Barran Liebman

Richard F. Liebman

Richard F. Liebman
Partner

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

Direct Dial: 503-276-2148
Fax: 503-274-1212

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Rick Liebman, a founding partner at Barran Liebman, has been representing employers in labor and employment law since 1972. Rick received both his undergraduate and J.D. degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia. He is former chair of the Tri-County Affirmative Action Association and the Oregon State Bar's Labor Law Section. He is management editor of the Oregon State Bar's book and supplements entitled Labor and Employment Law, and has been an instructor in EEO law at Portland State University's Professional Development Center. Rick has three notable "firsts" that truly speak to his professional accomplishments: he was selected as the first "Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year in Portland" for 2010, he was honored as the first "Management Practitioner of the Year" by the Oregon Industrial Relations Research Association in 2004, and he was the recipient of the Oregon State Bar Labor Section's first "Distinguished Service" award in 2003. Rick was also elected by his national colleagues as a national fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers for his sustained outstanding performance in the profession and is ranked #1 (with partner Paula Barran) for Labor and Employment Law defense in the State of Oregon by Chambers & Partners USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2003-present. He has been selected repeatedly by his peers for listing in the Best Lawyers in America (1995-present). He has also been named as one of the top 50 lawyers in Oregon by Super Lawyers, 2006-present.

Legal Practice

  • Barran Liebman LLP (1998 - present)
  • Lane Powell Spears Lubersky (1976 - 1998)
  • Torkildson, Katz, Jossem & Loden, Honolulu, Hawaii (1972 - 1976)

Professional Experience and Affiliations

  • College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow of the College, (Northern Ninth Circuit Credentials Committee 1999-2003; Committee Chairman, 2001-2003), Inducted 1998
  • Ranked #1 (with partner Paula Barran) for Labor and Employment Lawyers in the State of Oregon, Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, 2003 - present
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America as a management employment attorney, 1995 - present, Named 2010 & 2012 Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year in Portland, Oregon
  • Selected as one of the top 50 lawyers in Oregon by Super Lawyers, 2006 - present
  • Listed in Human Resource Executive/Lawdragon 500 as the only Oregon attorney on the "Top 20 in Traditional Labor and Employment," 2011-present
  • Instructor for Basic EEO and Advanced EEO classes in Portland State University's Professional Development Center, 1988 - 2008
  • Management Editor, Oregon Employment Law, published by the Oregon State Bar in 1989, with 1994, 1997 supplements and editions in 2002 and 2010
  • Oregon State Bar Labor Law Section; Chair (1990 - 1991); Member, Executive Board (1987 - 1992); award for Distinguished Service 2003
  • Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Section; Member Executive Board (2002-2008)
  • NW EEO/Affirmative Action Association; Chair (1985 - 1987); Vice-Chair (1984 - 1985); and Board Member (1983 - 1994); Treasurer (2005 - 2009)
  • Member of the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Rule-Making Task Force to write and review all Oregon civil rights and wage/hour regulations (1995 - present)
  • Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, Civil Rights Advisory Committee Member (2002)
  • Oregon Make-A-Wish Foundation, Board of Directors (2003-2004)
  • Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, Board of Directors, (1997 - 1999)
  • Oregon Symphony Association, Board of Directors, (1983 - 1992)
  • Japan-American Society of Oregon
  • Oregon Independent College Fund, Board of Directors, (2006 - present)
  • Oregon Law Institute, Board of Directors, (2006 - present)
  • Member of the Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA), Oregon Chapter (2010 - Present)

Featured Presentations

  • 01/25/2012 - NW EEO Employment Law Update
  • 06/03/2011 - OLI CLE: 2011 Annual Employment Law Update
  • 04/20/2011 - Employment & Labor Law Update - Oregon NHRMA HR Foundation Conference
  • 01/20/2011 - NW EEO/Affirmative Action Association. Employment Law Update.
  • 01/19/2011 - University of Oregon School of Law. Arbitration Under a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • 09/30/2010 - Barran Liebman LLP Annual Seminar. The Year’s Legal Update in Employment & Labor Law.
  • 09/24/2010 - OSB Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Meeting & CLE
  • 01/29/2010 - 14th Annual Oregon Labor Law Conference
  • 12/01/2009 - BARRAN LIEBMAN LLP 2009 FOOD FOR THOUGHT BREAKFAST SEMINAR: Understanding the New Limitations of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
  • 09/26/2009 - OSB Labor and Employment Law Section Annual Meeting & CLE
  • 06/05/2009 - Oregon Law Institute (OLI) Annual Employment Law Update
  • 04/22/2009 - NHRMA Presents: Human Resource Foundations - A Guide to Professional Development

Featured Publications

  • Co-author, "The Legality of Secondary Activity To Enforce Either Recognition or Bargaining", published by The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers, Summer 2002 Newsletter
  • Columnist for OSB Civil Rights Section newsletter (2000-present)
  • Co-author, "Arbitration Under Oregon's PECBA", University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center, Fall 2003
  • Contributing author, Schlei & Grossman, "Employment Discrimination Law", with supplements, published by BNA in conjunction with ABA Subsection Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity
  • Contributing author, Schlei & Grossman, Employment Discrimination Law, with supplements, published by BNA in conjunction with ABA Subsection Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity

Representative Matters

  • Spokesperson for Portland Public Schools 2004 teacher negotiations which The Oregonian described as, "The pay increase is modest. So are the changes to health insurance. But both sides achieved their goals and kept their promises, with the kind of good faith effort not seen in years. That's monumental in a district known for its mistrustful negotiations and alienated union leadership." The Oregonian, October 6, 2004
  • Counsel for J. C. Penney in Patton v. J. C. Penney, 301 Or 117, 719 P2d 854 (1986), the leading and most frequently cited case on the principle of employment-at-will in Oregon . Cited by Portland Monthly as one of the 20 most important legal decisions for the past 50 years in Oregon.
  • Counsel for II Morrow, Inc. (a division of United Parcel Service) in Mains v. II Morrow, Inc., 128 Or App 625 (1994), overturning a BOLI rule on employer strict liability for supervisory conduct in hostile environment cases
  • Counsel for United Airlines in Smith v. United Airlines, U. S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Civil No. 93-572-JE (1994), establishing an employer's right to reject reinstatement under ORS 659.415 after a treating physician has found a permanent restriction on return to work

Administrative Proceedings

  • Number of EEO Charge Matters handled: more than 1500 in 12 states and with four federal agencies for numerous clients
  • Number of National Labor Relations Board Matters handled: more than 700, including elections and various unfair labor practice charges
  • Contract negotiations: chief spokesman, member of the bargaining committee or advising bargaining committee on several hundred labor contracts; more than 1000 labor arbitrations

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • Hawaii
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

Academics

  • University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall (J.D., 1972)
  • University of California at Berkeley (B.A., 1969)