Joy Ellis

Overview

Joy has decades of experience delivering practical employment-related advice, litigating labor and employment disputes, conducting workplace investigations and advising independent and public schools.

Joy advises and represents employers. She provides practical advice and counsel on a broad range of employment law issues. In addition to her advice practice, Joy defends employers in litigation. She has successfully handled BOLI, L&I and EEOC complaints, as well as defended lawsuits in Oregon and Washington’s state and federal courts.

Joy conducts workplace investigations and has a reputation as a fair, prompt and thorough fact finder. She is a Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) with the Association of Workplace Investigators, a distinction earned by completing intensive training and assessment in the core principles of impartial workplace investigations.

A unique segment of Joy’s practice involves advising and representing independent schools in virtually all aspects of their operations, including employment matters, educator misconduct, risk management, student and employee handbooks, student discipline, civil rights, enrollment contract and admission issues, education records and head of school contracts.

Joy is a frequent speaker on various employment and school law topics. She regularly conducts on-site training on preventing educator misconduct, maintaining a harassment-free workplace, implementing leave laws, complying with wage and hour laws and effective hiring and firing practices.

Professional Activities

• Association of Workplace Investigators, Certificate Holder (AWI-CH), Training Institute Graduate
• Foster Garvey, Managing Director of Portland Office, 2023-present
• Multnomah Bar Association, Member, 1995-present
  • Labor and Employment Law Section, Member, 1995-present
  • Litigation Section, Member, 1995-present
• Oregon State Bar, Member, 1995-present
• Washington State Bar, Member 1996-present

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