Laura R. Salerno Owens | Barran Liebman LLP

Laura R. Salerno Owens
Associate

Barran Liebman LLP
601 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 2300
Portland, Oregon 97204

Direct Dial: 503-276-2111
Fax: 503-274-1212

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Laura Salerno Owens' practice focuses on employment litigation and advice. She has successfully defended employers in claims arising from discrimination and wage and hour violations, in single and class-action lawsuits. Laura is a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative for the District of Oregon and is the Co-Chair of both the Young Lawyers’ Section of the Oregon Federal Bar Association, as well as the Large Firm Associates Committee for the Campaign for Equal Justice. Laura has authored articles on developments in employment law, and her articles have appeared in publications such as the Cascade Business News and the Daily Journal of Commerce. She earned her B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles, and her J.D. at the University of Oregon, where she externed for the Honorable Ann Aiken, Chief Judge of the United States District Court of Oregon. Laura is licensed to practice in Oregon.

Professional Experience and Affiliations

Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative, District of Oregon (2011-2014)
Owen M. Panner Inn of Court, Member (2008-Present); Executive Committee, Programs Director (2012-Present)
Oregon Federal Bar Association, Younger Lawyers Division Co-Chair (2010-2012); Executive Committee, Membership Chair (2012-Present)
National Federal Bar Association, Law Student Division Task Force (2012-Present)
Campaign for Equal Justice, Large Firm Associates Committee, Member (2007-Present); Co-Chair (2011-Present)
St. Andrew’s Legal Clinic Race for Justice, Steering Committee Member (2008-Present)
Oregon Women Lawyers, Member
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Member (2007-Present)
Oregon State Bar, Business Litigation Section, Member (2007-Present)
American Civil Liberties Union, Volunteer Attorney (2007-Present)
Coach, Jefferson High School Mock Trial Team (2008-Present)
Extern, United States District Court of Oregon, Honorable Ann Aiken, Chief Judge (2007)

Honors

Oregon New Lawyers Division of the Oregon State Bar, Volunteer of the Year Award, 2012
Daily Journal of Commerce Up & Coming Lawyer Honoree, 2012
Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2012-Present
American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, National Service to the Bar Award for OSB Foreclosure CLE, 2012

Representative Publications

"Minimize Liability Via HR Checkup," Daily Journal of Commerce, February 22, 2013
"FMLA Protections Expanded by New Regulations," Barran Liebman Electronic Alert, February 20, 2013; reprinted in News and Risk Management Review, Special Districts Association of Oregon, May/June 2013
"Another Mandatory Arbitration Agreement Falls Victim To NLRB's Overreach," Barran Liebman Electronic Alert, January 11, 2013
"EEOC Settles Lawsuit Alleging Maximum Leave and No Restrictions Policy Violates the ADA," Barran Liebman Electronic Alert, December 5, 2012
"California Employers Should be Aware of Two New Discrimination Laws," Barran Liebman Electronic Alert, October 23, 2012
"California Decision on Meal Breaks Gives Oregon Employers Hope," Daily Journal of Commerce, August 23, 2012
"Older and Wiser - Improving Your Practices under the ADEA," Cascade Business News, August 14, 2012
"Caveat Employer: Benefits and Risks of Using Independent Contractors," Cascade Business News, July 16, 2012
"Payment of Wages: Oregon," XpertHR.com, July 2012
"Involuntary Terminations: Oregon," XpertHR.com, July 2012
Sean Ray and Laura Salerno Owens, Profiled in "Barran Liebman LLP continues strong Duck tradition," University of Oregon School of Law, April 23, 2012
"Supreme Court Voices Opinion on Protected Oral Complaints Under FLSA," Labor and Employment Alert, March 29, 2011.
“New Oregon Statute Bars Use of Credit History When Making Most Employment Decisions,” Labor and Employment Alert, April 12, 2010.
Contributor to update of Chapter 38 ("Oregon"), 2007 Updates and 2011 Updates, State Class Action Practice and Procedure.

Representative Presentations

05/16/13 - Employment Law, Oregon New Lawyers Division CLE

03/05/13 - Conducting Your Own HR Audit: Compliance, Checklists, Best Practices & More, Barran Liebman Breakfast Seminar

05/24/12 - Guest Instructor for "Corrective Action for Performance Issues," Portland State University Human Resource Certification Program

Representative Experience

Conducted deposition of lead plaintiff in ERISA action
Drafted summary judgment motions, motions to dismiss and other dispositive motions in state and federal court
Prepared responses to agency investigations
Acted as lead counsel in arbitration defending client against breach of contract claims
Conducted over 30 depositions in defense of national manufacturer against asbestos-related actions
Successfully argued in state and federal court motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment
Defended national agribusiness and food producer in two Oregon class actions brought by workers alleging violations of wage and hour laws related to donning and doffing protective equipment
Defended national debt collection agency in defense of wage and hour class action
Conducted interviews of numerous putative class members in connection with defense of state agency in multiple class action suits brought by the U.S. Department of Labor alleging overtime violations
Defended international airline in various discrimination suits brought by former employees

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

Oregon
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Academics

University of Oregon School of Law (J.D. 2007)
University of California at Los Angeles (B.A. summa cum laude 2003) Phi Beta Kappa

Laura R. Salerno OwensAssociate