Education
Boston College Law School
J.D., 1990 Boston College Law Review, Articles Editor 1989-1990
Vassar College
A.B., 1986
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Oregon
State Bar of Washington
State Bar of California
Honors
Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year 2021
Chambers USA (Band One)
Mantindate-Hubbell, AV Rating
Oregon Super Lawyers (Top 50 attorneys)
Paul Buchanan has more than thirty years of experience litigating employment cases and providing employment law services in California, Oregon, and Washington. He has litigated numerous employment cases through trial and obtained many jury verdicts for his clients. Paul’s practice is unusual in that he represents some of the largest and most successful businesses in the country, as well as individual CEOs, executives, and rank and file employees at every level. His corporate clients include A-dec, Columbia Sportswear Company, Genentech, NW Natural, and many others. He has also obtained numerous six and seven-figure outcomes for individuals in employment disputes.
In 2021 Best Lawyers recognized Paul not only for his defense practice, but as Lawyer of the Year for representation of individuals in employment litigation in Portland, Oregon. Chambers USA has listed Paul in the top band of employment lawyers in Oregon every year since it began ranking Oregon lawyers. Super Lawyers ranks Paul as one of the top fifty lawyers in the state of Oregon.
Paul was a partner at Stoel Rives for more than ten years and for more than five years served as the Chair of Stoel Rives' multi-office Labor & Employment Group. He also served as Stoel Rives’ in-house employment lawyer from 2000 to 2006. From 1990 to 1993, Paul practiced in the labor, employment and litigation groups at Heller Ehrman in San Francisco, California.
Paul is a national speaker and writer on employment law issues. For fifteen years Paul served as a member of the National Employment Law Institute faculty where he gave numerous advanced-level presentations for employment lawyers and human resource professionals throughout the country. Paul has given presentations in national conferences for the American Bar Association and has been interviewed on employment law issues for multiple media outlets. His writings and commentary on employment law issues have been published by the American Bar Association, American Lawyer Media, Bloomberg BNA, the Washington State Bar Journal, The Oregonian, and other publications.
Thomas v. Genentech, obtained summary judgment for client on all claims in ADA and retaliation case. U.S. District Court, June 2023.
Terry v. Applied Materials, obtained summary judgment for client on all claims in sexual orientation discrimination case, American Arbitration Association, July 2023.
Michael Fesser v. City of West Linn et al., obtained over $1,000,000 in settlements for client in race discrimination and retaliation employment case and subsequent civil rights case against the police. 2018 – 2020.
Leland v. Supervalu Wholesale, motion to dismiss granted for client on all claims, U.S. District Court, April 2020.
Lisa B. v. Major Healthcare Entity, litigated sexual harassment and retaliation claims on behalf of client through arbitration resulting in award for client of damages and attorneys’ fees totaling over $500,000. November 2019.
Williams v. Portland General Electric Company, obtained summary judgment for client on all claims in wrongful discharge, discrimination and family medical leave case. Affirmed by Oregon Court of Appeals, July 2019.
Confidential Client v. Financial Planning Firm, obtained $950,000 settlement in sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge case. March 2019.
Confidential Clients v. Company, with Courtney Angeli, obtained combined $3,000,000 settlement for two clients in sexual harassment and retaliation case. October 2018.
Confidential Client v. Aerospace Company, obtained $1,900,000 settlement on unpaid bonus claim on behalf of terminated Chief Executive Officer. September 2018.
Davis v. Con-way Freight Inc., obtained summary judgment for client on all claims in disability and wrongful termination case, U. S. District Court, affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2018.
Boretz v. XPO Logistics, Inc., obtained summary judgment for client in breach of severance contract case. American Arbitration Association, October 2017.
Minard v. XPO Logistics, Inc., jury verdict for client on all claims in retaliation, whistleblower, and age discrimination case. Multnomah County Circuit Court, December 2016.
Ferry v. Community Health Systems Professional Services Corp., obtained dismissal of all claims against client following motion for summary judgment in nine million dollar contract and wrongful discharge case, Marion County Circuit Court, September 2016.
Nelson v. Unified Grocers, summary judgment for client on all claims in ADA and FMLA case, U.S. District Court, Oregon, February 2012.
Confidential Clients v. Food Industry Company, obtained over $1,100,000 in settlements on behalf of two clients in retaliatory discharge cases. 2010-2011.
