Experience

Representative Employment Experience

• Obtained summary judgment in federal court with “undue hardship” defense in case alleging failure to accommodate a disability for small Oregon branch of national hardware distributor; affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Successfully resolved claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and violation of non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for semi-conductor manufacturer and its Chief Financial Officer before preliminary injunction hearing.
• Assisted in bringing victorious claim in arbitration that a financial advisor breached non-solicitation obligations in taking our client’s customers; client was awarded liquidated damages pursuant to non-solicitation agreement.
• Awarded costs after prevailing at summary judgment on race discrimination claim in federal court for international retailer.
• Successfully defended agency charges against numerous employers in manufacturing, health care, and other industries.
• Assisted timber industry client with WARN Act compliance in an acquisition.
• Assisted in obtaining dismissal of a $1 million lawsuit against a healthcare industry client that alleged race, national origin, and disability discrimination and whistleblower retaliation.
• Obtained favorable result at arbitration for an insurance company defending claims of unlawful payment of final wages and wage deductions.

Representative Labor Experience

• Regularly represent national health care provider in labor arbitrations to defend contract and discharge grievances.
• Defended numerous unfair labor practices charges for regional grocery store during and after unionizing campaign.
• Part of a team that successfully opposed a union’s motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would have delayed or blocked the sale of an insolvent company.
• Advised long-term care and skilled nursing facility in withdrawing recognition from a union and defeated related unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB.
• Assisted construction client in defeating unfair labor practice charges related to an alleged unlawful termination.
• Obtained favorable result for a construction industry client that was the target of union salts.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors and Activities

• Included in Best Lawyers^®: Ones to Watch in America (Litigation—Labor and Employment), 2021–2024
• Listed among Rising Stars (Labor & Employment), Oregon Super Lawyers^®, 2021–2023
• Best Appellate Brief and Outstanding Oral Advocate Awards, First-Year Moot Court Competition, 2013

Civic Activities

• Board Member, Hoyt Arboretum Friends
• Board Member and Coach, Southeast Portland Little League
• Judge, Lewis & Clark Law School Moot Court
• Coach, Lincoln High School and Wood Middle School Constitution Teams, 2013

Insights & Presentations

• “Tips on Restrictive Covenants in Mergers & Acquisitions,” Stoel Rives internal presentation
• “What Oregon’s Overtime Rules Mean for Agricultural Employers,” “Don’t Be a Headline: Tips to Avoid the Legal Spotlight,” “How Agricultural Employers Should Prepare for Oregon’s Legislative Changes,” Wafla, H-2A Summit, November 2022
• “Important Changes to Nondisclosure and Settlement Agreements,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, June 2022
• "Oregon Legal & Legislative Updates,” Salem SHRMA, April 2022
• “Restrictive Covenants,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2022
• “NLRB Changes and What They Mean for You,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, July 2021
• “Legislative & Labor Law Update,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2021
• “Navigating the Oregon Workplace Fairness Act,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2021
• “Employee Handbooks: Best Practices,” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, September 2020
• “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2020
• “Breakout Session: Labor Law,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 17^th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2019
• “Trump NLRB Shakes Up the Labor World in Striking Down Numerous Obama Board Decisions,” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2017
• “Employers Need Not Disclose Pay Data on EEO-1 Reports; September Deadline Moved to 2018,” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2017
• “Department of Labor Seeks Input on New Rules for White Collar Exemptions,” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2017
• “Time to Revise Your Job Applications: Oregon Prohibits Salary History Inquiries in Effort to Address Systemic Wage Inequality,” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2017
• “Landmark Seventh Circuit Decision Interprets Title VII Protections to Prohibit Sexual Orientation Discrimination,” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2017
• "Whistleblower Retaliation Protection Expands in Oregon," Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2017
• Presenter, “Wage and Hour Update (Focus on New Oregon Paycheck Law and Check-in on DOL Exempt Status Rules),” SHRM/Stoel Rives 15th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2017
• Presenter, “Employee Classification Best Practices with an Update on the New Department of Labor Regulations,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Briefing Seminar, September 2016
• Co-presented on “Labor Update” and “Legal Update” panels at the 14^th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, 2016
• “It’s a Trap! Students Receiving Credit Need Not be Paid?” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2016
• “EEOC Promotes Gender Equality by Imposing Another Burden on Employers,” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2016
• “What Employers Can and Cannot Say During a Union Organizing Campaign,” Stoel Rives World of Employment, 2016
• Co-presented “Barrel Racing: Weaving Through Complicated Scenarios under the Americans with Disabilities Act,” HR Rodeo: 13th Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, Multnomah Athletic Club, 2015
• See more of my blog posts at Stoel Rives World of Employment blog

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