Skip to content
DWT logo
People Services Insights
About Offices Careers
Search
People
Services
Insights
About
Offices
Careers
Search
Desktop Image: Ames, Sarah
Mobile Image: Ames, Sarah

Sarah (Ames) Benedict

Partner

T 503.778.5463 Portland
  •  

Download vCard Download bio Print this page
Share

Sarah maintains a busy trial court practice, with a focus on employment-related litigation. She thrives in the courtroom and has first-chaired jury trials in both state and federal court. While Sarah believes it is critical to approach every case as if it may end up before a jury, she recognizes some cases warrant early resolution. In those instances, Sarah actively works with her client to assess creative and efficient ways to resolve the dispute. For those cases that must be tried, and some must, Sarah is her client's go-to courtroom advocate. She also frequently lends her expertise to trial teams across the firm as they gear up for litigation.

In addition to active litigation, Sarah has extensive experience representing clients in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries ("BOLI"), and Washington's Human Rights Commission ("WSHRC"), as well as in arbitration.

Although Sarah represents clients of all sizes and across industries, she is particularly focused on several industries. Sarah has deep knowledge of the healthcare space and the nuances of employment issues that arise in this unique industry. She defends healthcare employment claims in both Washington and Oregon, including those arising under the Equal Pay Act, workplace discrimination and harassment laws, FMLA/OFLA, and wage-and-hour laws. She also represents healthcare employers in labor arbitrations following the termination of underperforming unionized employees.

Sarah also has expertise in the food and beverage industry, where she works with each client to ensure understanding of their "big picture" goals, rather than singularly focusing on a narrow legal question. She draws on her pre-DWT experience at Goldman Sachs to advise and defend financial institutions and franchises.

Practice Highlights

Unanimous defense verdict and non-solicit counterclaim award

Successfully defended a financial services firm following the termination of an Independent Advisor's advising contract. Counterclaimed and won a six-figure jury verdict and attorneys' fees in favor of client due to plaintiff's breach of a non-solicitation agreement.

Unanimous defense verdict

Successfully defended a major employer following the termination of a supervisory employee who was terminated for sexually inappropriate conduct towards subordinates. The jury unanimously rejected the supervisor's claim that he was discriminated against due to his race and gender.

Confidential physician arbitration

Successfully defended against claims of race and gender discrimination brought by a physician whose contract was terminated for bad behavior. Overcame arguments of implicit bias advanced by an expert in the field and obtained complete defense award in response to eight-figure demand.

Admitted to Practice

  • California, 2009
  • Oregon, 2013
  • Washington, 2016
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 2021
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon, 2013
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 2020

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 2009
    • Courtroom Advocate, Criminal Justice Institute
    • Board Member and Director of IL Mentoring, Women's Law Association
    • Field Researcher, Harvard Human Rights Program
  • B.S., Political Science, University of Oregon, 2006, magna cum laude

Memberships & Affiliations

    • PHRMA
    • Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
    • Multnomah County Bar Association

Professional Recognition

    • Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers in Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2024-present
    • Selected to "Oregon Rising Stars," Thomson Reuters, 2017-2019

Background

    • Associate, Private Client Group, Goldman Sachs & Co., Los Angeles, 2011-2012
    • Associate, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, San Francisco, 2009-2011
    • Summer Associate, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, San Francisco, 2008
    • Intern, Federal Torts Claims Act Branch, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., 2007
Clear Filter
Searching...
Your search returned no results. Please try another search or remove search criteria.
DWT logo
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Media Kit Affiliations Legal notices
Privacy policy Employees DWT Collaborate EEO

SUBSCRIBE
©1996-2025 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Not intended as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Close
Close

CAUTION - Before you proceed, please note: By clicking "accept" you agree that our review of the information contained in your e-mail and any attachments will not create an attorney-client relationship, and will not prevent any lawyer in our firm from representing a party in any matter where that information is relevant, even if you submitted the information in good faith to retain us.