Employment Law

Our Practice

The firm’s employment practice includes employment law counseling, labor law representation and litigation of employment-related disputes. We represent a broad spectrum of employers in technology, manufacturing, real estate, government, retail, health care and service industries. Clients include established publicly traded companies with thousands of employees, emerging businesses, public agencies, state governments and small family-owned businesses.

Employment Litigation

Our employment litigation practice focuses, although not exclusively, on the defense of employment claims. Our employment group has an impressive record winning summary judgment motions for our clients in employment cases. Since 2004, our success rate on motions for summary judgment resulting in dismissal of the entire case is over seventy-five percent. We have successfully defended employment-related actions alleging a wide range of claims, including allegations of breach of contract, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, various employment-related torts, wage and hour violations, sex discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, race discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, national origin discrimination, retaliation, violations of Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, OFLA and ERISA, Section 1981, and violation of non-competition agreements. We have pursued or defended employment litigation in Oregon and Washington trial and appellate courts, federal district and appellate courts, and before the EEOC and the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries. We have a strong track record of obtaining dismissal of employment claims at the earliest possible stage, such as on summary judgment, and saving our clients significant litigation costs as a result.

Recent successes include the following:

Obtained a stipulated permanent injunction against former employees of a corporate client in an action including claims for misappropriation of sensitive and confidential electronic data.

Obtained summary judgment against all claims asserted, including hostile work environment, disparate treatment and retaliation under Section 1981 and Title VII, in action brought by former employee in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

Obtained a favorable settlement of an age-discrimination claim pending before the American Arbitration Association following aggressive pursuit of motions relating to plaintiff’s failure to timely produce key documents.

Settled for nuisance value a discrimination and retaliation case after developing a creative legal theory.

Settled a whistleblower retaliation claim for a modest amount after our litigation investigation uncovered numerous inconsistencies and untruths by plaintiff, with which he was confronted at his deposition.

Obtained early dismissal of individual defendant when a corporate client and one of its managers were sued by a former employee for race discrimination and retaliation. The remaining claims against the corporate client were resolved to the corporate client’s complete satisfaction.

Defended a sexual orientation discrimination case filed in state court by a former employee whose job was eliminated in a reduction-in-force. Following discovery, resolved the matter to our corporate client’s complete satisfaction.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of corporate client in lawsuit for alleged wrongful discharge, breach of contract, national origin and race discrimination, retaliation, defamation, and intentional interference with business relations brought by former employee in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of corporate managers in $600,000 lawsuit for alleged interference with contract and defamation brought by former subordinate employee in Washington County State Court.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of corporate client in $2,000,000 lawsuit for alleged federal and state family medical leave act violations, disability discrimination, and wrongful discharge brought by former employee in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

Obtained multiple preliminary injunctions on behalf of corporate clients against former employees in lawsuits alleging violations of non-compete agreements.

Employment Law Counseling

Our employment law counseling practice includes a full range of preventative employment law advice, including preparation of employment manuals and policies; preparation of employment agreements, non-competition agreements and severance/separation agreements; advice regarding personnel related issues such as hiring, termination and discipline; advice regarding state and federal discrimination and harassment laws; advice regarding family medical leave and other leave laws; advice regarding wage-and-hour requirements; advice regarding insurance coverage for employment claims; advice regarding recordkeeping and disclosure requirements; protection of the employer's intellectual property, trade secrets and related matters; on-site client training of managers and employees in all aspects of employment law; investigation of internal complaints; and firm seminars focusing on new developments in employment law and other personnel matters.

Labor Law Representation

Our practice also includes a labor law practice, particularly in public sector labor law. Our lawyers have advised management on the negotiation, interpretation and administration of collective bargaining agreements. We represent management in grievances, arbitrations, and proceedings before the Oregon Employment Relations Board. We have also advised management on the particular requirements of investigations in a unionized workplace, as well as the entire range of labor issues that affect management on a daily basis (including management’s bargaining obligations, representation petitions, and unfair labor practice charges).

Employment Practice Group Representative Client List

Advanced Legal Systems, Inc.
AT Systems Northwest, Inc.
The Canyons Ranch
Centex Real Estate Corporation
Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
Goodwill Industries of Lane and South Coast Counties
Holland Residential, LLC
Intel Corporation
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
Melvin Mark Companies
Northwest Staffing Resources, Inc.
Olympic Controls Corp.
Oregon Scientific, Inc.
Pacific Crest Technology, Inc.
Pahlisch Homes, Inc.
Polygon Northwest Company, LLC
Printing Today, Inc.
Pronghorn Golf Club, LLC
Renaissance Development Corporation
Temp Control Mechanical Corporation
The Regence Group
The State of Oregon
Western States Insurance Agency, Inc.