Jenna L. Mooney

Partner

Co-chair, Employment Services Group

My job is to solve your people problems. My passion is to make you feel good about the solutions.

Jenna Mooney helps client employers proactively manage employees to ensure legal compliance. She does so without losing sight of each client’s unique business goals and culture. Before becoming an attorney, Jenna cut her teeth managing employees for a retailer as a field supervisor. Because of that experience, she understands that seemingly simple employment laws often have significant impacts and unintended consequences on day-to-day business operations. Not every accommodation is reasonable. Sometimes a risky, adverse employment action is necessary. Jenna listens to understand and works with clients to find the right path for each problem presented.

Jenna works with her clients to build strong policies, training, and supporting documentation to get the best from employees and comply with the law. She partners with her clients to thoughtfully respond to HR issues as they come up and develop strategies to mitigate risk. Sometimes all that proactive work and problem-solving just isn’t enough to avoid a lawsuit or an agency charge. Jenna also defends employers when they are hit with a lawsuit or agency charge. She defends lawsuits and agency charges in state and federal courts and before state agencies and the EEOC.

Jenna is recognized by clients and peers alike for being responsive, practical, and personable. As Chambers USA reports, Jenna "attracts plaudits from an array of sources, who describe her as ‘responsive, practical, succinct and personable' as well as 'intelligent and sophisticated in her approach.'"

Practice Highlights

Employment advice

Working with clients every day, helping them manage OFLA/FMLA/ADA/Workers Compensation leaves and other injured-worker issues. Regularly training management and c-suite executives on issues of significance, including sexual harassment and discrimination, and helping clients draft agreements to protect their businesses, including executive employment agreements and restrictive covenant agreements.

Employment litigation

Defending and resolving employment litigation, from demand letters to agency charges and filed lawsuits; winning motions for summary judgment; and negotiating favorable financial settlements.

Transactional work

Reviewing and analyzing deal documents for accuracy and risk mitigation regarding employment issues; drafting executive employment and severance agreements that are aligned with deal terms. Regularly reviews deal documents for clients in the food and beverage, winery, restaurant, and retail sectors.

Admitted to Practice

Washington, 2003
Oregon, 1999
U.S. District Court District of Oregon
U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Education

J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 1999
- Assistant Director, Moot Court Board
B.A., History, University of California, Los Angeles, 1994

Memberships & Affiliations

- Chair, 2018-2020; Board of Directors, 2009-present – Friends of the Children
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Committee Member, Fundraising Campaign, Multnomah CourtCare, 2007-2015
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association

Professional Recognition

- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Labor & Employment (Oregon), 2011-2021
- Selected by Best Lawyers as Portland's "Lawyer of the Year" in Employment & Labor Litigation, 2021
- Listed as one of the "Top 25 Women Lawyers in Oregon," Thomson Reuters, 2020, 2021
- Listed as one of the “Top 50 Lawyers in Oregon,” Thomson Reuters, 2021.
- Named a "Woman of Influence" by the Portland Business Journal, 2019
- Recognized as a "Flex Success Award" honoree, Diversity & Flexibility Alliance, 2016
- Named Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, 2014
- Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers, 2014-present
- Selected to "Oregon Super Lawyers" by Thomson Reuters in Employment & Labor, 2013-2021; Selected to "Oregon Rising Stars," 2011-2012

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