Lisa A. Amato
Direct Dial: 503.517.8101
Direct Fax: 503.273.9135
E-mail: laa@wysekadish.com
www.amatomediation.com
LinkedIn
Education:
J.D., Willamette University College of Law, 1991
University of Notre Dame Law School, Summer Law Program, 1988
B.S., University of Portland, 1988
Biography:
I am a civil litigation attorney with substantial experience in employment, commercial and business disputes. My clients are business owners, employers, managers, and on occasion management level employees. I strive to provide my clients with advice and counsel tailored to their specific needs and business goals.
I advise my clients in a full spectrum of employment law matters. I have litigated claims and defended clients in federal and state courts, and in federal and state administrative agencies including the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).
First and foremost, I develop relationships with my clients. I seek an understanding of the nature of their business, their needs and their goals so that together we can maximize the effectiveness of the legal services. I strongly encourage proactive management practices over litigation, and I have built a very strong advice and counsel practice.
As an aspect of my legal practice, I mediate disputes primarily in employment law, workplace, and in family and closely-held business. Click here for more information about my mediation practice.
Emphasis:
• Employment Law advice and litigation on an wide variety of employment law matters
• Wage and Hour Laws, including administrative actions at the U. S. Department of Labor
• Office of Federal Contract Compliance for government contractors
• Personnel Policies and Practices
• Workplace Investigations
• Affirmative Action Plans
• On-Site Training
Mediation Panels and Rosters: U.S. District Court Mediator panel, the EEOC mediation roster, Multnomah County Circuit Court civil mediation roster, Multnomah County probate roster, and I volunteer through Multnomah County Small Claims Court and the Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Center.
Professional Speaking Engagements:
• “Dealing Effectively With Unacceptable Employee Behavior,” BOLI Employment Law Conference, December 2011
• “Advanced Strategies for Counsel and Professionalism in Mediating the Employment Case,” Panel Moderator, OSB Labor & Employment Section Annual Meeting and CLE, September 2011
• “Hot Topics in Mediation,” Oregon Mediation Association Annual Conference, November 2010
• “Legal Considerations in Business Start-up,” Portland Community Reinvestment Initiative, November 2010
• “Mediation Styles: Do They Matter?,” Oregon State Bar CLE, October 2010
• “Negotiation Mechanics and Best Practices,” SAIF in-house counsel, 2008
Articles and Publications:
• Claim Prevention: Keeping Labor Costs under Control in a Down Economy. December 2009
• Military Leave Expanded. December 2009
• “Building a Mediation Practice.” OWLS AdvanceSheet. Fall 2010
• 2010 Labor and Employment: Oregon Legislative Update. January 2010
• Using Social Media for Hiring Purposes? Consider This. March 2011
• The Dilemma of Using Non-Compete Agreements in Multiple Jurisdictions. August 2011
Professional Organizations:
• Oregon State Bar: Member of Labor & Employment Section (Member of Executive Committee) and Alternative Dispute Resolution Section (former Co-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer)
• Washington State Bar
• American Bar Association: Member of Labor & Employment Section and the Dispute Resolution Section
• Federal Bar Association: Alternative Dispute Resolution Executive Committee, Treasurer
• Owen M. Panner Inn of Court, Member
• OSB Council on Court Procedures, former committee member
• Oregon Mediation Association: Board of Directors; Life Member
• Oregon Women Lawyers
• Association for Conflict Resolution, member
Admitted To Practice:
Oregon
Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Community Activities:
Laurelhurst Neighborhood, Portland Oregon
Laurelhurst School, past-PTA President and Site Council member
St. Mary’s Academy
Clackamas County Dispute Resolution Center, Advisory Board