Shari L. Lane

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Law Practice

Shari brings to CVK expertise gained from her work with the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, which enforces wage laws and discrimination statutes.  Shari supervised investigations of claims of discrimination, tracked developments in Oregon and federal labor and employment case law, facilitated settlement conferences between employers and employees, and assisted with rulemaking procedures.  She is now in a unique position to provide reliable in-depth guidance in assessing and assuring compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, risk management, and responding to agency claims.

Prior to joining the Bureau of Labor & Industries, Shari gained experience in private practice representing individuals and entities in connection with a variety of business and employment issues.

Shari's expertise includes:

• Advising regarding discrimination, harassment, medical leave, disability and reasonable accommodation, injured worker/workers' compensation, whistleblowing, religious accommodation, wage and hour laws, and record-keeping requirements
• Representing parties in dispute resolution proceedings
• Handling complaints before the Bureau of Labor & Industries and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Creating and updating employee handbooks and policies for compliance with ever-changing state and federal laws
• Providing training for supervisors, managers, and human resources staff
• Creating and reviewing employment contracts, non-competition agreements, and confidentiality agreements

Shari also offers confidential mediation of employment disputes.  Shari is a member of the District of Oregon Voluntary Mediation Panel and the Multnomah County Court Annexed Arbitration panel.

CVK labor and employment law advice clients include local businesses and international entities across a broad spectrum of business sectors (finance, service, transportation, investment, and manufacturing). 

Recent Highlights:

• Successfully negotiated improved terms for employer in CBA negotiations
• Represented hotel chain against claims seeking over $500,000, brought by former employee under the Fair Credit Reporting Act; achieved early resolution favorable to client
• Represented businesses in Oregon Employment Department audits
• Successfully defended discrimination and wage claims before the Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries
• Negotiated significant reduction in assessed Pension and Health Trust contributions and penalties for Oregon grocer.
• Successfully defended national trucking company against administrative agency claims alleging OFLA/FMLA and ADA violations
• Obtained enforcement of arbitration agreement and settled race discrimination and retaliation suit claiming nearly one million dollars in damages and attorney fees for less than 7% of the amount sought

Education & Bar Admissions

Shari earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon Robert D. Clark Honors College in 1986, from which she graduated Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.  She received a Master's Degree from the University of Washington in 1989, and her law degree from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in 2002.  Shari became a member of the Oregon State Bar in 2002 and Washington State Bar in 2008.  She was admitted to the U.S. District Court of Oregon in 2003.

Professional Activities

Shari is a member of the Oregon State Bar Labor & Employment Section, the Multnomah Bar Association, and Oregon Women Lawyers.

She is also a member of the Portland Human Resources Management Association, the Society for Human Resources, the District of Oregon Voluntary Mediation Panel, and the Multnomah County Court Annexed Arbitration panel.

Shari volunteers for the OSB Labor & Employment Section and the Oregon Law Center Immigrant Worker Volunteer Panel.

In 2005-2006, Shari was a member of the Oregon State Bar CLE Committee, which was committed to diversity and excellence in continuing legal education.

Community Activities and Interests

Shari enjoys hiking, sailing, writing fiction, and attending her son's jazz concerts.  Shari is a member of the Northwest Yearly Meeting Foundation Board, and an at-large committee member of the Friends National Committee on Legislation.

Speaking Engagements and Seminars

• “Recent Developments in Employment Law”
  Bend, April , 2010
• “ADA, FMLA/OFLA, and Workers Compensation: Navigating the Maze”
  Oregon Nurses Association, April , 2009
• “Hiring, Interviewing, & Screening”
  Professional Liability Fund CLE, May , 2009
• “Retaliation Discharge Litigation”
  National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, July , 2009
• “Developments in Employment Law”
  AON Risk Services Seminar. Spring , 2008

Publications

• “2010 Legislative Changes”
  1st Quarter Business, Labor & Employment Newsletter , 2010
• “To Arbitrate or Not to Arbitrate? That is the Question.”
  2nd Quarter Business, Labor & Employment Newsletter , 2010
• “Blowing the Whistle ”
  2nd Quarter, Business, Labor & Employment Newsletter , 2009
• “Downsizing”
  Ask the Expert column, Portland Business Journal, July , 2009
• “Hiring Contract Work”
  Ask the Expert column, Portland Business Journal, May , 2009

Client Comments

"Shari was wonderful at asking for questions and giving answers that were understandable."

"Very knowledgeable.  Very thoughtful responses to questions.  Soft-spoken, but very impactful.  One of the best presentations overall at a CLE seminar."