Liani has a special passion for helping employers navigate the litigation process. Throughout her legal career, Liani successfully resolved hundreds of cases and obtained favorable jury verdicts for the State of Oregon. She also has a diverse portfolio of employment defense experience in defending against race, gender, age, and disability discrimination claims, as well as OFLA, FMLA, and whistleblowing and retaliation claims.
 
Prior to joining the Bullard firm, Liani used her substantial experience to develop extensive training methods and materials to assist employers in proactively preventing and documenting employment actions against future litigation. She also specializes in training client personnel on managing the burdensome and expensive electronic discovery process. As a former front line manager herself, Liani has practical experience interpreting collective bargaining agreements, responding to grievances, and engaging in progressive discipline. This experience helps her inherently understand the needs of her clients as employers and managers. Liani serves in an of counsel capacity to the firm.
 
Liani brings a special expertise in representing public clients. She served as General Counsel for the Office of the Governor for four years, providing advice on a wide range of legal issues including employment, public transparency and First Amendment issues, and government ethics, as well as tribal and public safety policy matters. Prior to the Governor's office, she spent almost a decade as an Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Chief Trial Counsel at the Oregon Department of Justice Trial Division where her primary focus was employment litigation defense of public universities and other large state agencies. Liani currently serves on the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors until her term ends in 2020.
 
Since 2008, Liani has been recognized by business publications, local, state and national bar organizations, and other groups for her commitment to the community and to Oregon's business development and growth.  In 2010, Liani was selected as a recipient of The Portland Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” award that annually recognizes the 40 most accomplished, influential, and civic-minded young executives in Portland. In 2011, the Daily Journal of Commerce tagged her as its “Up & Coming Lawyer of the Year” and she was selected as one of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s “Best Lawyers Under 40.”
 
Outside of the law, Liani devotes significant time to issues involving women and minorities in our community. Liani served eight years as the Co-Chair of the Oregon Minority Lawyers Association and is former President of the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Liani also believes in investing in the next generation of lawyers through mentoring and has mentored numerous law students and lawyers, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Since 2003, Liani has been recognized by Willamette University College of Law and Lewis and Clark Law School for her outstanding mentoring. In 2014, the Willamette University College of Law Asian Pacific American Law Students Association created the “Liani J. Reeves Inspiration Award” in her honor and in recognition of the support she has provided to Oregon law students. In 2015, Liani also received the notable Oregon Women Lawyers Judge Mercedes Deiz Award for her outstanding contribution to promoting minorities in the legal profession and community.
 
Liani is also dedicated towards issues affecting Korean adoptees, as she was adopted from Korea as an infant. She spent the first twelve years of her life in upstate New York before her parents retired and moved to a small town on the Oregon Coast. 

​2018

• Minimum Wage Increase - Bullard Alert 7/2/18
• "Tips for Defending Governmental Entities In Court And In The Press" - The Public Lawyer, Winter 2018
• Reminder of Upcoming Deadlines – Bullard Alert 2/28/18

​2017

• Employers can no longer seek salary history information beginning Oct. 6 – Bullard Alert 10/2/17
• EEO-1 Pay Data Report – Reporting of Pay Data a No-Go – Bullard Alert 8/30/17
• OSHA Injury Tracking Application Now Up and Running – Bullard Alert 8/1/17
• Changes to Overtime Rule Appear Inevitable – Bullard Alert 7/31/17
• Overtime Rule Salary Threshold is Dead But Issue is Not – Bullard Alert 7/6/17
• Update: What’s Happening to 2016 Rules and Regulations with the New Administration? – Bullard Alert 6/12/17
• Oregon Equal Pay Act Signed Into Law – Bullard Alert 6/5/17
• Legislature Passes Oregon Equal Pay Act of 2017 – Bullard Alert 5/25/17

2016

• Portland Pay Ratio Surtax Attempts to Address Income Disparities - Bullard Alert, 12/9/16

