Liani Reeves

Practice Areas

Employment Law & Labor Relations

Education

Higher Education

K-12 Education

Government & Regulatory Affairs

Public Entities

Nonprofits

Class Actions

Career

Liani Reeves is an experienced employment attorney and litigator. Throughout her career of over 20 years, Liani has worked in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors as both in-house general counsel and as outside counsel. She has represented hundreds of clients ranging from start-up businesses to the Governor of Oregon. She has extensive litigation experience, having taken numerous cases to a jury trial verdict, through arbitration, or to a negotiated resolution. Liani works with clients to find the best strategy and outcome for each particular case and client.

Liani is often hired as an external investigator to conduct investigations into sensitive and high-profile matters, including sexual misconduct, ethics violations, and harassment and discrimination. She also conducts investigations under Title IX.

Liani also provides advice and extensive training to employers on how to comply with their legal responsibilities and works with employers on how to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion values in the workplace. For public sector clients, she often advises on government ethics and transparency and constitutional issues.

Liani also served as the former general counsel to the Oregon Office of the Governor where she advised on a wide range of legal issues, including employment, government transparency, First Amendment issues, public safety, and government ethics. Prior to working for the Governor, she spent almost a decade as an assistant attorney general and deputy chief trial counsel for the Oregon Department of Justice Trial Division, primarily handling employment matters. Her clients included state agencies such as the Oregon Department of Corrections, Oregon’s public universities, and the Oregon State Legislature.

Liani is licensed to practice in Oregon and the District of Columbia.

Professional Memberships

Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, President, 2015-2016

Oregon Minority Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, Co-chair, 2001-2008

Oregon Women Lawyers, Member

Oregon State Bar, Immediate Past President, 2021; President, 2020; Board of Governors, 2017-2020

American Bar Association, Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division Council, Secretary, 2023; Treasurer, 2022; Council Member, 2015-present

National Association of University and College Attorneys

Title IX Coordinator Certifications from the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA), 2016

Education

Awards