Missy C. Oakley

Attorney

P: 503-276-2122
F: 503-274-1212

601 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 2300
Portland, OR 97204

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Assistant:
Lauren Heesacker
(503) 276-2199
lheesacker@barran.com

Practice Areas

Admitted to Practice

  • Oregon

  • Louisiana

  • Texas

  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Academics

  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center (J.D./D.C.L., Order of the Coif): Senior Associate and Issue Editor, Louisiana Law Review

  • Louisiana Tech University (M.B.A.)

  • Northwestern State University (B.S. in Business Administration, magna cum laude): Varsity Soccer

Missy Oakley is a management-side employment attorney with several years of experience representing employers in complex workplace matters. She has defended clients in state and federal court proceedings, as well as before administrative agencies, against claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She provides strategic counsel to help employers navigate employment law challenges and advises on issues involving leave, workers’ compensation (including reinstatement and reemployment obligations), disability accommodations, wage and hour compliance, and employee discipline and termination. Her practice focuses on guiding employers through both day-to-day decisions and high-stakes disputes, helping clients minimize risk while fostering effective workplace solutions. She also has experience handling employee benefits matters, including retirement plans and health and welfare benefit plans.

Missy graduated, magna cum laude, with a B.S. in Business Administration from Northwestern State University, where she played varsity soccer, for four years.

Following her undergraduate studies, she received her M.B.A. from Louisiana Tech University and J.D. from from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University

Before moving to Portland to join the Barran Liebman team, Missy served as a Law Clerk for Honorable David C. Joseph of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana

Representative Matters

  • Counsel for Regional Bank: Represented regional bank against claims alleging age and race discrimination and retaliation, OFLA discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and wrongful termination.

  • Counsel for Portland Landmark: Represented Portland landmark in defense against BOLI charge alleging claims for failure to engage in the interactive process, failure to provide a reasonable accommodation, and disability retaliation.

  • Counsel for Healthcare Provider: Represented healthcare provider against claims alleging OFLA and FMLA interference, discrimination, and retaliation; gender, race, and pregnancy discrimination; disability discrimination and retaliation; Oregon Sick Leave retaliation; and wrongful termination.

  • Counsel for Local Non-Profit Organization: Obtained dismissal of BOLI charge alleging sex discrimination, retaliation, failure to accommodate, OFLA interference, and workers’ compensation discrimination.

  • Counsel for Private Employer: Represented private employer against claims alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful discharge.

  • Counsel for Local Corporation: Represented local corporation in defense against BOLI charge alleging violation of Oregon Equal Pay Act.

  • Counsel for Private Employer: Represented private employer against claims alleging wage and hour law violations; represented client in mediation; negotiated favorable settlement.

  • Counsel for Private Business: Advised employer on engaging in the interactive process and providing reasonable accommodations for employee with disability.

  • Counsel for News Media Organization in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Federal District Court: Won First Amendment challenge against a plaintiff and defendant in a lawsuit seeking an emergency injunction to gag the news media.

Professional Experience & Affiliations

  • DoveLewis Wet Nose Soirée Auction Committee: Member (2023)

  • Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section: Pro Bono Committee, Member (2021-2025); Wills for Heroes Subcommittee (2022-2023); Member (2021-present)

  • American Bar Association: Member (2021-present)

  • Oregon Women Lawyers: Member (2021-present)

  • SMART Lawyers for Literacy Campaign: Team Captain (2022-present)

  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana: Law Clerk to Hon. David C. Joseph (2020-2021)

  • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center Immigration Law Clinic: Student Clinician (Spring 2020); Academic Tutor for 1L Contracts (Fall 2018, Fall 2019); Research Assistant (Spring 2019)

  • Private Practice: Summer Associate (June 2019-August 2019)

  • Private Practice: Summer Associate (May 2019-June 2019)

  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana: Judicial Extern to Hon. Erin Wilder-Doomes (Fall 2018)

Representative Presentations

  • Portland Human Resources Management Association (PHRMA) Employee Relations SIG: “Navigating Employee Discipline, Discharge & Documentation,” Co-Presenter (6/5/24)

Representative Publications