Employment Law
 

• Best Practices for Handling Complex Workplace Investigations - The Washington County Chapter of the Oregon Employer Council, April 2018
• Preparing For and Responding to #MeToo - Lower Columbia River Human Resources Management Association, Astoria, OR, March 2018
• Living in the #MeToo Moment: What's Trending in Sexual Harassment - Greater Oregon Higher Education Recruitment Council, Portland, OR, January 2018
• Oregon Equal Pay Act: What Does This Mean to Higher Education? - Greater Oregon Higher Education Recruitment Council, Portland, OR, January 2018
• Case Law Update - Bullard Law Annual Briefing, October 2017
• Employer Know Your Rights: ICE Raids, I-9 Audits & Succession Planning - Small Business Legal Clinic Employer Training, September 2017
• Employer Know Your Rights: ICE Raids, I-9 Audits & Succession Planning - Small Business Legal Clinic Employer Training, June 2017
• Developing Strategies for Transgender Employees and Clients – Public Risk Management Association Annual  Conference, June 2017
• Hot Topics in Employment - Coos County HR Networking Event and Training Luncheon, May 2017
• Whistleblowers: Friend or Foe? - Bullard Law Public Sector Symposium, May 2017
• Employer Know Your Rights: ICE Raids, I-9 Audits & Succession Planning - Small Business Legal Clinic Employer Training, April 2017
• Trial by Media: Managing High Profile Litigation - WRIPMA HR Annual Conference, April 2017
• Developing Strategies For LGBT Employees, Clients and Customers - RIMS Annual Conference and Exhibition, April 2017
• Employer Know Your Rights: ICE Raids, I-9 Audits & Succession Planning - Small Business Legal Clinic Employer Training, March 2017
• Employment Law Update: What You Need to Know - Lower Columbia HR Management Association March Event, March 2017
• Hot Topics in Employment - Lower Columbia HR Management Association, February 2017
• Diversity and Inclusion- More Than Just Buzz Words - NHRMA Annual Conference, September 2016
• Ride the Wave Towards a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce - WRIPMA HR Annual Conference, April 2016
• Handling High Profile Litigation - Bullard Public Sector Symposium, April 2016
• Developing a Strategy for Transgender Employees - RIMS Annual Conference and Exhibition, April 2016 (see Transgender Issues Test Organizations' Adaptability)
• Summer Workshop: How Do You Manage A Changing Workplace? - Bullard Workshop, August 2015
• Microinequity in the Workplace: Identifying Modern Workplace Discrimination - Oregon State Bar CLE on Evolving Issues of Labor and Employment Law in the Modern Workplace, October 2012
• Preventing & Minimizing Exposure to Labor & Employment Claims - Governor’s Office Training, November 2010
• The Truth About Employment Lawsuits - Portland Human Resource Management Association, Diversity and Inclusion Special Interest Group, May 2010
• Preventing & Minimizing Exposure to Labor & Employment Claims - Governor’s Office Training, March 2010
• Preventing & Minimizing Exposure to Labor & Employment Claims - Governor’s Office Training, October 2009
• Workplace Harassment - Department of Transportation Training,  August 2009
• Documentation, Discipline and Discharge - Bureau of Labor and Industries Training, July 2009
• Employment Litigation Trends - Governor’s Office Training, April 2009
• Workplace Harassment - Department of Transportation Training, October 2008
• Statutory Whistleblowing Claims - Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Section CLE, October 2008
• Employment Practice Liability Update - Department of Administrative Services Risk Management Seminar, October 2006

