Epstein Becker Green Continues Expansion in Portland, Strengthens West Coast Foothold with New Employment Law-Focused Attorneys

Portland, OR (October 8, 2024) – Epstein Becker Green (EBG) is pleased to announce the expansion of its Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice with three new attorneys associated with its Portland, Oregon, office. Courtney McFate and Rishi Puri, who join as Members of the Firm, and Carlie Bacon, who joins as an Associate, come to EBG after most recently practicing at Portland law firm Lane Powell.

EBG, which made its foray into Portland last year with a cross-disciplinary team, is set to fully optimize its focused capabilities in Oregon, California, and the entire West Coast. Earlier this year, the firm also brought on employment litigation attorney Haley Morrison.

“The collective experience of these impressive attorneys—in labor and employment matters spanning from Seattle to San Diego—is a powerful combination of litigation, compliance, and advice and counsel that equips the firm to adeptly navigate our clients’ increasingly complex matters, especially on the West Coast,” said David W. Garland, a Chair of the firm’s National Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Steering Committee. “We are pleased to be able to provide clients with even more resources to meet the demand for broad employment litigation experience in California and the Pacific Northwest.”

McFate provides comprehensive advice on all facets of employment-related compliance. She represents clients in pre-litigation and administrative matters; single-plaintiff litigation, including harassment, discrimination, and retaliation cases; and complex litigation, such as wage and hour class actions and actions under California’s Private Attorneys General Act. She also advises on employee hiring processes, terminations, leaves of absence, reasonable accommodations, and the creation of employee handbooks.

“It’s our intention to grow the geographic footprint of EBG’s best-in-class employment strategies to more clients across the regions we know very well, and EBG offers the infrastructure to do so,” said McFate. “With a significant national platform combined with state-specific on-the-ground resources, EBG provides the perfect environment to more comprehensively service our own clients’ needs while increasing the potential of the firm’s nationwide bench.” 

Puri delivers effective representation to employers of all sizes on a broad range of employment and privacy matters, including non-compete restrictions, background check determinations, performance management, accommodations, workplace investigations, and more. Having served as Chair of the Wage, Hour, and Leaves team at his prior firm, his experience and strategic approach to client advocacy will further strengthen EBG’s capabilities.

Bacon handles a wide spectrum of claims, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; wage and hour violations; and leave law violations.

“EBG’s strategy has always been to hire the best attorneys in our core areas of focus:  healthcare, employment, and litigation” said Eric Neiman, a Managing Member of EBG’s Portland office. “And, thankfully, Portland is home to a number of skilled attorneys tackling some of the most significant labor and employment challenges facing employers. Courtney, Rishi, and Carlie are evidence of that and are the type of high-powered lawyers who fit perfectly on EBG’s team. Our goal is to hire great lawyers who also are great people. We could not be happier that they are joining EBG.” 

EBG’s expansion in Portland comes soon after the firm expanded its employee benefits and executive compensation offerings with a five-attorney team in Pittsburgh last year.

About Epstein Becker Green

Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., is a national law firm with a primary focus on health care and life sciences; employment, labor, and workforce management; and litigation and business disputes. Founded in 1973 as an industry-focused firm, Epstein Becker Green has decades of experience serving clients in health care, financial services, retail, hospitality, and technology, among other industries, representing entities from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Operating in locations throughout the United States and supporting domestic and multinational clients, the firm’s attorneys are committed to uncompromising client service and legal excellence.  For more information, visit www.ebglaw.com.