Confidential Client v. International Financial Company, obtained $345,000 settlement on behalf of client in sexual harassment and retaliation case. September 2010.
McNeil v. Unified Grocers, discrimination and retaliation case, all claims against client dismissed on defendant’s motion, U.S. District Court, July 2010.
Ovchinnikov v. Contech Construction Products, dismissal of all claims against client, affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, February 2010.
Herron v. Wells Fargo Financial, summary judgment for client on all claims in breach of contract, fraud and discrimination case, affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2009.
Confidential Client v. International Relief Non-Profit, obtained $500,000 settlement for client in sexual assault and retaliation case. 2009.
Confidential Client v. Local Arts Organization, obtained $215,000 settlement for client in age discrimination case. 2008.
Delcey v. A-dec, Inc., jury verdict for client on all claims in age and religious discrimination case, U.S. District Court, Oregon, November 2008.
Leal v. Union Bank of California, summary judgment for client on all claims in wrongful discharge case, Multnomah County Circuit Court, 2007.
Kolar v. Unified Western Grocers, Oregon Family Leave Act and wrongful discharge claims; summary judgment for client on all claims, affirmed on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2007.
Nelson v. Glass & Associates, summary judgment for client on all claims, U.S. District Court, 2005.
Harrison v. Health Net Health Plans of Oregon, disability, discrimination and tort claims all dismissed one month before trial on defendant's motion, 2005.
Killinger v. A-dec Inc., jury verdict for client on all claims in retaliation and wrongful discharge case, Yamhill County Circuit Court, April 2004.
Travis, et al. v. Knappenberger, jury verdict for client on all claims in multi-plaintiff retaliation, wage and hour, and ERISA, affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, December 2003.
Tchir v. Unified Western Grocers, retaliation, breach of contract, negligence. Summary judgment for client on all claims, affirmed by the Ninth Circuit, 2005.
Benward v. The Vancouver Clinic, disability, contract and wage claims. Arbitration decision for client on all claims, 2003.
Sam v. Rockwell Collins, discrimination and contract claims. Summary judgment for client on all claims, affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2002.
Farzad v. Rockwell Collins, discrimination and contract claims. Summary judgment for client on all claims, affirmed by Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2002.
Merritt v. McCormick & Schmick's Restaurants, discrimination and related claims. Summary judgment for client, Multnomah County Circuit Court, Oregon, 2001.
Delair v. PacifiCorp, discrimination and wrongful discharge claims. Summary judgment for client on all claims, U.S. District Court, Oregon, 2000.
Bitow v. Astro Punch, California state law claims of discrimination and retaliation; summary judgment for client on all claims, Los Angeles Superior Court, California, 1999.
McCullough v. Legacy Health Systems, summary judgment for client in ERISA case, U.S. District Court, 1999.
Quoted in SHRM.org, “Putting the Humanity in HR Compliance: Seek to Help, Not Just Follow the Law, with ADA Claims,” November 9, 2018.
Quoted in Oregon State Bar Bulletin, “Power Shift - A Conversation About Sexual Harassment and the Law Office,” April 2018.
“Bipartisan consensus on our human frailty: The ADA Amendments Act 10 years later,” The Hill, September 2018.
"They Are Protected Characteristics – Not Groups," American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Quarterly, Fall 2017 (republished Dec 2017 by Oregon Civil Rights Newsletter).
"Americans with Disabilities Act Checklist," Bloomberg BNA, 2017.
"Embracing the Reality of Workplace Romance," The Oregonian, March 2005.
"Have a Plan, Be Direct," Business Law Today, American Bar Association, December 2003.
"Love, or Harassment," Business Law Today, cover story, American Bar Association, October 2001. (Republished by American Lawyer Media and by the Society for Human Resources Management.)
"Is it Against The Law to be A Jerk?" Washington State Bar Journal and Oregon Law Journal, September 2001. (Republished by American Lawyer Media and by the Oregon Law Journal.)
"The Evolving Understanding of Workplace Harassment and Employer Liability: Implications of Recent Supreme Court Decisions Under Title VII," Wake Forest Law Review, April 1999.
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Annual Conference, 2019-2022
National Employment Law Institute, Americans with Disabilities Act presentations yearly in San Francisco, Chicago, and/or Washington, D.C. (2005-2020)
American Bar Association, Qualification Standards under the ADA, National Employment Law Conference 2015