Harrington v. City of Portland. Co-counsel in defense verdict in headliner three-week trial of gender discrimination claims by Chief of Police Penny Harrington against Mayor Bud Clark and the City of Portland.
Defense verdict in week-long arbitration of on-air talent’s claims of age discrimination against television station.
Many cases dismissed by summary judgments obtained in favor of employers in race, age, gender, national origin, religion, whistleblower, injured worker and disability discrimination and retaliation cases.
Workplace investigations of race and gender discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.
Regular employment advice given to employers in many industries, including entertainment, marketing, sports, manufacturing, architecture, health care, real estate, technology, insurance, retail, non-profits, forest products, media, financial services, telecommunications, web services and construction.

Insights

Insights & Presentations

“Present and Future State of the Workplace,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2, 2022
“The Leave Law Jigsaw Puzzle,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 4, 2021
“Paid Leave Developments,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2020
“Breakout Session: Advanced ADA,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 17th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2019
“Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, June 2018
“Lightning Round: Staying Anchored with Your Top 10 Legal Updates,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2018
“Avoid the Shipwreck and Protect the Treasure Chest: Departing Employees,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2018
“Oddities of Oregon Law,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 15th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2017
“Privacy in the Workplace; Handling Employee Medical Information and Personal Data,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, April 2016
“Effective Tips for Working With Outside Counsel,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 14th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2016
“Best Practices in Hiring/Onboarding New Employees,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 14th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2016
“FMLA and the ADAAA: A Practical Approach,” client presentation, November 2015
“Trade Secrets, Noncompetes, and Preventing Employee Data Theft,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, September 2015
“What You Need to Know About Off-Duty Conduct & Employee Discipline,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 13th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2015
“Dispute Resolution and Settlement: The OK Corral,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 13th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2015
“Conducting a Defensible Workplace Investigation,” Employee Relations group presentation, February 2015
“But I Was Off the Clock: Managing Off-Duty Conduct,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, Nov. 2014
“Conducting Workplace Investigations,” client presentation, April 2014

Recognition

Named by Best Lawyers^® as Litigation—Labor & Employment “Lawyer of the Year,” Portland, 2020
Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (Employment Law—Management, Litigation—Labor & Employment), 2009–2024
Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Oregon) by Chambers USA (Labor & Employment), 2006–2023 (“always in command of the issues” and “understands how businesspeople look at a legal matter,” 2014; “a seasoned labor and employment attorney,” 2013; “a force to be reckoned with,” 2012; “practical, responsive and a real virtuoso at finding a middle ground that works,” 2011; highly regarded for her “incisive litigation and trial skills,” 2010; offers “practical legal advice and irreplaceable trial skills,” 2009; “tough litigator” who provides “high quality, great value advice,” 2008; “tenacious and refreshingly client-oriented,” 2007; “straightforward, no-nonsense, smart litigator,” 2006)
Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers^® (Employment Litigation: Defense, Employment & Labor), 2008–2023
Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers^® in Top 25 Women Lawyers, 2008–2014
AV Preeminent^® Peer Review Rating^™ from Martindale-Hubbell
Selected as a “Litigation Star” and “Labor & Employment Star” by Benchmark Litigation (Labor and Employment)
Pro Bono Award of Merit, Multnomah Bar Association, 2011

Affiliations

Professional

American Bar Association, Member
Multnomah Bar Association, Member
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Member
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Employment Section, former Chair
Oregon Chapter of Federal Bar Association, former Board Member

Civic

Southeast Legal Clinic, Volunteer
Domestic Violence Project, Volunteer
Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Volunteer
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, former Member, Board of Directors
Janus Youth Programs, former Member, Board of Directors and former President
Children’s Land Trust, former Member, Board of Directors