Calvin Keith
Cal has over 25 years of experience in employment law including numerous trials and arbitrations of employment-related matters.
Calvin Keith manages the Employment Law practice in the Portland office. Cal's experience includes complex litigation including multi-party and class action employment and wage-and-hour litigation as well as litigation of unlawful competition, trade secret and confidential information issues. He received his J.D. in 1978 from the University of Michigan. Cal also provides advice to employers on employment and labor matters and speaks and teaches frequently on employment law topics from the employer's perspective.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1978
- The University of Arizona, B.S., Biology, magna cum laude, 1975
Bar and Court Admissions
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Oregon
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Related Employment
- Bullard, Korshoj, Smith & Jernstedt, Portland, OR, 1981-1983
- O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Associate, 1978-1981
Professional Recognition
Named "Labor Law – Management Lawyer of the Year" The Best Lawyers in America, 2022
Listed in Chambers USA, "America's Leading Lawyers" for Labor & Employment, 2014-2024
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Oregon Super Lawyers," 2006-2020, 2022-2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor & Employment, 2006-2025
Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Impact
Professional Leadership
- American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section; Litigation Section
- Oregon State Bar Association, Labor Relations Law Section, Executive Committee (former member)
- Oregon Employment Law Letter, Editor
Community Involvement
- Association for Portland Progress, Personnel Advisory Committee
- Junior Achievement, Board of Directors, 1992-1995
- Oregon Humane Society, Board of Directors, 2002-2006
- Visiting Nurses Association, Board of Directors, 1983-1985
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Labor & Employment
Ahner v. Gordon Trucking Inc.
Trial of disability and workers’ compensation discrimination action.
AWPPW v. Boise Cascade, LLC
Trial of claim involving employer’s right to drug test.
Beachy v. Boise Cascade Corporation
Won jury verdict for Boise Cascade on claims of disability discrimination, violation of the FMLA, and wrongful discharge. Convinced Ninth Circuit to affirm that judgment. 191 F.3d 1010 (9th Cir. 1999)
Bowman v. US WEST Inc.
Obtained summary judgment in defense of ERISA claims involving interpretation of medical benefit plan and alleged company promises regarding benefits.
Brossard v. International Business Machines Corporation
Defense of wrongful termination action.
Flores v. Columbia River Dairy LLC
Defense of multi-plaintiff gender discrimination claims.
Gebhardt v. United Parcel Service Inc.
Court trial defense verdict on claims under Oregon Family Leave Act.
Hunter v. Lowe's Inc.
Defense of multi-plaintiff race discrimination claims.
Ivory v. Boise Cascade Holdings, LLC
Trial of race discrimination action.
Keefe v. W. W. Grainger Inc.
Defense of wrongful termination action.
Kreitman v. Nabisco Inc.
Defense of wage-and-hour class action.
McKee v. The Coca Cola Company
Defense of age discrimination action.
McManama v. Gordon Trucking Inc.
Defense of wage payment class action.
Pearse v. The Port of Portland
Defense of Section 1983 action against a public employer.
Sorensen v. Boeing
Defense of 15 plaintiffs in breach of contract and wrongful termination claims.