PRACTICE AREAS

Legal advice and representation in all aspects of labor law, including before agencies, in arbitrations, at the table, and in state and federal court.
Individual and entity representation of workplace concerns, civil rights, and appeals.

GRIEVANCE ARBITRATIONS AND UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE COMPLAINTS

Katelyn has tried more than 100 cases to labor arbitrators, administrative law judges, and juries. She brings experience, aggressive advocacy, and a strategic mind to representing her clients. She has appeared before the DOL, NLRB, ERB and PERC, as well as private arbitrators and before other agency judges and hearings officers. She is familiar with the culture of dozens of industries, from warehouses and trucking, to education and higher education, health care, public works, fire service, administrative employees, court staff, and beyond. Katelyn enjoys trial work but also knows when it is in her client's best interest to seek resolution or settlement outside of the grievance process.

ELECTION ADVICE, PETITIONS, BARGAINING, AND STRATEGY FOR UNIONS

The representation process, including elections, is part of every emerging union and growing union's strategy. Katelyn has advised and represented clients in the public and private sector. Bargaining contracts and bargaining over changes to policies (including because of changes to the law) are issues Katelyn enjoys helping her clients work through. She advises unions on bargaining topics, works with them on strategy and organizing issues, and negotiates at the table. She has bargained in public and private settings, including with higher education locals, municipal and county government, state government, health care, fire service, production, and transportation.

REPRESENTATION BEFORE AGENCIES, IN COURT, AND
DUE PROCESS HEARINGS

Katelyn has represented individuals in agency settings, including in contested case proceedings, for more than 20 years. She has experience working with agencies who license health care providers - including doctors, dentists, nurses and paramedics. She has also represented teachers, counselors, police officers, firefighters and corrections officers to protect their licenses and their jobs. Katelyn has successfully represented state of Oregon management employees in SPRL claims filed with the Employment Relations Board. She also represents federal employees in various agency proceedings, including those brought under federal whistleblower statutes through the Department of Labor and disciplinary actions grieved or appealed through a federal agency.

AGENCY REPRESENTATION AND TRIALS, DUE PROCESS HEARINGS

Katelyn has represented individuals in agency settings, including in contested case proceedings, for nearly 20 years. She has experience working with agencies who license health care providers - including doctors, dentists, nurses, and fire fighters. She has also represented teachers, police and corrections officers. Katelyn has represented federal employees in various agency proceedings, including those brought under federal whistleblower statutes.

Practice Areas: Practices

GENERAL COUNSEL FOR LABOR ORGANIZATIONS

DEFENDING UNIONS AND COURT LITIGATION

APPEALS AND LOCAL COUNSEL FOR APPEALS

Katelyn has been practicing for more than 20 years and has represented labor unions in courts in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and other states. She has defended unions in duty of fair representation claims and in court claims brought against unions by third parties. Katelyn has also filed and prosecuted suits on behalf of unions to protect the rights of the union or its members, including court complaints to compel the employer to arbitrate a grievance or to accept and implement an arbitration decision.

Katelyn represents clients before appellate courts, including the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has represented labor unions, employees, and individuals seeking justice for the violation of their civil rights or to affirm their labor rights. She has also acted as local counsel in appeals on behalf of national labor union entities, defending labor rights and organizations that are threatened by deep-pocket, anti-worker organizations.

Katelyn has acted as general counsel for unions and joint apprenticeship training centers (JATCs) for several years. Her counsel includes advice on new laws and regulations (state and federal), COVID-19 issues, employment and human resources issues including the ADA, internal governance issues, internal complaints and investigations, compliance and ethics. She provides training to unions, JATCs and other progressive organizations, including training on harassment, bullying, discrimination, and best practices for grievance processing. Katelyn has experience investigating complaints and addressing issues of internal governance.