Karen draws on more than 25 years of litigation and employment law experience to help employers properly apply ever-changing employment laws and manage their risks. Her philosophy is problem solving - through mediation or in the courtroom - and she is adept at identifying issues and achieving creative, practical solutions. Karen has been with Farleigh Wada Witt since 1983 and is chair of the firm's Employment practice group.

She believes successful resolution of employment issues is fostered by a strong relationship between attorney and client. Building relationships with clients is a cornerstone of Karen's practice. Whether it's conferring with employers on their rights and duties, developing contracts, conducting training, or providing strategic legal guidance on matters such as leave laws, discipline, termination, and complaint resolution, Karen engages in open communication and active listening to achieve clients' objectives.

Karen has tried numerous cases in state and federal court and has appeared in cases before the Oregon and Washington Court of Appeals, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. She has successfully defended administrative claims filed with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, in both the Civil Rights Division and the Wage and Hour Division. She has also defended clients' interests before the Washington Human Rights Commission and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

During her legal career, Karen has litigated cases involving such diverse matters as sexual harassment, age discrimination, trade secret protection, wrongful discharge, wage and hour violations, and race and national origin discrimination, and she has extensive experience with alternative dispute resolution.

Cornwell v. Electra Central Credit Union - Obtained summary judgment on behalf of employer in litigation filed in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon alleging race discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful discharge. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed on all claims except one which was remanded to the District Court and subsequently dismissed. 439 F.3d 1018, 97 FEP 930 (9th Cir 2006).

Byrne v. State Employees Credit Union - Obtained defense verdict after jury trial in Marion County Circuit Court in case alleging breach of employment contract and defamation; related claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress was dismissed.

Evanite Fiber Corporation v. Lauschaer Glaswerk GmbH, et al. - Trial team obtained a judgment of approximately three million dollars on behalf of the corporate plaintiff; Karen was primarily responsible for the claim against the plaintiff's former engineer based on violation of a non-competition agreement. The jury returned a verdict on this claim for approximately one million dollars.

Beisell v. CFI ProServices, Inc. - Obtained judgment in favor of employer after bench trial on federal and state law claims alleging failure to pay overtime wages.

Reynoso v. Graziano Produce Co. - Obtained favorable settlement of state court claim alleging employer retaliated against employee because of claim for workers' compensation benefits (liability denied).

 
Hornych v. S.R. Smith LLC - Obtained dismissal of administrative claim filed with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries alleging disability discrimination, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, and retaliation for claimant's testimony in a workers compensation hearing.

Brown v. Bank of the West - Obtained favorable settlement in mediation of civil rights complaint filed before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging age discrimination (liability denied).

Gonzalez-Ortiz v. Craftwork Plumbing, Inc. - Obtained dismissal of civil rights complaint filed before the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries alleging unlawful discrimination on the basis of race/color.

Karen is a regular columnist for Credit Union Magazine on employment law compliance. She has contributed articles to the Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter, the Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal, and client trade association newsletters.

Karen has conducted training programs on employment law and related litigation for clients, the Oregon State Bar, Oregon Law Institute, the Association of Ski Defense Attorneys, the Credit Union Association of Oregon, the Council on Education in Management, Credit Union National Association (CUNA), CU Conferences, and various local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

She has been a guest lecturer on employment law at Portland State University, Willamette University College of Law, Washington State University, and Mt. Hood Community College. Her speeches include the following representative topics:

"Employment Law Workshop: Winds of Change," Credit Union Association of Oregon Human Resources Conference, 10/8/09

"Preventing & Correcting Sexual Harassment," CU Conferences, Connecticut, 8/4/09

"HR Legal Update: Weathering the HR Climate in Challenging Economic Times," Washington Credit Union League Human Resources Legal Update, 6/30/09

"Legal Update: HR Compliance in a Multi-Generational Workforce," Washington Credit Union League Human Resources Legal Update, 10/14/08

"Sarbanes-Oxley and Your Credit Union," Credit Union Association of Oregon Annual Meeting and Convention, 10/8/08

"Legal Update: HR Compliance in a Multi-Generational Workforce," CU Conferences, Lake Tahoe, 8/5/08

"Employment Law Update," Credit Union Association of Oregon Human Resources Conference, 6/11/08

"Evaluating CEOs & the HR Angle for Directors," CUNA Volunteer Institute, Puerto Vallarta, 1/9/08

"HR 101 - Directors' Role When Complaints are Filed Against Senior Management," CUNA Volunteer Institute, Puerto Vallarta, 1/8/08

Karen is a current member of The Willamette Valley American Inn of Court and the Salem Human Resources Management Association. She was the 2004 Chair of the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Litigation Section. In July 2006, Karen completed a three year term on the Multnomah County Bar Association's Judicial Screening Committee. She is a past Vice President of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society's Executive Committee.

Karen was born and raised in the Willamette Valley in western Oregon. She enjoys traveling, gardening, and cooking with her husband Joe and their children and grandchildren.