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Christine

Christine Thelen

Shareholder

As a former Human Resources Consultant, Christine Thelen brings to her practice a unique understanding of the multifaceted challenges employers and HR professionals face, from resolving workplace disputes and managing employee relations, to addressing performance issues, and crafting compliance policies and procedures.

Christine excels at providing executives, managers, and HR professionals spanning various industries and organizational sizes with practical advice and real-world solutions tailored to their unique workplace culture and goals. She is a natural problem solver skilled at helping her clients navigate an array of compliance, employee performance, and workplace issues, including:

Navigating challenging separation and disciplinary actions;
Addressing discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other workplace complaints;
Advising on leaves of absence and reasonable accommodations;
Guiding them through workplace investigations;
Developing comprehensive employee handbooks and HR policies;
Making and implementing policy decisions;
Drafting and negotiating nondisclosure, noncompete, nonsolicitation, arbitration, and other employee agreements; and
Conducting pay equity and wage and hour audits.

Christine is also a well-regarded presenter and trainer who integrates proven risk management and people management strategies into all of her educational sessions. She has consistently received great reviews for the numerous webinars, presentations, and training sessions she has provided on a host of timely employment-related issues, including (among others):

Respectful workplace/harassment training for employees and managers;
Manager training on effective people management practices that mitigate risk; and
Compliance and effective practices for human resources professionals.

In addition to providing advice and training, Christine has represented employers in federal and state court, as well as before the EEOC and state fair labor practices agencies, in a variety of employment matters, including employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblower claims, and state and federal regulatory matters.

Professional Experience

Lane Powell PC

Shareholder (2021-Present)
Counsel to the Firm (2018-2021)
Employment Attorney (2011-2012)

Trupp HR, Inc., Director, HR Services/HR Consultant (2014-2018)

Epiq Systems, Inc., Class Action Administration, Project Manager (2012-2013)

Flaster Greenberg PC, Litigation & Employment Attorney (2007-2010)

Community Involvement

Habitat for Humanity, Family Selection Committee (2011-2017)

