Experience

• Obtained favorable arbitration award on behalf of biomedical technology company following two-week arbitration of claims for breach of contract and intentional interference with contract.
• Successfully defended healthcare system in trial of multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought by physician alleging multiple counts of whistleblower retaliation, gender discrimination, and wrongful discharge.
• Obtained arbitration award in favor of medical device company against claims by former employee for breach of contract.
• Successfully defended a medical device company and its employee in six-day jury trial against multimillion-dollar lawsuit alleging claims for tortious interference and breach of contract.
• Successfully defended medical device company in arbitration against breach of contract claims by former sales employee.
• Defense of a medical device company and several of its New York-based sales employees against claims for tortious interference with contract and breach of employment agreements, among other claims.
• Obtained defense verdict following one-week jury trial on claims of sexual harassment, race discrimination, FMLA/OFLA retaliation, and wrongful discharge on behalf of large non-profit organization.
• Defense of medical device company and its employee on claims of tortious interference and alleged violations of non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality covenants. After a seven-day jury trial, obtained a favorable verdict substantially in favor of defendants.
• Representation of large manufacturing employer in state and federal class actions based on alleged off-the-clock work and missed meal periods. Negotiated favorable settlement for the client.
• Representation of well-known local restaurant chain in federal class and collective action based on allegation that restaurant did not pay overtime wages required under Oregon and federal law. Negotiated a favorable settlement for the client.
• Successfully defended large automotive dealership network and obtained dismissal of complaint alleging Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower and retaliation claims even after court permitted plaintiff multiple opportunities to replead. Briefed appeal to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which was affirmed.
• Obtained summary judgment on race and national origin discrimination claims on behalf of large software company.
• Won summary judgment on claim of same-sex sexual harassment on behalf of large bakery company. Briefed and argued appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which was affirmed.
• Obtained partial summary judgment on plaintiffs’ ERISA claims, which drove favorable resolution of case.
• Successfully obtained temporary restraining order preventing medical device company’s supplier partner from disclosing confidential, proprietary information. Following entry of restraining order, negotiated favorable contractual terms with supplier as part of resolution.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors and Activities

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (currently: Employment Law—Management, Labor Law—Management, Litigation—Labor & Employment), 2012–2023
• Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Oregon) by Chambers USA (currently: Labor & Employment), 2019–2022
• Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers^® (Employment Litigation: Defense, Employment & Labor, Business Litigation), 2013–2022
• Listed among Rising Stars by Oregon Super Lawyers^®, 2008–2012
• Recipient, Stoel Rives LLP Andrew Guy Pro Bono Award, 2021
• Member, Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
• Member, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
• AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated with Martindale-Hubbell^®
• Board member, Oregon Business & Industry, 2022–present
• Director, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, 2013–2015
• Chair (2008–2012), Publications Representative (2006–2008), Employment Law Practice Group, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
• Director, Oregon Chapter, Federal Bar Association, 2005–2014
• Member, Oregon Minority Lawyers Association
• Member, Labor and Employment Section, American Bar Association
• Member, Multnomah Bar Association
• Former Chair (2003–2004), Member (2001–2004), Best Practices Committee, Diversity Section, Oregon State Bar
• Member, House of Delegates, Oregon State Bar, 2001–2004
• Member, Associates Committee, Campaign for Equal Justice, 2001–2004

Civic Activities

• Board Chair Emeritus (2018–present), Board Chair (2021–2022), Classic Wines Auction, Inc.
• Chair (2015–present), Director (2012–2015), Maurice Lucas Foundation

