Nicole C. Elgin

Partner

P: 503-276-2109
F: 503-274-1212

601 SW 2nd Avenue, Suite 2300
Portland, OR 97204

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Assistant:
Tami Tolbert
(503) 276-2127
ttolbert@barran.com

Practice Areas

Admitted to Practice

  • Oregon

  • Washington

  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington

Academics

  • Lewis & Clark Law School (J.D., cum laude): Lewis & Clark Law Review, Managing Editor; Research Assistant to Professor Henry Drummonds

  • University of Washington (B.A.): Associated Students for the University of Washington, Senator

Nicole Elgin is a partner at Barran Liebman LLP, where she represents employers in labor and employment law matters, from proactive advice and training to strategic litigation. Her labor practice ranges from negotiating collective bargaining agreements to strategizing employer campaigns during union elections. She also defends employers in arbitrations and investigations by the National Labor Relations Board. Nicole represents unionized employers across a variety of industries and sectors, from wood products to community nonprofits.

Nicole’s employment law practice involves helping employers adapt their policies to legislative and regulatory changes at the local, state, and national levels. She defends employers investigated by administrative agencies, including Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), Washington’s Labor & Industries (L&I), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), to name a few. She was also a member of the Rulemaking Advisory Committee for Oregon’s Equal Pay Act and has helped numerous employers perform equal pay analyses.

Prior to joining Barran Liebman LLP, Nicole was a judicial extern for the Honorable Michael H. Simon at the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. She serves as President of the Multnomah Bar Association YLS Board of Directors and routinely teaches classes to those studying for the SHRM certification exam. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys traveling with her family and exploring restaurants and breweries throughout the Pacific Northwest.  

Representative Matters

  • Counseled multiple employers through negotiating collective bargaining agreements, often serving as chief negotiator.

  • Performed multiple pay equity analyses pursuant to Oregon’s Equal Pay Act.

  • Counseled employer through union organization campaigns, including representation in hearings before the National Labor Relations Board.

  • Successfully defended employer’s termination of employee through grievance arbitration.

  • Successfully defended employer against Oregon OSHA complaint regarding COVID-19 protocols.

  • Counseled employer through reduction in force and operation restructuring.

  • Successfully defended employer through multiple complaints filed with the Bureau of Labor and Industries based on employer’s legitimate business reasons for termination of employment.

Professional Experience & Affiliations

  • Federal Bar Association Oregon Chapter: Board Member (2018-2021); Member (2018-2021)

  • Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section: President (2024-present); Treasurer (2023-2024); Liaison to the Finance & Operations Committee (2023-2024); Board of Directors (2021-2023); Social Justice Task Force: Member (2021-2022); Pro Bono Committee: Chair (2020-2021); Service to the Public Committee (2018-2020); 3L Liaison for Lewis & Clark School (2016-2017)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association: Member (2019-present)

  • Society for Human Resource Management: Member (2019-present)

  • NW EEO/Affirmative Action Association: Board Member (2018-2019)

  • Multnomah Bar Association: Continuing Legal Education Committee (2017-2018)

  • Oregon Public Employer Labor Relations Association (ORPELRA): Member (2017-present)

  • Oregon Labor & Employment Relations Association (LERA): Member (2017-present)

  • Oregon State Bar: Labor & Employment Law Section: Member (2017-present)

  • Oregon Women Lawyers: Member (2014-present)

  • U.S. District Court of Oregon – The Honorable Michael H. Simon: Judicial Extern (2016)

  • Law School Admission Council (LSAC): High School/Middle School Mock Trial Volunteer (2015)

Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America: Listed as a Ones to Watch Labor & Employment Law Management, Labor & Employment Litigation Attorney (2023-present)

  • Oregon Super Lawyers Magazine: Rising Star (2019-present)

