Employment Lawyers for Portland, Oregon
Need an employment lawyer in Portland, Oregon?
ContractsCounsel matches businesses with Portland-based employment lawyers, providing fixed-fee quotes from vetted attorneys with the first proposal typically arriving in just a few hours.
Hire a Lawyer for 60% Less than Traditional Law Firms
Meet some of our Portland Employment Lawyers
Jason P.
Jason is a self-starting, go-getting lawyer who takes a pragmatic approach to helping his clients. He co-founded Fortify Law because he was not satisfied with the traditional approach to providing legal services. He firmly believes that legal costs should be predictable, transparent and value-driven. Jason’s entrepreneurial mindset enables him to better understand his clients’ needs. His first taste of entrepreneurship came from an early age when he helped manage his family’s small free range cattle farm. Every morning, before school, he would deliver hay to a herd of 50 hungry cows. In addition, he was responsible for sweeping "the shop" at his parent's 40-employee HVAC business. Before becoming a lawyer, he clerked at the Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic where he handled a diverse range of legal issues including establishing new businesses, registering trademarks, and drafting contracts. He also spent time working with the in-house team at adidas® where, among other things, he reviewed and negotiated complex agreements and created training materials for employees. He also previously worked with Meriwether Group, a Portland-based business consulting firm focused on accelerating the growth of disruptive consumer brands and facilitating founder exits. These experiences have enabled Jason to not only understand the unique legal hurdles that can threaten a business, but also help position them for growth. Jason's practice focuses on Business and Intellectual Property Law, including: -Reviewing and negotiating contracts -Resolving internal corporate disputes -Creating employment and HR policies -Registering and protecting intellectual property -Forming new businesses and subsidiaries -Facilitating Business mergers, acquisitions, and exit strategies -Conducting international business transactions In his free time, Jason is an adventure junkie and gear-head. He especially enjoys backpacking, kayaking, and snowboarding. He is also a technology enthusiast, craft beer connoisseur, and avid soccer player.
"Very nice! Great on responding back and being available! Recommend 100% !"
Curt B.
Curt Brown has experience advising clients on a variety of franchising, business litigation, transactional, and securities law matters. Mr. Brown's accolades include: - Super Lawyers Rising Star - California Lawyer of the Year by The Daily Journal - Pro Bono Attorney of the Year the USC Public Interest Law Fund Curt started his legal career in the Los Angeles office of the prestigious firm of Irell & Manella LLP, where his practice focused on a wide variety of complex civil litigation matters, including securities litigation, antitrust, trademark, bankruptcy, and class action defense. Mr. Brown also has experience advising mergers and acquisitions and international companies concerning cyber liability and class action defense. He is admitted in California, Florida, D.C., Washington, Illinois, Colorado, and Michigan.
"I was very impressed with the responsiveness and knowledge brought to my situation."
Jim B.
Since 2002, when I first received my law license and began practicing in criminal litigation, I have dedicated myself to providing competent and impassioned legal representation to my clients. Transitioning into business and intellectual property law and serving the Oregon community under the banner of INTELLEQUITY since 2016, I embarked on a mission to offer an unparalleled level of personalized legal guidance that empowers my clients through understanding, support, and legal mastery. As a seasoned attorney, I recognize that behind every case is a person with a distinct set of emotions, aspirations, and challenges. This is why my approach to legal services is not just about cases and statutes; it's about people and their lives. Whether it's navigating the intricacies of business law or safeguarding your intellectual property, I'm here to provide more than just professional counsel—I offer a compassionate, personalized approach to every case. This means keeping you well-informed at every step, empowering you with in-depth understanding, and steering you towards decisions that are legally sound and, more importantly, right for you.
"Great person to work with. He helped gain a better understanding of my own business."
Alexander M.
Broad area practice including Business (domestic & international), IP, Employment, Family Law, Administrative, etc. My focus is a direct, no-BS approach with fast turn around times on completed work.
"I really appreciate your quick turnaround and assistance with everything. You made the process smooth and seamless. Thanks again for your excellent work!"
Grace C.
Grace C.
I’m Grace E. Carlson, an intellectual property & transactional attorney, founder of aTMospheric IP, LLC, with over 6 years of combined law firm and in-house experience. I help businesses, startups, creators, and entrepreneurs draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts while protecting their brands and innovations. My expertise includes SaaS agreements, MSAs, NDAs, licensing contracts, vendor and partnership agreements, as well as comprehensive trademark strategy, copyright matters, AI-related IP issues, and technology transactions. I’ve supported global companies including Robinhood, Iron Mountain, and Microsoft, and provided flexible in-house counsel through Axiom Law across fintech, SaaS, consumer goods, and data center industries. Known for translating complex legal issues into clear, practical solutions, I focus on delivering contracts that reduce risk, support go-to-market strategies, and scale with your business. Whether you need a custom SaaS agreement, trademark-integrated contracts, or AI compliance review, I provide responsive, business-minded counsel. Bar Admissions: Washington (2020) & Oregon (2021) J.D., Seattle University School of Law Let’s get your contracts and IP protections done right — efficiently and effectively.
