Six Attorneys in Portland Listed in 2015 Oregon Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

PORTLAND, OR (July 8, 2015) — Four partners in the Portland office of Fisher Phillips were selected by their peers for inclusion in 2015 Oregon Super Lawyers, and two associate attorneys from the same office are listed in Rising Stars. Partners Mitch Baker, Clarence Belnavis, Todd Lyon and Richard Meneghello are listed in Oregon Super Lawyers, while associates Laura Jordan and Alexander Wheatley are included in Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers rates extraordinary lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional accomplishments. The multiphase selection process combines independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The selections are completed on an annual, state-by-state basis. The final published Super Lawyers list represents the top 5 percent of lawyers in the state of Oregon, with no more than 2.5 percent named to Rising Stars.

Mitch Baker, regional managing partner of the Portland office, was selected for inclusion in 2015 Oregon Super Lawyers in the employment litigation category. He has defended a variety of employers in labor and employment law matters. He also provides training, advice, and counsel to assist employers to avoid labor and employment problems. He has extensive experience in enforcing noncompetition agreements and prosecuting Trade Secrets Act violations, as well as defending employers accused of retaliating against employees for exercising protected employment rights.

Clarence Belnavis was selected for inclusion in 2015 Oregon Super Lawyers in the employment and labor law and employment litigation categories. He has substantial experience handling various types of employment litigation including disability, racial and gender discrimination; retaliation; sexual harassment; and wrongful discharge. He also represents employers in wage and hour claims, employment class actions and traditional labor matters. Clarence has been regularly listed in Oregon Super Lawyers since 2006.

Todd Lyon was selected for inclusion in 2015 Oregon Super Lawyers in the employment and labor law and employment litigation categories. He has substantial experience representing public and private sector employers in labor negotiations, labor arbitrations, and employment litigation. Todd is a skilled negotiator who bargains pro-employer collective bargaining agreements and regularly assists clients with the interpretation of collective bargaining agreements and disciplinary matters so as to avoid grievances. Additionally, he has successfully litigated before the National Labor Relations Board and state labor boards in both representation and unfair labor practice hearings. Todd has been listed in Oregon Super Lawyers since 2013.

Richard Meneghello was selected for inclusion in 2015 Oregon Super Lawyers in the employment and labor law category. Rich has focused much of his practice on defending and advising employers on disability discrimination issues. He has maintained this focus since 1999, when he was the lead associate attorney before the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Albertsons v. Kirkingburg, a unanimous decision interpreting the Americans with Disabilities Act in favor of employers. Besides disability discrimination matters, Rich commonly appears in court defending claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, injured worker discrimination, race discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and family and medical leave discrimination. He also counsels employers on proactive ways to avoid legal problems, by rendering advice, drafting policies and providing training. Rich has been listed in Oregon Super Lawyers since 2009.

Laura Jordan was selected for inclusion in Rising Stars in the employment litigation category. She has handled several matters before the EEOC and state agencies where discrimination, harassment, and retaliation have been alleged. Laura has successfully resolved cases for employers via mediation and summary dismissal of employees' claims. She continues to train employers on conducting workplace investigations, promoting a drug-free workplace, navigating leave laws, and effective hiring and firing practices. Laura has been regularly listed in Rising Stars since 2009.

Alexander Wheatley was selected for inclusion in Rising Stars in the employment and labor law category. He represents and advises employers regarding workplace discrimination issues, wrongful termination, wage and hour claims, and noncompetition, nonsolicitation, and nondisclosure agreements. Alex has litigated several jury trials and argued numerous motions in both state and federal court and he regularly advises and trains employers and supervisory personnel on how to comply with employment related laws and regulations.