Thought Leadership

October 30, 2024Event / CLE
Mastering Oregon Leave Laws: Navigating OFLA, PLO, and Other Protected Absences with Confidence
Society for Human Resource Management | Canyonville, Oregon
September 12 & October 9, 2024Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar 2024
Now in Portland & Seattle!
October 8, 2024Event / CLE
Managing Performance in Legally Risky Situations
LeadingAge Washington | Seattle, Washington
August 15, 2024News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 Recognizes 128 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
August 14, 2024Event / CLE
Employment Law Update
Mid-Valley SHRM | Albany, Oregon
June 21, 2024Publication
Staying Compliant: Recent Employment Law Changes Impacting Oregon and Washington Senior Living Communities
Senior Living & Long Term Care Legal Update
June 14, 2024News
Sanchez & Thelen Quoted in Senior Housing News Article 'Senior Living Operators Waiting for Impact of New Overtime, Noncompete Rules'
In the News
June 6, 2024News
Lane Powell Ranked Again Among Top Firms in 2024 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
May 22, 2024Publication
OFLA and PLO Are Never Ever Getting Back Together: New Sweeping Changes to Oregon Leave Laws Require Employer Action
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
January 4, 2024Event / CLE
10 Critical Employment Law Compliance Issues for Administrators, Executive Directors, and Managers
Washington Health Care Association | Virtual
December 6, 2023Event / CLE
Joint Employer Under the NLRA: Ramifications of the NLRB’s New Rule for Senior Living and Long-Term Care
Oregon Health Care Association | Virtual
November 14, 2023Event / CLE
Risks and Alternatives for Drug Testing Employees in Long Term Care Settings Redux
LeadingAge Washington | Virtual
September 15 & October 6, 2023Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar 2023
Now in Seattle & Portland!
June 21, 2023Event / CLE
Human Resources Networking Meeting
LeadingAge Oregon | Virtual
November 9, 2022Event / CLE
Navigating Current Employment Law and HR Updates
Oregon Health Care Association | Virtual
November 9, 2022Event / CLE
Managing Performance in Legally Risky Situations
Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries | Virtual
October 13, 2022Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Labor & Employment Seminar
Lane Powell | Seattle, Washington
September 20, 2022Event / CLE
Culturally Competent Care: The Key to Enhancing Compliance, Satisfaction, and Morale
Oregon Health Care Association | Portland, Oregon
September 15, 2022Event / CLE
Complying with the Oregon Equal Pay Act Post-COVID-19
LeadingAge | Virtual
April 15, 2022Event / CLE
Drug Testing Employees in the LTC Setting: Risks and Alternatives
LeadingAge | Virtual
October 6 - December 8, 2021Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Webinar Series
Lane Powell | Virtual
November 18, 2021Publication
Court Orders and Challenges to OSHA ETS Mandating Vaccination and Testing: What Does This Mean for Employers?
COVID-19 Resource
November 17, 2021Event / CLE
New Strategies for Managing Remote Workers During the Pandemic Era (Part Two)
Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
November 9, 2021Publication
Injunction Stalls Enforcement of Federal Large Employer Soft Vaccine Mandate — What, if Anything, Should Employers Do?
COVID-19 Resource
October 29, 2021Event / CLE
Large Employer Vaccine Mandate - What Employers Need to Know
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce | Virtual
September 14, 2021Event / CLE
Implementing Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
LeadingAge | Virtual
September 8, 2021Event / CLE
Legal and Practical Considerations for Employer COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
BASIC | Virtual
September 2, 2021Event / CLE
Implementing Washington’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Proclamation
LeadingAge Washington | Virtual
September 2, 2021Event / CLE
Implementing Oregon’s Temporary Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Rule
LeadingAge Oregon | Virtual
August 20, 2021Event / CLE
COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policies for Employees and Reasonable Accommodation
LeadingAge Washington | Virtual
June 15, 2021Event / CLE
Hiring and Recruiting
Washington Food Industry Association | Virtual
June 1, 2021Event / CLE
Marijuana and the Workplace: Issues and Best Practices for Senior Living Employers
South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations | Virtual
May 27, 2021Event / CLE
COVID-19 Vaccinations: Legal and Practical Considerations for Employers
Washington Health Care Association Annual Convention | Virtual
March 2, 2021Event / CLE
Assisted Living Virtual In-House Counsel Roundtable
American Health Law Association | Virtual
February 18, 2021Event / CLE
Vaccine Update Webinar
Association of Washington Business | Virtual
January 1, 2021News
Lane Powell Elects New Shareholders and Counsel to the Firm
Firm Announcement
October 15 - December 17, 2020Event / CLE
'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Webinar Series
Lane Powell | Virtual
November 18, 2020Event / CLE
Understanding COVID-19’s Impact on Employment Law
Trupp HR and Lane Powell | Virtual
November 5, 2020Event / CLE
'Phoning it In': Effectively Managing the Telecommuting Employee
Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
September 30, 2020Event / CLE
Employer Considerations
LeadingAge Oregon Annual Meeting | Virtual
September 25, 2020Publication
… But Wait, There’s More! DOL’s Revised FFCRA Regulations Clarify but Also Raise More Questions
