Brenna McLaughlin

Associate Attorney - Labor & Employment @Ballard Spahr LLP

Portland, OR, US

Collaborate with in-house counsel, HR professionals, and executives to provide employment advice tailored to private and public employers’ unique workplace cultures and business goals, including navigating protected leaves of absence and disability accommodations, drafting effective employee handbooks and HR policies, managing employee performance and discipline, supervising workplace investigations, conducting pay equity and overtime compliance audits, compliance with multi-state meal period and rest/lactation break requirements, guidance on reductions in force, and relationship management with unionized workforces.Successfully litigate and resolve single-plaintiff claims claims of wrongful discharge, discrimination, hostile work environment, failure to accommodate, protected leave interference, and wage and hour violations before Oregon and Washington state and federal courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, Washington State Human Rights Commission, arbitration, Loudermill hearings, and private mediation.Train HR professionals and managers on employment law fundamentals and risk management, including fostering respectful workplaces and avoiding harassment claims, best practices in employee performance management, and administering employee leaves of absence and disability/religious accommodation requests.Provide Oregon and Washington law expertise, including nuanced compliance issues under the Oregon Family Leave Act, Paid Leave Oregon, Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave, paid sick leave, Washington Equal Pay & Opportunities Act, Oregon Workplace Fairness Act, and Washington Law Against Discrimination.

University of Warwick

Philosophy

University of Wisconsin Law School

Juris Doctor, cum laude

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bachelor of Arts, with honors