Services & Industries
Education
J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 2017
B.A., University of Washington, 2012
Bar & Court Admissions
Oregon State Bar
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
Carlie is an attorney in Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group. She works with businesses of all sizes to solve complicated labor and employment matters and to train HR departments and managers on key employment law issues. Carlie represents employers against such claims as wrongful termination, employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as wage and hour and leave law violations. Carlie has substantial experience representing employers in state and federal court, and before Oregon’s Bureau of Labor & Industries (BOLI), the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing (DFEH), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and agencies in numerous jurisdictions including Oregon, California, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, and Nebraska. In 2021, Carlie was recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for her work in management-focused labor and employment Law.
Prior to joining Tonkon Torp, Carlie worked at Ogletree Deakins in Portland. During law school, she worked as a legal extern for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office and as an intern for the Municipality of Anchorage Legal Department. Carlie earned her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, and holds a B.A. in History from the University of Washington.
Outside of work, Carlie spends time traveling, backpacking, running, snowboarding, and cooking. She has enjoyed serving as a volunteer judge for the Moot Court Honor Board competitions at University of Washington School of Law since 2017.
Representative Matters
Administrative Proceedings
- Submitted position statements and obtained dismissals of charges before various state, local, and federal agencies.
- Represented clients at various agency proceedings, including witness interviews and fact-finding conferences.
- Secured favorable settlements in actions involving claims of failure to accommodate, meal and rest break violations, and leave law violations.
Advice
- Counseled clients regarding disability accommodations and medical leave issues.
- Drafted employee handbooks, state-specific handbook supplements, and other employment-related policies.
- Trained over 100 human resources employees and managers of foodservice distributor regarding disability discrimination and accommodations.
- Trained human resources employees and managers of hotel management company regarding Oregon meal and rest break requirements.
- Prepared severance agreements for finance and technology companies.
- Conducted internal investigations in matters involving harassment allegations.
Litigation
- Successfully opposed a motion to remand, maintaining favorable jurisdiction in federal court.
- Won a motion to dismiss a claim for wrongful constructive discharge.
- Prepared voluminous pretrial filings for trucking company in case slated to proceed to trial in federal court.
- Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of technology company in an action involving retaliation claims.
- Gathered declarations in cases involving class action claims for use in opposing class certification and for defeating class matters on the merits for employers in agricultural, retail, healthcare, and pharmacy industries.
- Litigated class action case through settlement.
Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Achieves Arbitration Win for Global Financial Services Firm
Tonkon Torp partner Haley Morrison and associate Carlie Bacon recently secured a complete victory through arbitration for a New York-based, global financial services firm in the Fortune 100. The client hired Haley several years ago to defend it against claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, medical leave interference, equal pay violations, and various torts by a former financial advisor.
Community Involvement & Activities
University of Washington School of Law Moot Court Honor Board Competition
2017-Present, Volunteer Judge
Multnomah Bar Association
2023-Present, Events Committee
2018-2020, Young Lawyers Section Membership Committee
Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court (2022-Present)
Oregon Women Lawyers (2022-Present)
The Best Lawyers in America
2021-2023, Ones to Watch – Labor and Employment Law – Management
Recent News
Best Lawyers in America® Names 17 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2024 Ones to Watch List
Seventeen Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 18 practice groups have been named to The Best Lawyers in America 2024 Ones to Watch directory. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a peer-review honor that acknowledges the professional excellence of attorneys who have been in private practice for less than 10 years.
39 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2023 Super Lawyers Lists
Thirty-nine Tonkon Torp attorneys in 12 practice areas have been included in the 2023 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.
L&E Update Prepares Employers for 2023 Employment Law Trends and Changes
Attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Labor & Employment Practice Group hosted their annual “Guide to Employment Best Practices” on December 8. The virtual event featured talks on timely trends and issues facing Oregon employers.
Best Lawyers in America® Names 16 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2023 Ones to Watch List
Sixteen Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 16 practice groups have been named to The Best Lawyers in America 2023 Ones to Watch directory.
Carlie Bacon and Erin Roycroft Review New OSHA Vaccine Rule for Large Employers
On November 10, Tonkon Torp attorneys Carlie Bacon and Erin Roycroft led a webinar briefing on OSHA’S long-anticipated COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) for large employers.
Recent Publications
Noncompetes Under Fire from the Federal Trade Commission
By Carlie Bacon – Employment noncompetition agreements may soon become a thing of the past. On Jan. 5, 2023, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed rule banning noncompetes.
OSHA Withdraws Vaccination and Testing ETS
By Carlie Bacon – On January 25, 2022, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced its withdrawal of the Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard following the Supreme Court’s January 13, 2022 decision.
Supreme Court Stays OSHA ETS and Oregon OSHA Halts Related Standard
By Carlie Bacon – On January 13, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), holding that the parties challenging the ETS are likely to succeed on their argument that OSHA “lacked authority to impose the mandate.”
The State of Masking Requirements in Oregon
By Carlie Bacon – In a shifting landscape of federal and state rules, mandates, and legal challenges to them, Oregon employers may be wondering whether face masks and related requirements are still in effect. Until at least February 2022, Oregon requires individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask, face covering, or face shield when in an indoor space, unless…
New Employer Requirements Under OSHA COVID-19 Rule
On November 4, 2021, OSHA released its long-anticipated rule related to COVID-19 vaccines in the workplace. The stated purpose of the COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) is to “address the grave danger of COVID-19 in the workplace, and to preempt inconsistent state and local requirements.”
Publications & Presentations
“Noncompetes Under Fire from the Federal Trade Commission,” Tonkon Torp Legal Update, Jan. 2023
“The Hybrid Workplace,” Tonkon Torp Guide to Employment Best Practices, Dec. 2022
“OSHA Withdraws Vaccination and Testing ETS, Tonkon Torp Legal Update, Jan. 2022
“Supreme Court Stays OSHA ETS and Oregon OSHA Halts Related Standard,” Tonkon Torp Legal Update, Jan. 2022
“The State of Masking Requirements in Oregon,” Tonkon Torp Legal Update, Jan. 2021
Panelist, “New Employer Requirements Under OSHA COVID-19 Rule,” Nov. 2021
“New Employer Requirements Under OSHA COVID-19 Rule,” Tonkon Torp Legal Update, Nov. 2021
“Mandatory Vaccination Coming Soon for Oregon Healthcare Workers,” Tonkon Torp Legal Update, Sept. 2021