  • Oregon State Bar Pro Bono Honor Roll (2018)​

  • Lewis & Clark Law School: Cornelius Honor Society; Best Oral Advocate; Community Service Honors; Honors Appellate Brief; Discovery Grant Recipient; Minta Hicks Newell Memorial Scholarship Recipient; Candise DuBoff-Jones Scholarship Recipient; Allen Hein Memorial Scholarship Recipient

  • University of Washington: Dean’s List; Fritz Scholarship Recipient; Barbara McMahon Scholarship Recipient

Civic Activities

  • Campaign for Equal Justice: Board of Directors (2024-present); Associates Committee & Program Coordinator (2018-2020)

  • College Possible Ambassador Board: Member (2019-2021)

  • Lewis & Clark Law School Mentoring Program: Mentor (2018-present)

  • Oregon Humane Society: Volunteer (2018-2021)

  • MBA Imprint: Volunteer (2017-present)

  • Rosemary Anderson High School: Mentor (2014-2017)

  • Rose Haven: Reigning Roses Walk Committee Member (2016-2017)

  • Girl Scouts of America: Lifetime Member (1999-present)

Representative Presentations

  • SAIF Policyholder Training: “Unions and Labor Law - Best Practices for Labor Relations”, Presenter (9/5/24)

  • Barran Liebman Annual Seminar: “Black Diamond Level Labor Relations Strategies: Continuing Lessons from the NLRB’s Cemex Case,” Presenter (9/26/24)

  • Barran Liebman Webinar: “When Bargaining Gets Tough: Employer Rules & Best Practices in Union Contract Negotiations,” Presenter (6/11/24)

  • Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) Not-for-Profit Conference: “Employment Law/Compensation Considerations for Employers,” Presenter (4/22/24)

  • Barran Liebman Webinar: “Best Practices for Effective Union Negotiations,” Presenter (3/5/24)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA) Legal Update: “2024 Legislative & Regulatory Update and Best Practices for Employers,” Presenter (12/14/24)

  • Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) State & Local Tax Conference: “Employment Law & Legislative Update,” Presenter (1/5/23)

  • Barran Liebman Webinar: “NLRB Updates & Best Practices for Responding to Unfair Labor Practice Charges,” Presenter (11/14/23)

  • BOLI’s 39th Annual Employment Law Conference: “2023 Legislative & Regulatory Update,” Presenter (11/3/23)

  • Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) Business & Industry Conference: “2023 Employment Law Update: Best Practices for Employers,” Presenter (10/27/23)

  • Barran Liebman Annual Seminar: “Compliance Coaster: Labor Updates & Directives from the National Labor Relations Board,” Presenter (9/28/23)

  • Northwest Public Power Association March Meeting: “Employment Law Update,” Presenter (3/8/23)

  • BOLI’s 38th Annual Employment Law Conference: “2022 Legislative & Regulatory Update,” Presenter (11/10/22)

  • Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section: “Labor Law Primer,” Co-Presenter (11/3/22)

  • Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) Business & Industry Conference: “2022 Employment Law Update: Best Practices for Employers,” Presenter (10/18/22)

  • Lewis & Clark Higher Education Class: “Labor Update,” Guest Speaker (10/6/22)

  • Barran Liebman Annual Seminar: “Labor Management Driver’s Manual: Top Five Things to Know About Union Organization,” Presenter (9/29/22)

  • National Electrical Contractors Association: “Oregon Paid Family & Medical Leave Program,” Presenter (8/17/22)

  • HR Annie Webinar: “Employer Legal Update,” Presenter (8/10/22)

  • Portland Human Resources Management Association (PHRMA) Employee Relations Special Interest Group: “Employee Engagement: Cautionary Tales & Best Practices,” Presenter (6/21/22)

  • Oregon Business & Industry: “Union Organizing Do’s & Don’ts,” Presenter (6/15/22)

  • Oregon Society of CPAs Knowledge Center: “Employment Law Update: Legislative Updates & Best Practices for Employers,” Presenter (5/20/22)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA) Employee Relations Special Interest Group, Presenter (3/31/22)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA) Certification Study Group: “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion,” Presenter (3/22/22)

