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Overview
Though Corbett has officially retired, she maintains an office at Tonkon Torp and limits her practice to pro bono client representation. Corbett joined the Labor & Employment group at Tonkon Torp in 2013 after 11 years as a founder and senior counsel in the Portland office of Fisher & Phillips. Prior to that, she was a senior partner in her own firm for seven years. Corbett has over three decades of experience representing public and private sector employers in a range of matters including their interactions with labor unions in Oregon and Washington. An experienced labor negotiator, Corbett represents clients in collective bargaining, contract enforcement, and labor arbitrations.
Corbett’s litigation practice includes significant experience defending employers before juries and agencies on a range of claims including harassment, whistleblower retaliation, trade secret and noncompetition violations, and alleged discrimination based on disability, sexual orientation, gender, race, and national origin. She has tried cases in Oregon and Washington state and federal courts and successfully prevailed in client appeals in state and federal courts as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Corbett’s practice includes providing counsel on all aspects of labor and employment law. With a background in teaching, she works effectively with clients to present employment policies and practices as well as management training to employees. Corbett works with management and employees in gender identity matters to ensure a welcoming workplace when an employee is in transition.
Corbett’s litigation practice includes significant experience defending employers before juries and agencies on a range of claims including harassment, whistleblower retaliation, trade secret and noncompetition violations, and alleged discrimination based on disability, sexual orientation, gender, race, and national origin. She has tried cases in Oregon and Washington state and federal courts and successfully prevailed in client appeals in state and federal courts as well as before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Corbett’s practice includes providing counsel on all aspects of labor and employment law. With a background in teaching, she works effectively with clients to present employment policies and practices as well as management training to employees. Corbett works with management and employees in gender identity matters to ensure a welcoming workplace when an employee is in transition.
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Get To Know

With a background in teaching, Corbett recently helped students at the Methow Valley Alternative High School (Washington) gain a deeper understanding of U.S. history by teaching them basic civics and court process through the review of cases involving the constitutional rights of young people. In 2011, the Convocation on Equality recognized Corbett as a “Champion” for her decades of work in encouraging diversity in the legal profession.
Outside of the office, Corbett helps wrangle chickens at the Gordon Kolsky Farm in Carlton, Washington. As of February 2013, Corbett is a proud grandmother.
Outside of the office, Corbett helps wrangle chickens at the Gordon Kolsky Farm in Carlton, Washington. As of February 2013, Corbett is a proud grandmother.
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Featured Representative Matters
Gallagher-Burnett v. Merle West Med. Ctr., Inc., 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22867 (D. Or. 2004)
Wilson v. Dollar Tree Stores, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11959 (D. Or. 2004)
Albertsons, Inc. v. Kirkingburg, 527 U.S. 555 (1999)
Schram v. Albertsons, Inc., 147 Or. App. 415 (1997)
Northwest Administrators v. Albertsons, Inc., 104 F.3d 253 (9th Cir. 1997)
Price v. Taco Bell Corp., 896 F. Supp. 1022 (D. Or. 1995)
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Featured Work
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Community Involvement & Activities
Oregon State Bar Association
Executive Committee, Labor & Employment Law Section
Past Member
Executive Committee, Disabilities Law Section
Past Member
Civil Rights Section
Past Chair
Past Executive Committee
Multnomah Bar Association
Committee to Advance Equality in the Profession and the Justice System
Past Chair
Dave's Killer Bread Foundation
Board of Directors
Outside In
Risk Management Committee
Washington State Bar Association
Past Examiner
Civil Rights Section
Trustee
Portland Human Resources Management Association
Board of Directors
Past Member
PlayWrite, Inc.
