Elizabeth McKanna

Phone : (503)226-6111 x 206
Fax: (503)226-6121

Education

J.D. 1977, with honors, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
M.S. 1972, Syracuse University
B.A. 1971, with honors, Luther College, Iowa and Schiller College, Germany

Practice Information

Liz has emphasized work in the areas of labor and employment throughout her nearly 30 years of practice. She continues in those areas as a founding partner in McKanna Bishop Joffe and Arms LLP. She represents employees in both state and federal courts and in administrative hearings. She has advised employees in licensing matters before the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission and the Licensed Clinical Social Worker Board. Her employment law advice covers a wide range of topics including wage and hour questions, review of employment and severance agreements, hostile work environment matters, and claims involving wrongful discharge and/or any unlawful form of discrimination and retaliation. In particular, Liz provides advice and litigates cases involving sexual harassment, disability discrimination, race, gender and sexual orientation discrimination, and retaliation for opposing any unlawful conduct by public or private employers. Recently, she has also been working to protect the rights of victims of domestic violence who experience problems with their employment.

Her labor practice is mainly focused on public sector employers and particularly employees of public schools and colleges. She provides advice to individuals members on virtually every aspect of the collective bargaining agreement and has handled matters before the Employment Relations Board, Public School District and Community College Boards, and many arbitrators.

Liz has also served as a mediator in employment cases.

Notable Cases include:

• Sex discrimination trial against WalMart
• Class action sexual harassment case against a school district
• Class action school desegregation case against Cincinnati School District and 17 suburban districts
• Representation of two women filing complaints with the Senate Ethics Committee against Senator Bob Packwood
• Sexual harassment trial on behalf of a deaf employee Infliction of Emotional Distress against harasser
• Establishing protected class status under the US Equal Protection Clause for a domestic violence victim to challenge discrimination in her employment conditions
• Police brutality claim under 42 USC Sec. 1983
• Overtime pay claim
• Age/injured worker discrimination

Professional Organizations/Activities

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, Board Member (1993 - present)
Employment Section Chair
Women’s Caucus
New Lawyers Committee
National Employment Lawyers Association
OSB, Federal Practice and Procedure Committee Chair
Labor and Employment Section
Civil Rights Section
BOLI Advisory Committee on Proposed Rule Changes
Multnomah Bar Association

Relevant Employment

Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert M. McRae, United States District Court of Tennessee (1977)
Ratner & Sugarmon, Memphis, Tennessee (civil rights/employment) (1978-82)
Durham, Smith, Wiser, Gamson & Diamond (labor/employment) (1989)
Bennett and Durham (labor/employment) (1990-91)
Bennett, Hartman & Reynolds (labor/employment) (1992-2000)
McKanna Bishop Joffe & Arms LLP (labor/employment) (2001- present)

Admitted to Practice:

United States District Court of Oregon
United States District Court of Tennessee (former)
United States Courts of Appeal for the Ninth and Sixth Circuits
United States Supreme Court
State Court in Oregon
State Court in Tennessee (former)