  • Barran Liebman Webinar: “2022 Employment Law Updates & Best Practices for Compliance,” Presenter (2/8/22)

  • Yamhill County SHRM HR Basics Part I: “Navigating COVID-19 in the Workplace: Vaccine Mandates, Leave, & Reasonable Accommodations,” Presenter (1/20/22)

  • PDX HR Leadership Forum: “Lessons from 2021 Employment Law Updates,” Presenter (12/8/21)

  • BOLI’s 37th Annual Employment Law Conference: “Legislative & Regulatory Update,” Presenter (11/4/21)

  • Barran Liebman Annual Seminar: “Avoiding Penalty Strokes: Frequent Issues & Best Practices for Managing Temporary Employees,” Presenter (9/30/21)

  • Oregon Society of CPAs Not-for-Profit Conference: “Employment Law Update: Legislative Updates & Best Practices for Employers,” Presenter (4/26/21)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA) Spring Legal Update: “Recent Legislative Changes & Best Practices for Employers,” Presenter (4/21/21)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA) Spring Study Group: “Employee Labor Relations,” Presenter (3/23/21)

  • Lewis & Clark Higher Education Class: “Traditional Labor Law & Higher Education,” Guest Instructor (12/3/20)

  • Oregon & SW Washington Association for Health Care Recruitment (OSWAHCR): “Keeping Up with 2020’s Surge of Regulatory & Legislative Updates,” Presenter (11/12/20)

  • Salem SHRM Webinar: “NLRB & Traditional Labor Law Update,” Presenter (11/10/20)

  • BOLI’s 36th Annual Employment Law Conference: “Keeping Up with 2020’s Surge of Regulatory & Legislative Updates,” Presenter (11/6/20)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA) Certification Study Group: “Employee/Labor Relations,” Instructor (10/27/20)

  • Barran Liebman Client Training: “Labor Law Update: New Legislation, Case Law Updates, & Best Practices,” Presenter (10/9/20)

  • Barran Liebman Webinar: “Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act: Best Practices for Policy Updates & Compliance with Fall Changes,” Presenter (8/6/20)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA): “Employee & Labor Relations,” Presenter (4/7/20)

  • Portland State University Human Resource Management Association (HRMA): “Your Rights & Obligations Under the Law – Overview of Oregon’s Equal Pay Act,” Presenter (1/7/20)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA): “Employee & Labor Relations,” Presenter (11/19/19)

  • Oregon & SW Washington Association for Health Care Recruitment (OSWAHCR): “Employment Law Highlights,” Presenter (11/8/19)

  • BOLI’s 35th Annual Employment Law Conference: “Changing Discrimination & Harassment at Work – Updates from Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act,” Presenter (11/4/19)

  • Business & Legal Resources (BLR) Webinar: “Oregon’s New Paid Leave Law,” Presenter (10/31/19)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA): “Employment Laws & Regulations,” Presenter (10/29/19)

  • Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference: “When Sick Time, Family Leave, & the ADA Collide: Common Pitfalls & Strategies for Employer Success,” Presenter (10/17/19)

  • Barran Liebman Annual Seminar: “Don’t Ask for an Encore When You Should Cue the Final Curtain: When to Skip Progressive Discipline & Move Straight to Termination,” Presenter (10/10/19)

  • LaPorte Equal Pay Act Panel & Seminar: “Any Equal Pay Act lawsuits yet? Why or why not?” Presenter (9/26/19)

  • Barran Liebman’s Unionized Employer Update: “Best Practices for Better Labor Relations,” Co-Presenter (9/19/19; 9/24/19)

  • DisruptHR: “5 in 5 – Five Key Elements to Oregon’s New Workplace Fairness Act,” Presenter (9/12/19)