Public Practice/Government Law

• Hashtags, Bumper Stickers, and Other Speech: When Is A Public Employee's Speech Protected? Annual Bullard Law Public Sector Symposium, Portland, OR, May 2018
• The Calm In The Storm: The Government Lawyer's Role in Managing Crisis, Utah Municipal Attorneys Association, St. George, UT, May 2018
• Public Practice Panel - American Bar Association, February 2018
• Moderating Panel: "Don't Like the Law? Go Fix It!" CLE on Legislative Process - Multnomah Bar Association, September 2017
• Ethical Considerations in Government Employment - American Bar Association Annual Convention, August 2017
• Ethical Red Flags in the Public Sector: Responsibilities, Conflicts and More - ABA Webinar, October 2015
• American Bar Association Government Law Practice Panel - Lewis & Clark Law School, October 2015
• American Bar Association Government Law Practice Panel - Willamette University College of Law, September 2015
• American Bar Association Government Law Practice Panel - Willamette University College of Law, October 2014
• American Bar Association Government Law Practice Panel - Lewis & Clark Law School, October 2014
• Lawmaking Class - Willamette University College of Law, February 2014
• Now That We Are Clients - Oregon Department of Justice Client CLE, June 2013
• Road to the Bench - Mary Leonard Law Society, May 2013
• Demystifying the Judicial Appointment Process - Oregon Judicial Diversity Coalition, April 2013
• Government Practice - Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, Willamette University, March 2013
• Lawmaking Class - Willamette University College of Law, February 2013
• Organizing, Staffing and Operating Your Office - National Governors Association Management Seminar for Governors’ Legal Counsels, August 2012
• Government Law Presentation - Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association CLE Series, June 2012
• Lawmaking Class - Willamette University College of Law, January 2012
• Oregon Women Lawyers Road to the Bench - Willamette University College of Law, November 2011
• Public Sector Law: The Skinny from Behind the Scenes in Oregon - Fisher & Phillips, October 2011
• Governor’s Judicial Appointments - Mary Leonard Law Society Luncheon, Willamette University, May 2011
• Governor’s Judicial Appointments - Oregon Minority Lawyers Association Reception, Stoel Rives LLP, April 2011
• Lawmaking Class - Willamette University College of Law, April 2011
• Government Employment - Federal Bar Association Conference, April 2011
• Government Law Employment Opportunities - Oregon State Bar Opportunities for Law in Oregon, August 2010
• Government Employment - Lewis & Clark Law School, August 2010
• Road to Public Service - Oregon Minority Lawyers Association CLE, November 2009
• The First Amendment and Free Speech Rights - Street Law Class, Chemeketa Community College, January 2009

Litigation/Electronic Discovery/Public Records
 

• Deposition Skills: Pointers and Pitfalls for Government and Private Lawyers - American Bar Association Webinar, April 2016
• Deposition Skills Practicum: Pointers and Pitfalls for Government and Private Lawyers - American Bar Association Mid-Year Conference, February 2016
• Public Records Requests Training for State Agencies, August 2014
• Increased Burdens, Costs, and Risks in an Electronic World - Oregon State Bar Civil Rights CLE on Successfully Litigating a Civil Rights Claim, October 2010
• Electronic Discovery and the Public Records Law - Oregon Community and Housing Services, December 2009
• Ethics in Electronic Discovery - Department of Justice CLE, December 2009
• Electronic Discovery - Department of Administrative Services Training,  November 2009
• Trial Practice - Department of Justice Workshop, October 2009
• Presentation on Electronic Discovery - Department of Administrative Services Risk Management Advisory Council Claims Reduction Group, September 2009
• Electronic Discovery - Department of Justice CLE, July 2009
• Electronic Discovery - Department of Corrections Training, January 2009
• Electronic Discovery - Department of Human Services Training, January 2009
• Electronic Discovery - Department of Administrative Services Training, September 2008
• Agency Record Management - Department of Administrative Services Risk Management Seminar, October 2006

Mentoring/Professional Development
 

• Keeping Yourself in the Game - University of Oregon OAPABA Workshop for Law Students, January 2018
• Project Runway: OAPABA Style - Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Co-emcee, September 2017
• It All Starts Here: Introduction to Professionalism and Ethics – Oregon State Bar Opportunities for Law in Oregon, August 2017
• The Importance of Networking - Oregon State Bar OLIO Program, August 2015
• Defining Your "IMAGE"? Fit, Authenticity, and Image in the Legal Profession - Oregon Minority Lawyers Association IMAGE Program, June 2015
• Public Speaking CLE and Workshop - Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, September 2015
• The Power of a Law Degree - Street Law Class Celebration Lunch, Willamette University, February 2015
• Career Presentations - Oregon State Bar Diversity & Inclusion OLIO Employment Retreat, January 2015
• Keynote Speaker - National Asian Pacific American Law Students Association Annual Convention, November 2014
• How to Combat Bias in the Workplace by Developing Sponsors, Building Networks, and Cultivating Power - National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Annual Convention, November 2014
• Keynote Speaker - Oregon State Bar Opportunities for Law in Oregon Diversity & Inclusion Spring Social, April 2014
• The Power of a Law Degree - Street Law Class Celebration Lunch, Willamette University, February 2014
• Work Life Balance - Mary Leonard Law Society, February 2014
• It’s Never Too Early (Or Late): Choices About Professionalism and Impacts on a Lifelong Career - Oregon New Lawyers Division, September 2013
• Women in the Law - Oregon Department of Justice Diversity CLE, August 2013
• Keynote Speaker - Oregon Girls’ State, Willamette University, June 2013
• Career Day Presenter - Harrison Park Elementary School, June 2013
• Explore the Law Program - Portland State University, May 2013
• Speaker - Rose Festival Princesses, May 2013
• The Power of a Law Degree - Street Law Class Celebration Lunch, Willamette University, March 2013
• The Power of a Law Degree - Street Law Class Celebration Lunch, Willamette University, February 2012
• How the Game is Played- Surviving, Thriving and Maintaining Authenticity in Your Practice of Law - Oregon Convocation on Equality, November 2011
• Mentoring Video - Oregon State Bar, March 2011
• Social Networking - Oregon State Bar Opportunities for Law in Oregon, August 2010
• The Power of  Law Degree - Street Law Class Celebration Lunch, Willamette University, March 2010
• Life Long Career Lessons for Your Benefit - Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Program Employment Retreat, Lewis & Clark Law School, January 2009
• The Power of a Law Degree - Street Law Class Celebration Lunch, Willamette University, March 2009
• With Grit and By Grace: Breaking Trails in Politics and Law - Oregon Women Lawyers Spring Conference, June 2008

