Leah C. Lively

Leah C. Lively

Portland, OR recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011
Buchalter A Professional Corporation

123 Best Lawyers awards

Buchalter A Professional Corporation logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management Litigation - Labor and Employment

Biography

Leah C. Lively exclusively defends employers from claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour violations. Leah represents and advises employers of every size, including Fortune 100 companies, non-profit organizations, and locally owned businesses. Leah appreciates that a client’s needs must be assessed and responded to on an individual basis to ensure efficient and effective representation.

Leah is an experienced trial attorney having tried more than 40 jury trials in multiple states and jurisdictions during her career. In addition to her expertise in defending single plaintiff employment claims, Leah has significant experience defending wage and hour claims, including class actions. Leah is currently lead defense counsel in a pending putative wage/hour misclassification class action in Oregon. Leah co-managed the defense of a 40,000 putative class-member case for a national restaurant chain and is one of very few lawyers nationwide to have defended a wage and hour class action to a jury. Following a defense verdict on behalf of a real estate development/investment firm, in a race discrimination and retaliation case in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the presiding federal magistrate, Jacob P. Hart, described Leah as “everything a good litigator should be. She was completely prepared on every issue, clear and convincing to the jury[.]”
Buchalter A Professional Corporation

123 Best Lawyers awards

Buchalter A Professional Corporation logo

Overview

  • Lewis & Clark College, J.D., graduated 1996
  • California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), BS, graduated 1993

  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association
  • California, The State Bar of California
  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar
  • Idaho, Idaho State Bar

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • American Employment Law Counsel - Member
  • California State Bar - Member
  • Oregon State Bar Association - Member
  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association
  • California, The State Bar of California
  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar
  • Idaho, Idaho State Bar
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • American Employment Law Counsel - Member
  • California State Bar - Member
  • Oregon State Bar Association - Member
  • Lewis & Clark College, J.D., graduated 1996
  • California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), BS, graduated 1993

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Litigation - Labor and Employment
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Portland, OR (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Awards:
  • National Champion Team - Environmental Moot Court (1995)
  • AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Super Lawyers (2011-2013)
  • Chambers USA (2008-2013)

Case History

Cases
  • Other Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • Experience
  • Cedano v. Rite Aid, (D. Oregon). Lead defense counsel in this putative wage/hour class action which alleged misclassification of exempt employees.
  • Thiebes v. Wal-Mart (D. Oregon). One of three trial lawyers representing Wal-Mart in this wage/hour collective action jury trial involving over 100 testifying plaintiffs and resulting in 25 defense verdicts and actual damages of less than $7,000.
  • McAllister v. Trendwest Resorts (D. Oregon). One of two trial attorneys representing Trendwest in a jury trial for alleged sexual harassment and discrimination claims, resulting in a complete defense verdict.
  • Hohnbaum v. Brinker (Cal. Sup. Ct.). Co-managed the defense of this putative wage/hour class action alleging missed meal and rest breaks.
  • Corey et al v. The Home Depot (D. Oregon). Represented defendant in this five-plaintiff Equal Pay Act and Title VII pay discrimination case.
  • Holman v. Trammell Crow Company (E.D. Pennsylvania). Trial attorney representing Trammell Crow against claims of race, discrimination and retaliation, resulting in a complete defense verdict.

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