  • National Electrical Contractors Association: “Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act: Upcoming Requirements & Best Practices for Compliance,” Co-Presenter (8/15/19)

  • Barran Liebman Client Training: “Labor Relations Supervisor Training,” Presenter (8/1/19)

  • Oregon Paralegal Association: “Pay Equity Workshop,” Presenter (6/27/19)

  • 2019 OSB Labor & Employment Section Boot Camp: “Nuts and Bolts of Labor Law: Private Sector Labor Law,” Presenter (6/14/19)

  • Barran Liebman Client Training: “ADA & Accommodations: Best Practices for Supervisors & Managers,” Presenter (5/22/19)

  • 22nd Annual Vigilant Pulp & Paper West Coast HR Roundtable: “Employment & Labor Law Update,” Presenter (5/9/19)

  • Portland Human Resource Management (PHRMA): “U.S. Employment Law & Regulations,” Presenter (5/7/19)

  • CDF Webinar: “2019 Employment Law Updates for Oregon & Washington,” Presenter (4/23/19)

  • Mid-Willamette SHRM Seminar: “Sick Time, Family Leave, & the ADA”; “Effective Discipline & Discharge,” Presenter (4/19/19)

  • Labor & Employment Relations Association (LERA): “The Oregon Equal Pay Act: Challenges & Successes, Tips & Traps,” Co-Presenter (4/16/19)

  • Barran Liebman Breakfast Seminar: “When Sick Time, Family Leave, & The ADA Collide: Common Pitfalls & Strategies for Employer Success,” Presenter (3/12/19)

  • Barran Liebman Traditional Labor Law Update: “Significant 2018 National Labor Relations Board Decisions & What Employers Need to Know for 2019,” Co-Presenter (3/6/19)

  • Barran Liebman Client Training: “Pay Equity Workshop,” Presenter (2/21/19)

  • National Electrical Contractors Association: “Oregon Pay Equity,” Co-Presenter (12/18/18)

  • Independent Electrical Contractors: “Unionization & Employer Rights,” Presenter (11/15/18)

  • Barran Liebman Client Training: “How to Combat Harassment & Discrimination in the Workplace,” Presenter (11/5/18)

  • Oregon & SW Washington Association for Health Care Recruitment (OSWAHCR): “Employment Law Update,” Presenter (11/9/18)

  • Portland Human Resource Management Association (PHRMA): “U.S. Employment Law & Regulations,” Presenter (11/6/18)

  • BOLI’s 34th Annual Employment Law Conference: “Case Law Update: Everything You Need to Know,” Presenter (11/1/18)

  • Barran Liebman Annual Seminar: Case Law Around the Campfire: Annual Update,” Presenter (9/27/18)

  • Barran Liebman Interactive Pay Equity Roundtable: “Oregon’s Equity Laws,” Co-Presenter (7/23/18)

  • Yamhill County HR Association: “Effective Discipline & Discharge,” Presenter (6/14/18)

  • Lewis & Clark Law School, The Law of Higher Education Course, Guest Presenter (5/22/18)

  • Independent Electrical Contractors of Oregon: “Union Organizing, Employers’ Rights, & Antitrust,” Presenter (4/12/18)

  • Barran Liebman Client Training, “Love in the Workplace: Unwanted Contact By Any Other Name Would Be Just As Offensive,” (2/13/18)

  • PHRMA Labor Relations SIG: “Traditional Labor Law: New Developments Under A Trump Board,” (1/25/18)

  • Barran Liebman Seminar: “The Winds of Change Blow Through the NLRB: An Update on the NLRB’s New Agenda,” (1/24/18)

  • Northwest EEO: “Employment Law Update,” Presenter (1/16/18)

  • Technical Assistance for Employers Program of BOLI- Recordkeeping Requirements Seminar: “OSHA’s New Rule Affects Post-Accident Drug Testing Policies,” Guest Presenter (6/22/16)

Representative Publications