COVID-19 Resource
September 22, 2020Event / CLE
Employment in the Age of COVID-19: Employee Testing, Time Off, Accommodations and Other Issues
Washington Health Care Association Fall Conference | Virtual
August 17, 2020Publication
Federal Court Ruling Partially Vacating the DOL’s FFCRA Rules Creates Dilemma for Employers
COVID-19 Resource
August 6, 2020Event / CLE
Employment Law in a COVID-19 World: Employee Testing, Sick Leave and More
Oregon Health Care Association Senior Housing and Independent Living Conference | Virtual
June 15, 2020News
Thelen Interviewed in NPR Story ‘Who Should Pay for COVID-19 Tests?’
In the News
June 2, 2020 Event / CLE
'Take It or Leave It' – Coordinating Leave in the Wake of Washington's Paid Family and Medical Leave Act
LeadingAge Washington | Tacoma, Washington
April 27, 2020Publication
EEOC Says Employers Can Require COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19 Resource
April 22, 2020News
Thelen Quoted in Association of Washington Business Article ‘Communicate Often, Be Flexible With Employees and Learn About New Benefits, Employment Experts Say’
In the News
April 17, 2020Event / CLE
COVID-19 Employer Resource Series: Employment Law & Employee Benefits
Association of Washington Business | Webinar
April 3, 2020Event / CLE
COVID-19: Employment FAQs for Senior Housing & Care Providers
Lane Powell | Webinar
March 25, 2020Publication
Oregon Expands Access to Unemployment Benefits
COVID-19 Resource
March 23, 2020Publication
Seattle and Washington Continue to Expand Financial Support for Workers in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 Resource
March 13, 2020Publication
COVID-19 Employment FAQ’s for Long Term Care and Senior Living Providers
COVID-19 Resource
February 26, 2020 Event / CLE
'Take It or Leave It’ – Coordinating Leave in the Wake of Washington’s PFML Act
Washington State Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) | Bellevue, Washington
October 11, 2019Event / CLE
Show Me the Money: What You Need to Know to Comply with Pay Equity Laws
Northwest Human Resource Management Association Annual Conference | Portland, Oregon
October 1, 2019Event / CLE
SOLD OUT: 37th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor & Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Seattle
July 8, 2019Publication
Oregon Employers Required to Update Anti-Discrimination Policies and Agreements After Legislature Tilts the Playing Field for Employees
Labor, Employment & Benefits Update
June 7, 2019Publication
New Washington Law Allows Affirmative Action Efforts by Public Employers
Labor, Employment & Benefits Update
June 5, 2019Publication
Oregon Passes Law Expanding Pregnancy-Related Accommodations for Employees
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
May 14, 2019Publication
New Washington State Law Levels the Playing Field: Employers Prohibited From Asking Salary History But Mandated to Disclose Salary Ranges
Labor, Employment & Benefits Update
May 1, 2019Event / CLE
36th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor & Employment Seminar
Lane Powell Seminar | Portland, Oregon
April 4, 2019Publication
Washington Employers Take Heed: Paid Family Leave Amendment May Unexpectedly Extend Your Employees’ Paid Leaves
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
March 20, 2019Event / CLE
Best Practices for Complying With Pay Equity Laws
East Portland Chamber of Commerce | Portland, Oregon
December 21, 2018News
Thelen Quoted in The Oregonian Article ‘Oregon’s New Pay Equity Law Raises Prospects, Worries’
In the News
December 6, 2018Publication
BOLI Releases Oregon Equal Pay Act Rules. Does Your Business Have an Effective Pay Equity Strategy?
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
October 23, 2018Event / CLE
'Show Me the Money' — What You Need to Know to Comply With New Pay Equity Laws
Lane Powell Labor and Employment Seminar | Seattle
October 1, 2018Publication
Ready to Comply? State Law Mandates Equal Career Opportunities
Seattle Business Magazine
July 9, 2018News
Thelen Rejoins Lane Powell on Labor, Employment & Benefits Team
Firm Announcement
December 1, 2012Publication
At-Will Employment is Never as Simple as it First Sounds: Employers Must Treat Workers in a Consistent Manner
Portland Business Journal
January 2, 2012Publication
NLRB Strikes Down Arbitration Agreement Containing Class Action Waiver
Labor, Employment & Benefits Legal Update
September 9, 2011Publication
Ask the Legal Professionals Column
Portland Business Journal
May 13, 2011Publication
Ask the Legal Professionals Column
Portland Business Journal
April 21, 2011Event / CLE
Health Care Reform: What Every Best Employer Needs to Know
28th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor and Employment Seminar

Practices & Industries

Labor, Employment & Benefits
Wage & Hour
Senior Living & Long Term Care

Education

Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2007
- Dean’s List
- Temple Journal of Science, Technology and Environmental Law, Published Staff Member
- International Law and Public Policy Award Recipient
Claremont McKenna College, B.A., Government and Economics

Accreditation

SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP®), Society for Human Resource Management

Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®), HR Certification Institute

Admissions

Oregon
Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Honors

Chambers® USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Labor & Employment (2024)

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