Laura Salerno Owens

President and Shareholder @Markowitz Herbold Pc

I am the President of Markowitz Herbold, an elite boutique litigation firm in Portland, Oregon. I am a trial lawyer and trusted advisor who has represented employers and employees in hundreds of disputes, ranging from single-person contract disputes to multi-thousand-person class actions. I am currently focused on assisting my clients during the COVID-19 crisis. I advise employers on navigating the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, managing workforce layoffs, furloughs, and sick leave, and keeping employees safe in the workplace. I represent clients in a variety of employment law issues including trade secrets, wage and hour disputes, discrimination charges, sexual harassment allegations, whistleblower claims, and noncompetition/nonsolicitation agreements. I also have a broad range of experience litigating claims in state and federal court arising under the Equal Pay Act, Family Medical Leave Act, the Oregon Family Leave Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as representing clients before the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). I have been a featured speaker at more than 100 presentations and continuing education courses on various topics, including general employment law, anti-discrimination and harassment, social media in the workplace, and pay equity. I also have presented numerous times on COVID-19 related issues such as reopening the workplace, social distancing policies, safety in the workplace, and remote working policies. I have served as the keynote speaker at large conferences such as Oregon Health & Science University’s Women in Academic Medicine and present to various business groups ranging from Disrupt HR, Rotary, League of Oregon Cities, and others.