Race, Ethnicity, Diversity & Adoption Issues
 

• One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: The Ever Changing Landscape of LGBT Rights - 2018 Western Region IPMA-HR Conference, April 2018
• Diversity and Inclusion - the Risks and Opportunities - RIMS Annual Conference and Exhibition, April 2018
• Top 10 Things All Attorneys Should Know About Indian Law - Multnomah Bar Association Indian Law CLE, January 2018
• Moderating Panel: Religion and Community - Korean American Coalition National Convention, September 2017
• Race in the Rotunda: Promoting and Monitoring Minority Interests in the Legislature - Oregon State Bar Diversity Section Spring CLE, June 2015
• Panelist - Lewis & Clark Law School, November 2014
• Challenges and Successes of being an Asian Pacific American Attorney in Oregon - Lewis & Clark Law School, November 2013
• Asian Pacific Americans in Public Interest Law - National Asian Pacific American Law Students Conference, November 2013
• Lessons Learned: Overcoming Stereotypes in the Practice of Law - Oregon Minority Lawyers Association IMAGE Program, October 2013
• Introduction of Trung Tu - Judge Learned Hand Awards Luncheon, June 2013
• Introduction of Dr. Thuy Tran - Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon Convention, June 2013
• Inspiring Minority Attorneys Toward Growth and Excellence - Oregon Minority Lawyers Association IMAGE Program, May 2013
• Breaking Ceilings: Perspectives from Korean American Women Lawyers - Korean American Bar Association CLE, March 2013
• Portland Community College Asian New Year’s Event - Warner Pacific College, February 2013
• Asian Youth Leadership Conference Panel - Concordia University, January 2013
• Interracial Adoption - East Salem Rotary Club, January 2013
• Keynote Speaker - Chinese American Citizens Alliance Graduation Dinner, June 2012
• Race and the Law Class - Lewis & Clark Law School, February 2012
• Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association Judges Reception - Willamette University College of Law, November 2011
• Keynote Speaker - Opportunities for Law in Oregon (OLIO), August 2011
• Race, Gender and Ethics in the Law - Professional Responsibility Class, Willamette University College of Law, June 2011
• Asian Americans in the Courtroom - National Pacific American Bar Association Western Regional Conference, June 2011
• Women’s Month Panel - Oak Creek Girls Youth Correctional Facility, March 2011
• The Right of the Asian American Vote - Asian Pacific American Voter Education Summit, September 2010
• Race and Social Justice: Oregon Commission on Asian Affairs Update - Department of Human Services Statewide Diversity Conference, September 2010
• Race, Gender and Ethics in the Law - Professional Responsibility Class, Willamette University College of Law, July 2010
• Interracial Adopted Children - Chinese Cultural Heritage Camp, June 2010
• Connecting Tomorrow’s Leaders - Asian American Youth Leadership Conference, Portland Community College, May 2010
• Race, Sex and Class: Not in my practice? - Department of Justice Access to Justice CLE, April 2010
• Race, Gender and Ethics in the Law - Professional Responsibility Class, Willamette University College of Law, October 2009
• Interracial Adopted Children - Chinese Cultural Heritage Camp, June 2009
• Race, Gender and Ethics in the Law - Professional Responsibility Class, Willamette University College of Law, March 2009
• The History of Asians in America - Filipino American Association of Portland and Vicinity, Inc. Golden Anniversary, March 2009
• Asian American Journalists Association Presentation on Asians in State Government - Oregon State Capitol, February 2009
• United States v. Min Yasui Trial Re-Enactment - Oregon Reads, February 2009
• Women’s Equality Day Panel - State of Oregon Affirmative Action Training, June 2007
• Women’s Month Panel - MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility, March 2007
• Working with Communities of Color in Oregon - Portland Parks & Recreation, July 2006
• The History of Hate Crimes Against Asian Pacific Americans - Hate Crimes Conference, June 2006
• Interracial Adopted Children - Chinese Cultural Heritage Camp, June 2006
• The History of Asian Pacific Islanders in Oregon - State of Oregon Affirmative Action Training, April 2006
• Working with Asian Clients - Legal Aid Services of Oregon Manager Training, November 2005
• Mending the Bridges Within - Korean American Citizens League Reception, June 2005
• On Principle: Thoughts on American Democracy - Oregon Council for the Humanities Public Radio Series, 2005
• Asian Women in the Law - Asian Women’s Leadership Panel, Portland State University, December 2004
• Who are Korean Americans and What are Our Political Issues? - Korean American Voters Alliance Convention, October 2004
• Adoptees and Identity - Asian Adult Adoptees of Washington Conference, October 2004
• Sun Gu Ja: A Century of Korean Pioneers - Movie Premiere and Speaker’s Panel, July 2004
• The Importance of Brown v. Board of Education - Ockley Green Middle School Law Day, April 2004
• Civil Rights Today - Korean American Citizens League Inaugural Reception, April 2004
• Leaders’ Roundtable - Why is Diversity a Compelling Interest?, After Grutter: Affirmative Action and Our Compelling Interests in Diversity, Center on Diversity and Community, University of Oregon, October 2003

