Overview

Erin O. Sweeney is a proactive and client-centered counselor with significant experience providing strategic and pragmatic day-to-day advice on employment and labor issues, in both unionized and nonunionized workplaces, and to clients ranging from small start-ups to Fortune 100 companies.

Her background includes serving as legal consultant to businesses, providing advice on state and federal employment and labor laws, policies and compliance, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, risk management, potential litigation, dispute resolution, and workplace best practices. Erin also has experience with conducting in-depth wage and hour audits, providing manager training, and guiding a diverse range of employers in the Pacific Northwest through the many legal pitfalls that may occur with regard to hiring, managing, or terminating employees.

Erin’s traditional labor practice has spanned well over a decade and focuses on providing strategic advice to employers during labor organizing campaigns, creating internal communications, conducting workplace trainings on employee rights, and assisting employers with their day-to-day affairs to avoid unfair labor practice charges. She has represented employers during R-petition hearings, unfair labor practice charges, grievance proceedings, labor arbitrations, strikes and lockouts, benefit and trust fund audits, and collective bargaining.  

Erin also defends employment-related matters in state and federal courts, arbitration, and administrative forums such as the EEOC, DOL, NLRB, and corollary state agencies. 

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member

Oregon Women Lawyers

2010-present

Co-chair

Freelance Lawyers Group

Oregon Women Lawyers

2017-present

Member

Arizona State University Alumni Association, Oregon Chapter

2010-present

Member

Oregon State Bar, Labor and Employment Law Section

2010-present

Member

Arizona State Bar

2004-present

Member

Multnomah Bar Association

Member

American Bar Association

Member

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

Member

Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA)

Member

Oregon Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA)

Member

Quality of Life Committee

Oregon State Bar

2014-2015

Board Member

Arizona State University Alumni Association, Oregon Chapter

2011-2015

Member

Portland Junior League

2010-2011

Fundraising Team Lead

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Arizona

2005-2010

Fundraising Committee Member

International Cancer Advocacy Network (ICAN)

2005-2007

Recognition

Named, Rising Star

Employment & Labor

Super Lawyers

2012-2014

Speaking Engagements

Oregon Employment Law COVID-19 Update: Federal and State Legislation, Predictive Insights, and Critical Next Steps to Protect Your Business Now and Recover Tomorrow

April 7, 2020

Oregon’s New Workplace Fairness Laws: What Employers Need to Know

Portland, OR

September 17, 2019

Independent Contractor or Employee? Getting Your Freelancing Agreement Right

Oregon Women Lawyers, Freelance Lawyers Group, Portland, OR

July 19, 2019

Protected Concerted Activity: How to Spot It, Honor It, and Avoid Unfair Labor Practice Charges

Mid-Valley SHRM, Corvallis, OR

July 10, 2019

Technology Tips for Freelance Lawyers

Oregon Women Lawyers, Freelance Lawyers Group, Portland, OR

February 22, 2019

Education

  • J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 2004cum laude
  • B.A., Arizona State University, 2001cum laude

Bar Admission

Oregon
Arizona

Courts

  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • U.S. District Court, District of Arizona