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Brenna

Brenna R. McLaughlin

Associate

Brenna helps private businesses, public entities, and nonprofit organizations maintain positive work environments and find pragmatic solutions to a wide range of personnel challenges.

As a Wisconsin native, Brenna approaches workplace disputes with Midwestern practicality. She collaborates with in-house counsel, HR professionals, and executives to find an effective path forward that reflects the organization’s cultural values while reducing the risk of time-consuming and expensive litigation.

When litigation does happen, Brenna is a diligent and judicious advocate for her clients. She regularly litigates and successfully resolves employment discrimination claims in a way that demonstrates an employer’s integrity and achieves big-picture goals.

Outside of the office, Brenna enjoys hiking throughout the Pacific Northwest, reading Stephen King novels on rainy days, and helping cats find their forever homes through the Oregon Humane Society.

Advice Experience

Counsel employers on protected leaves of absence

Navigate disability, religious, and pregnancy accommodations

Prepare employee handbooks and effective personnel policies

Manage employee performance, discipline, and separation

Supervise workplace investigations

Develop pay equity and transparency strategies

Create compliance plans for multi-state wage and hour regulations

Train HR professionals and managers on best practices and risk management

Litigation Experience

Litigate single-plaintiff lawsuits involving allegations of wrongful discharge, discrimination, hostile work environment, failure to accommodate, protected leave interference, retaliation, and wage and hour violations

Represent employers before a variety of federal and state administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Labor Relations Board, Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, Washington Human Rights Commission, and Wisconsin Equal Rights Division

Defend organizations in the Department of Labor and state-agency wage and hour compliance audits

Resolve workplace disputes in mediation and arbitration

Professional Experience

Littler Mendelson PC, Labor & Employment Associate

Boardman & Clark LLP, Labor & Employment Associate

Community Involvement

Oregon Humane Society, Cat Care Volunteer and Adoption Event Coordinator (2022-Present)

Oregon Federal Bar Association, CLE Committee Co-Chair (2021-Present)

Multnomah Bar Association, Member (2023- Present)

Thought Leadership

October 30, 2024Event / CLE
Mastering Oregon Leave Laws: Navigating OFLA, PLO, and Other Protected Absences with Confidence
Society for Human Resource Management | Canyonville, Oregon
September 12 & October 9, 2024Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar 2024
Now in Portland & Seattle!
August 14, 2024Event / CLE
Employment Law Update
Mid-Valley SHRM | Albany, Oregon
July 18 & August 1, 2024Event / CLE
Scaling Up? Important Lessons and Legal Insights for Your Startup's Growth
In Portland & Seattle!
June 21, 2024Publication
Staying Compliant: Recent Employment Law Changes Impacting Oregon and Washington Senior Living Communities
Senior Living & Long Term Care Legal Update
May 22, 2024Publication
OFLA and PLO Are Never Ever Getting Back Together: New Sweeping Changes to Oregon Leave Laws Require Employer Action
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
April 10, 2024Event / CLE
Paid Leave Oregon 2.0: They Changed it Again
Mid-Valley SHRM | Albany, Oregon
November 2, 2023Event / CLE
Fall Conference
Oregon Society for Human Resource Management | Canyonville, Oregon
September 15 & October 6, 2023Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar 2023
Now in Seattle & Portland!
September 28, 2023Publication
Snow, Rain, Heat, and Gloom of Night Can’t Stop the Postal Service — But Religious Accommodations Might
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
August 14, 2023Publication
Ready or Not, Here It Comes: Paid Leave Oregon!
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
June 22, 2023Event / CLE
Startups & Emerging Companies Summer Series – Growing Your Business the Right Way
Lane Powell | Portland, Oregon
March 20, 2023News
McLaughlin Joins Labor, Employment & Benefits Team
Firm Announcement

Practices & Industries

Labor, Employment & Benefits

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude
- Wisconsin Law Review, Note & Comment Editor
- Wisconsin Moot Court, Executive Board Member
University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., Philosophy, with honors

Admissions

Oregon
Washington
Wisconsin

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