Atty. Leah C. Lively

Atty. Leah C. Lively

Leah C. Lively exclusively defends employers from claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour violations.

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Profile Summary

About Leah C. Lively at a glance

Leah C. Lively is a employment and litigation attorney based in Portland, Oregon, practicing at Buchalter LLP. Admitted to practice in California, The State Bar of California, Oregon, Oregon State Bar, Idaho, Idaho State Bar, and Washington, Washington State Bar Association. Educated at Lewis & Clark College (J.D., 1996) and California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo) (BS, 1993). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Awards: (2026). Serands clients in Portland, OR and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Leah C. Lively exclusively defends employers from claims of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour violations
  • Leah represents and advises employers of every size, including Fortune 100 companies, non-profit organizations, and locally owned businesses
  • Leah appreciates that a client’s needs must be assessed and responded to on an individual basis to ensure efficient and effective representation
  • Leah is an experienced trial attorney having tried more than 40 jury trials in multiple states and jurisdictions during her career
  • In addition to her expertise in defending single plaintiff employment claims, Leah has significant experience defending wage and hour claims, including class actions
  • Leah is currently lead defense counsel in a pending putative wage/hour misclassification class action in Oregon
  • Leah co-managed the defense of a 40,000 putative class-member case for a national restaurant chain and is one of very few lawyers nationwide to have defended a wage and hour class action to a jury
  • Following a defense verdict on behalf of a real estate development/investment firm, in a race discrimination and retaliation case in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the presiding federal magistrate, Jacob P. Hart, described Leah as “everything a good litigator should be
  • She was completely prepared on every issue, clear and convincing to the jury[.]”

Practice Areas Explained

Leah C. Lively's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Leah C. Lively handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Employment Law

Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.

Leah C. Lively is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Oregon →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Leah C. Lively is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Oregon →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Oregon

Practicing law in Oregon. Legal matters in Oregon are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Portland are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Oregon state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Oregon brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Oregon courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Oregon attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Portland or all attorneys in Oregon.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Leah C. Lively

Where is Leah C. Lively's law office located?
Leah C. Lively's law practice is located in Portland, Oregon. The firm is Buchalter LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Leah C. Lively handle?
Leah C. Lively focuses on employment, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Oregon.
Where did Leah C. Lively go to law school?
Leah C. Lively earned their education at (J.D., 1996); (BS, 1993).
How can I contact Leah C. Lively for a consultation?
You can contact Leah C. Lively directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Leah C. Lively received?
Leah C. Lively's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment; Best Lawyers in America — Awards:; Best Lawyers in America — National Champion Team - Environmental Moot Court (1995); Best Lawyers in America — AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Education

J.D.
Lewis & Clark College
- 1996
BS
California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo)
- 1993

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — National Champion Team - Environmental Moot Court (1995)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Super Lawyers (2011-2013)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Chambers USA (2008-2013)
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - Labor and Employment, Portland (OR)
- 2015

Bar Admissions

California, The State Bar of California
Oregon, Oregon State Bar
Idaho, Idaho State Bar
Washington, Washington State Bar Association

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