HEIDI K. BROWN grew up in a small town in New Hampshire. She was interested in helping people from a young age, and obtained her bachelor's degree in social work. She returned to school for her law degree after a few years in the field. Her law career began at the public defenders' office, where her interest in assisting people naturally led to her transition to labor and family law. The power of organization over the power of money and fighting for union rights is her priority. She represents both individual employees whose rights have been violated, and the union in regards to violations that affect members as a whole. Her interest in family law stemmed from her years of work in juvenile court as a public defender. She understands the emotional context of a divorce and related matters. Her many years of trial experience both as a family law attorney and public defender allow her to guide her clients smoothly through the legal process.

Areas of Practice

Labor Law -- Collective bargaining, union organizing and elections, public sector labor disputes, grievance arbitrations, interest arbitrations, representation before the Oregon Employee Relations Board and the National Labor Relations Board, and class action lawsuits on behalf of employees and pension recipients.

Domestic Relations -- Representation of clients in regards to dissolution of marriage, dissolution of domestic partnerships, modifications of judgments, custody and parenting time, child and spousal support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreement, contempt issues (enforcement), adoption and surrogacy.

Significant Cases

Labor Law
Represented a community college association in an arbitration in regards to workload issues. The arbitrator ruled that the Nursing Department's workload was excessive and required the college give additional credit for hours worked.

Labor Law
Successfully assisted an employee of a middle school who was referred to the Teachers Standards & Practices Commission (TSPC) for potential discipline relating to her license. Employee was charged with excessive physical contact with a student. After investigation showed many witnesses disagreed with claim that teacher used excessive physical conduct, information was forwarded to investigator at TSPC. As a result, no action was taken against employee by the TSPC.

Labor Law
Represented union member disciplined for alleged untruthfulness through arbitration. Arbitrator ruled that member had not been untruthful and reinstated member to his former positions and awarded back pay for all lost wages and benefits.

Domestic Relations
Assisted in negotiating a multi-million dollar property settlement in a domestic relations matter.

Domestic Relations
Successfully litigated motion to stop a parent from unilaterally moving away with the parties' child. Residential parent decided to move a few hundred miles away with very little notice to other parent. Court granted our motion to maintain the current living arrangement for the child, thus stopping the other parent from just moving away with the child.

Domestic Relations
Successfully enforced client's marital settlement agreement against spouse resulting in avoidance of expense of trial. Parties filed themselves after agreeing upon divorce terms. One party then decided she wanted more out of the other spouse and tried to get out of the agreement. Filed a motion to enforce the early settlement agreement, which was upheld and enforced.

Domestic Relations
Successfully obtained custody and psychological parent status for client in highly contested child custody case. Father of two children learned the mother was engaged in unsafe conduct and exposing children. Father was biological parent of one child, but not the other. We were able to establish a parent-child relationship existed between Father and other child, and ultimately obtained custody of both children, while limiting visitation for mother until she resolved problems leading to unsafe conduct.

Domestic Relations
Successfully negotiated and litigated increased spousal support amount and duration for multiple clients in divorce and modification cases.

Domestic Relations
Served as court-appointed attorney for children in custody disputes to articulate child's wishes regarding custody. Advised and counseled children through process of divorce and custody matters.