"Grace was very easy to work with on this project. Extremely knowledgeable about the topic and gave great advice. Grace gave us a product that we are able to implement quickly! Thank you for your hard work!"
Jessica M.
Jessica Molligan is an attorney with twenty years of experience in family law, bankruptcy, and litigation.
"Jessica was great to work with. We got a quick cliam deed done and it was an easy process to go through with her. Highly reccomend hiring her for any of your needs."
June 28, 2023
Shanon G.
Have experience in contract, family law, municipality work, criminal defense, litigation, some wills and estates as well. Been practicing law for over 22 years.
December 4, 2023
McCoy S.
P. McCoy Smith is the Founding Attorney at Lex Pan Law LLC, a full-service technology and intellectual property law firm based in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A and Opsequio LLC, an open source compliance consultancy. Prior to his current position, he spent 20 years in the legal department of a Fortune 50 multinational technology company as a business unit intellectual property specialist; among his duties was setting up the free & open source legal function and policies for that company. He preceded his in-house experience with 8 years in private practice in a large New York City-based boutique intellectual property law firm, working simultaneously as a U.S. patent litigator and U.S. patent prosecutor. He was also a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office prior to attending law school. He is licensed to practice law in Oregon, California & New York and to prosecute patent applications in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office; he is also a registered Trademark and Patent Agent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. He has degrees from Colorado State University (Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, with honors), Johns Hopkins University (Masters of Liberal Arts) and the University of Virginia (Juris Doctor). While in private practice, and continuing into his in-house career, he taught portions of the U.S. patent bar exam for a long-standing and well-known patent bar exam preparation course, and from 2014-2020 was on the editorial board of the Journal of Open Law, Technology & Society (JOLTS), and starting in 2023 will be on the editorial board of the American Intellectual Property Law Quarterly Journal (AIPLAQJ). He is the author or co-author of chapters on open source and copyright and patents in “Open Source Law, Policy & Practice” (2022, Oxford University Press). He lectures frequently around the world on free and open source issues as well as other intellectual property topics.
August 23, 2025
Alexander C.
I am a solo practitioner that runs my own legal practice. I am currently licensed in 16 states and I'm working to expand that reach.
Neil R.
Neil Rust is a transactional attorney with almost four decades of experience ranging across a broad range of fields, including M&A, finance, structured finance, VC and general corporate. Before moving to Oregon, Mr. Rust was a partner at the Los Angeles office of an international law for 26 years and the Century City office of a national law firm for 5 years. During his big firm tenure, Neil Rust gathered experience across multiple industries and enjoys counselling clients as much as drafting and negotiating.
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers NowMeet some of our other Employment Lawyers
Bruce H.
Experienced patent attorney supporting a variety of technologies.
"Smooth and straightforward provisional filing, even as a foreign-based inventor. Clear communication and prompt filing. Highly recommended."
October 26, 2024
Nathan K.
Corporate attorney with extensive experience managing the legal affairs for start-up, small, mid-size, and private equity backed companies. Highly skilled at drafting, negotiating, interpreting and closing contracts and transactions of all types. Have earned a reputation as being practical, down-to-earth, and possessing a keen ability to synthesize complicated legal issues and communicate to clients in a relatable and easily understandable fashion. My background includes working for the Chief Judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals, at private law firms, and, since 2019, serving as the General Counsel for multiple start-up, closely-held, and private equity backed companies within the energy, construction, and franchising industries.
Employment Legal Questions and Answers
Employment
Employment Contract
North Carolina
What's termination notice in an employment contract?
I recently accepted a job offer with a new company and I was given an employment contract to sign. I was looking through the contract and noticed that it mentions something about a termination notice. I'm not sure what this means or how it applies to my employment, so I wanted to ask a lawyer to get a better understanding of this clause.
Ryan D.
A termination notice is a provision in an employment contract that specifies the amount of notice an employer must give an employee if they wish to terminate the contract, or vice versa if the employee wishes to leave. This is an important clause, as it offers some level of job security for the employee and some level of predictability for the employer. In most states, including North Carolina, employment is considered "at-will" unless there is a contract in place that states otherwise. This means that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all, as long as the reason isn't illegal (like discrimination). If your contract includes a termination notice clause, this "at-will" status is likely modified to some extent. The specific details would depend on the exact wording in your contract. It could require either party to provide a notice (often 2 weeks, 1 month, or sometimes longer) before terminating the contract. That notice period is intended to give the other party time to adjust plans accordingly. For the employee, it might mean finding a new job; for the employer, it might mean finding a replacement.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Washington
Noncompete agreement and public policy?