Insights & Presentations

• “Restrictive Covenants,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 20th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2022
• “Labor Issues” (co-author), Chapter 14, The Law of Solar: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel Rives LLP, Sixth Edition, 2022
• “Labor Issues” (co-author), Chapter 12, The Law of Wind: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues, Stoel Rives LLP, Ninth Edition, 2022
• “How the workforce of essential industries has been impacted post-pandemic” (panelist), Portland Business Journal How Oregon Works, August 2021
• “Election Fallout: Navigating Personal Opinions in The Workplace,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2021
• “Managing the Evolving Workplace: How the Pandemic Has Changed Employment,” SHRM/
  Stoel Rives 19th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2021
• “Taming the COVID-19 Chaos: What Employers Need to Know Part 5” Stoel Rives LLP webinar, April 2020
• “Addressing Harassment in the Workplace,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2020
• “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations,” Stoel Rives Labor and Employment Breakfast Briefing, November 2019
• “The Departing Employee—Competitive Restrictions,” Chapter 67, Advising Oregon Businesses: Volume 4—Intellectual Property and Competitive Restrictions, Oregon State Bar, 2019
• “Breakout Session: Labor Law,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 17^th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2019
• “Reducing Employer Exposure in Today’s Class Action Landscape,” PDX Corporate Counsel Forum, Portland, OR, October 2018
• “Who Me? Recognizing and Addressing the Bias in Us All,” Client Annual Conference, Denver, CO, October 2018
• “Non-Compete, No Poach, and No Solicitation Agreements,” Oregon State Bar, Antitrust, Trade Regulation Section, CLE Seminar, June 2018
• “Stem the Tide of Unionizing Workforces: Labor Issues,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16^th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2018
• “Exploring the Rough Waters of Wage and Hour Issues,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16^th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2018
• “Lightning Round: Staying Anchored with Your Top 10 Legal Updates,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 16^th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, February 2018
• “Journey to a Better Workplace: Ending Workplace Harassment,” Client Training, New York, NY, February 2018
• “Ancillary Employment Agreements: Tips and Twists on Non-Competition, Arbitration, and other Contracts with Employees” (co-presenter), OADC Employment Practice Group Meeting, Portland, OR, November 2017
• “Strategies for Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations,” Client Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, October 2017
• “How to Remain Non-Union,” Client Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA, October 2016
• “Wage and Hour: A Course in Legal Diagnostics,” Stoel Rives Breakfast Seminar, June 2016
• “Traditional Labor Update,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 14th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2016
• “Employment Law: A Practical Approach,” Client Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, September 2015
• “Grabbing Wage and Hour Issues by the Horns,” SHRM/Stoel Rives 13th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, March 2015
• “Hot Topics in Employment Law,” Client Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, October 2014
• Willamette University College of Law Professionalism Program, August 2014
• “Employment Law Update,” Public Media Business Association Annual Conference, Portland, OR, May 2014
• “Discharge and Documentation,” Client Annual Conference, Seattle, WA, August 2013
• Willamette University College of Law Professionalism Program, August 2013
• “HR Recipes for Success: A Pinch of This, a Dash of That: Dealing with Micro-Inequities in the Workplace” SHRM Oregon State Council Eleventh Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2013
• “OMG! The NLRB Publishes First Social Media Decisions,” Portland Business Journal, February 2013
• “Employment Law Review,” Client Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX, October 2012
• “Managing Employees in a Union Environment,” Client Training, July 2012
• “2012 Employment and Labor Law Update,” Rogue Valley SHRM Seminar, Medford, OR, May 2012
• “Labor Law Update: Recent Developments at the NLRB,” Klamath Basin SHRM Seminar, April 2012
• “Takin’ Care of Business: Labor Law for Non-Union Employers,” SHRM Oregon State Council Tenth Annual Labor & Employment Law Conference, March 2012
• Contributing Editor, Developing Labor Law, American Bar Association, 2005–2012
• “Creating & Maintaining a Healthy Workplace,” July 2011
• “Worshipping at Work: Religious Discrimination, Accommodation, and Trends in the Law,” OADC Annual Convention, June 2011
• “Discovery,” Multnomah Bar Association Young Litigators Forum Seminar Series, February 2011
• “Privacy Issues in the Workplace,” September 2010
• “Watch Out for So-Called ‘Facebook Firings,’” Oregon Business Magazine, September 2010
• “Hiring Independent Contractors Becoming Riskier,” Daily Journal of Commerce, August 2010
• “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning: Effective Employment & Severance Agreements,” June 2010
• “Focusing the Binoculars: A Close Look at the Employee Free Choice Act,” September 2009
• “How to Respond to a BOLI Complaint,” September 2008
• “Conducting Investigations,” SHRMA, May 2008
• “Union Organizing,” Client Training, July 2007
• “Employment Law 101 for Small Businesses,” July 2007
• “Non-competition Agreements,” OADC Annual Convention, June 2007
• “FMLA Update,” Council on Education Management (COEM), June 2007
• “e-discovery in Employment Cases,” OLI Annual Labor and Employment Seminar, June 2007
• “Retaliation Redux: Is the Rabbit Out of the Hat?” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Fall 2006
• “Public Policy Challenges to Labor Arbitration Awards: Still A Safe Harbor For Silly Fact Finding?” Willamette Law Review, 2002
• “Ninth Circuit Employment Law Update,” Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Newsletter, Spring 2002

Related News & Publications