Crime Victim Rights/Violence Against Women
 

• To Report or Not - Attorney General Sexual Assault Task Force SART Training, June 2007
• Serving Victims of Sex Trafficking - Lewis & Clark Law School Crime Victim Litigation Clinic, April 2007
• Serving Victims of Sex Trafficking - Lewis & Clark Law School Crime Victim Litigation Clinic, October 2006
• Adding Gender + Race: The Exoticism of Asian American Women - Hate Crimes Conference, June 2006
• Serving Victims of Sex Trafficking - Lewis & Clark Law School Crime Victim Litigation Clinic, April 2006
• Beyond the Trafficking Victims Protection Act: Protecting Victims of Sex Trafficking with Broader Victims’ Rights - Catholic Charities Anti-Human Trafficking Training, July and September 2005
• Changing the Legal Landscape: Using Impact Litigation - National Crime Victim Law and Litigation Conference, June 2005
• The Intersection Between the Crime Victim Rights Movement and the Anti-rape Movement - Oregon Attorney General’s Task Force on Sexual Assault Advocate Training, August 2004
• New Sexual Assault Research: Gendered Human Rights Violations - National Crime Victim Law and Litigation Conference, June 2004
• Working with State Attorneys General on Victim Appeals - National Crime Victim Law and Litigation Conference, June 2004
• Sexual Assault on Campus - Sexual Assault Coalition Law and Public Policy Colloquium, June 2004
• Gendered Human Rights Violations: How Survivors of Rape and Trafficking Can Use International Human Rights Law in the Civil and Criminal Courts of the United States to Obtain Justice and Create a Normative Feminist Jurisprudence - Annual Gender Studies Symposium, Lewis & Clark College, March 2004

Tribal Issues
 

• Tribal and Native American Issues - National Governor’s Association Management Seminar for Governors’ Legal Counsels, September 2013
• Affiliated Tribes of the Northwest Indians Convention - Umatilla Indian Reservation, September 2012
• Government-to-Government Tribal-State Annual Summit - Chinook Winds Casino, November 2012
• Annual Governor’s Interstate Indian Council Conference, November 2011
• National Congress of American Indians Convention, October 2011

Other
 

• Role of Data in Healthcare Innovation: From Bench to Bedside to Community and Back - Conference on Healthcare Innovation, May 2014