I recently accepted a job offer with a new employer who asked me to sign a noncompete agreement. I am concerned that the agreement may not be in line with public policy and wanted to get a professional opinion from a lawyer to make sure I am not putting myself in a difficult situation.
Merry K.
If you are in Washington State, where I'm licensed, as opposed to D.C., please let me know what kind of help you are looking for - have you already signed the agreement? I've been a WA State attorney for nearly 38 years, and specialize in employment law.
Employment
Employee Separation Agreement
North Carolina
Employee separation agreement and consulting arrangements?
I am an employer who is looking to separate from an employee. I am interested in exploring the possibility of providing a consulting arrangement as part of the separation agreement. I am interested in understanding the legal implications of such an arrangement, as well as any potential liabilities or obligations that may arise from such an agreement.
Shelia H.
While it may seem convenient to offer a consulting arrangement as part of the separation agreement, it is usually better to have the separation agreement completely detached from the consulting agreement. The separation agreement should focus on issues pertaining to the former employment, including pay, confidentiality of trade secrets, return of employer property, etc. The new consulting agreement should look forward, establishing the expectations between the party. If the separation and consulting agreements are in one agreement, there is an increased likelihood of confusion between the old job and the new job.
Employment
Independent Contractor Agreement
Massachusetts
Can an independent contractor agreement be modified after it has been signed?
I have been working as an independent contractor for a company for the past year and recently encountered some issues with the terms outlined in my original independent contractor agreement. The agreement was signed when I first started working with the company, but due to changes in the scope of work and additional responsibilities that were not initially anticipated, I am wondering if it is possible to modify the agreement to reflect these changes. I want to ensure that my rights and obligations are properly outlined and that I am protected legally in this working relationship.
Richard G.
Yes, generally, an independent contractor agreement can be modified after it has been signed. However, any changes must be made formally and typically require the consent of both parties involved. Here’s how to properly modify an independent contractor agreement...although (caution here) I would contact a business/employment law attorney such as myself: 1. Draft a Written Amendment Create an Amendment: Prepare a written amendment or addendum to the original agreement. This document should clearly specify the changes being made and reference the original agreement. Include Details: Clearly outline what parts of the original agreement are being modified and include any new terms or conditions. 2. Get Mutual Agreement Both Parties’ Consent: Both the contractor and the client must agree to the changes. This means both parties should review and approve the amendment. Signature: Both parties should sign the amendment to make it legally binding. It’s a good idea to have each party retain a copy of the signed amendment. 3. Review and Update Documentation Original Agreement: Ensure that the original agreement and any amendments are kept together and clearly documented. Consistency: Make sure that any changes made are consistent with the overall terms of the agreement and applicable laws. Consult an Attorney: Depending on the complexity of the changes, it may be wise to consult with a legal professional to ensure that the modifications are legally sound and properly documented.
Employment
Employment Handbook
Washington
Employment handbook vacation policy?
I recently accepted a new job and was given an employee handbook to read over. I read the policies regarding vacation time, but I am unclear about how exactly the policy works and what the process is for taking a vacation. I want to make sure I understand the policy correctly and that I am following the correct procedure for requesting vacation time.
Merry K.
Hello - I am a Washington State employment law attorney. It can often be difficult to understand a policy in an employee handbook. I would suggest two things: (1) Do not ask about the policy or how to interpret it until you have completed at least two months on the job - wait until your supervisor and coworkers get to know you; most likely, you are not eligible for vacation leave until you have been on the job for several months anyway. (2) After two months, ask your supervisor about the policy - not HR. Your supervisor is most likely the person who will have to approve your leave, and he or she will appreciate that you went to him or her instead of going to HR.
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
View Trustpilot ReviewHow It Works
Post Your Project
Get Free Bids to Compare
Hire Your Lawyer
Employment lawyers by top cities
- Austin Employment Lawyers
- Boston Employment Lawyers
- Chicago Employment Lawyers
- Dallas Employment Lawyers
- Denver Employment Lawyers
- Houston Employment Lawyers
- Los Angeles Employment Lawyers
- New York Employment Lawyers
- Phoenix Employment Lawyers
- San Diego Employment Lawyers
- Tampa Employment Lawyers
Employment lawyers by nearby cities
- Bend Employment Lawyers
- Eugene Employment Lawyers
- Gresham Employment Lawyers
- Hillsboro Employment Lawyers
- Salem Employment Lawyers
Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.
View Trustpilot Review
I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.
View Trustpilot Review
I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.
View Trustpilot ReviewHow It Works
Post Your Project
Get Free Bids to Compare
Hire Your Lawyer