Bob is a member and the past chair (2006-17) of Tonkon Torp's Labor & Employment practice group. He represents companies in employment litigation and provides counseling to employers and executives on a broad range of employment related issues. Bob has substantial jury trial experience in state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington, defending wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour, and whistleblower cases. He also has defended ERISA lawsuits, been on both sides of post-termination cases with non-competition, trade secret and related claims, and has successfully arbitrated labor disputes across the country.
Bob has represented companies in labor negotiations, and in election petitions and unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB, and he has negotiated compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment contracts for companies, professionals, and executives.
Before joining the firm, Bob was a partner at Barran Liebman (1998-2006), and an associate and partner at Lane Powell (1993-1998). Before entering private practice, Bob served on active duty as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corp, at the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, N.J. and the U.S. Army Defense Appellate Division, Falls Church, V.A. (1987-1993). While stationed at Fort Monmouth, Bob was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey for both civil and criminal litigation matters.
Bob is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute, and is also designated as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) by the Society for Human Resource Management.