Secretary and President
Past Board of Directors
National Management Labor & Employment Roundtable
Member
Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Section Newsletter
Editorial Board
Portland Workforce Alliance
Board of Directors
Past Member
Legacy Home Health
Past Board of Directors
DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital
Past Board of Directors
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Portland
Past Board of Directors
Multnomah County Citizens Review Board
Past Member
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Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
NWEEO/Affirmative Action Association
NWEEO/Affirmative Action Association
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Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America
2014-2019, Employment Law – Management
2014-2019, Labor Law – Management
2014-2019, Litigation – Labor & Employment
2012, Lawyer of the Year – Labor Law – Management, Portland
2014-2019, Labor Law – Management
2014-2019, Litigation – Labor & Employment
2012, Lawyer of the Year – Labor Law – Management, Portland
Super Lawyers
2006-2007, Top 25 Women Oregon Super Lawyers
2006-2016, Oregon Super Lawyers – Employment & Labor
2006-2016, Oregon Super Lawyers – Employment & Labor
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers
2005-2008, Labor & Employment
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Recent News
8.15.2019
2020 List for Best Lawyers in America® Includes 48 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Forty-eight Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. A majority of attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and most have been recognized for more than five…
8.17.2018
Best Lawyers in America® Names 51 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2019 List
Fifty-one Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 41 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years
8.16.2017
Best Lawyers in America® Names 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2018 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years…
5.30.2017
Corbett Gordon Sponsors Original Practice Shakespeare Fundraiser
Corbett Gordon sponsored a table at the May 27 fundraiser for Tonkon pro bono client Original Practice Shakespeare (OPS) Festival. OPS Fest brings a new style of Shakespearean performance to the Portland area by reviving the old. First Folio editions…
8.15.2016
Best Lawyers in America® Names 44 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2017 List
Forty-four Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 38 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017. Each attorney has been named to the list in past years, and nearly all have been recognized for more than five years…
7.11.2016
28 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2016 Super Lawyers Lists
Twenty-eight Tonkon Torp attorneys in ten practice areas are named on the national 2016 Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists. Super Lawyers are selected through a process that identifies outstanding lawyers in dozens of practice areas. Factors…
5.27.2016
Corbett Gordon Speaks at Second Chance Summit in New York City
Tonkon Torp attorney Corbett Gordon, who is a member of the Dave's Killer Bread Foundation Board, was in New York City on May 24 to speak at the Second Chance Summit hosted by the Foundation at The New School in Manhattan.
5.18.2016
Tonkon Torp Hosts Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar
On May 12, Tonkon Torp Labor & Employment Practice Group attorneys hosted their annual employment law seminar for human resource professionals and other business leaders. Over 200 attendees listened to Star Wars-themed presentations that covered…
4.28.2016
Corbett Gordon and Claire Brown Assist OWLS Book Drive
Corbett Gordon and Claire Brown led an effort by Tonkon Torp to serve as a downtown collection site for the Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS) Coffee Creek Book Drive. They gathered several hundred books from attorneys in the downtown area to be donated to…
2.26.2016
Tonkon Torp Sponsors Portland Workforce Alliance Expo Breakfast
Tonkon Torp was a sponsor at the February 24 Portland Workforce Alliance (PWA) breakfast. Corbett Gordon, a member of the PWA board of directors, organized Tonkon's involvement with the event. PWA builds partnerships between local businesses and…
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Recent Alerts
11.17.2015
Exempt from Overtime? Maybe Not - The Rules Are Changing
On March 13, 2014, President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Department of Labor (Department or DOL) to update the regulations for the "white collar exemptions" to overtime. In response, the DOL issued a Notice of Proposed…
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Publications & Presentations
“Debunking the Myths,” Second Chance Summit, New York City, NY, May 2016
“Ensuring Excellence,” Public Defense Management Conference, Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Sunriver, OR, October 2015
“Ban the Box Legislation, Risk Management, and Legal Considerations in Hiring Second Chance Applicants,” Dave’s Killer Bread Foundation Second Chance Summit, Portland, OR, October 2015
“Employment and THE LAW 'They Can't Do That! …Can They?’” Promoting Avenues to Employment (PAVE) Job Training program, Portland, OR, June 2015
“Tools for Tough HR-Management Conversations,” 2015 Labor & Employment Law Advanced Practices (LEAP) Conference, Las Vegas, NV, April 2015
“Behind the Curtain: Inside the U.S. Supreme Court” U.S District Court of Oregon Historical Society, Portland, OR, September 2014
“All Your Wanted/Needed to Know About Supervising Employees to Avoid Legal Problems,” Twisp, WA, August 2014
“National Labor Relations Board Update and Recent Case Summaries,” Oregon State Bar Labor & Employment Section, Sunriver, OR, September 2013
“Catch Up On Recent Changes in Employee Leave Laws,” Daily Journal of Commerce, September 2013
“2013 Employment Law Update,” Oregon Law Institute, Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, OR, June 2013
“Employee Handbooks and Policies,” Portland State University Human Resource Management Association, Portland, OR, May 2013
“US Executive Compensation in Ireland: The US Chamber of Commerce Weighs in on the Income Tax Questions,” Cross Border Employer, F&P Blog, January 2013
“Healthcare,” Vancouver Business Journal, December 2012
Board development training for Regional Emergency Care Councils of Washington State, November 2012
“The Inside Track: Class Action Defeated by Labor Agreement,” Vancouver Business Journal, August 2012
“Irish Minister of Jobs Simplifies Access to Regulations for Business in Ireland,” Cross Border Employer, F&P Blog, June 2012
“Doing Business in Ireland,” Cross Border Employer, F&P Blog, May 2012
Employment Law Seminar, Pateros, WA, May 2011
“Out Sick Again? Still? Really? What’s an Employer to Do?” Local Government Personnel Institute Annual Conference, Silverton, OR, August 2010
“Social Media – Don’t Blink, It’s a Constantly Moving Target,” Oregon Law Institute, May 2010