Joy Ellis

Joy Ellis is a Principal and Office Managing Director in Foster Garvey’s Portland office. She has decades of experience advising and representing employers on employment law issues, litigating labor and employment disputes, conducting workplace investigations, and counseling independent and public schools. Her practice includes practical day-to-day advice as well as defense of agency complaints and lawsuits in Oregon and Washington state and federal courts.

Ellis earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1995 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University in 1991, with studies in American Studies and Environmental Studies. Her legal training and extensive employment practice support a careful approach to workplace counseling, fact investigations, litigation strategy, and the interpretation of laws affecting employers and educational institutions.

Ellis has handled matters before BOLI, L&I, and the EEOC and has defended employers in court. She also conducts workplace investigations and holds an Association of Workplace Investigators certificate. Her school-law work includes employment issues, educator misconduct, risk management, handbooks, student discipline, civil rights, enrollment contracts, education records, and head of school agreements, giving her a broad view of operational and personnel issues.

Joy Ellis has been recognized by Chambers USA for Labor & Employment and by The Best Lawyers in America for Education Law. She regularly speaks and trains on workplace and school-law topics, including educator misconduct, harassment prevention, leave laws, wage and hour compliance, and hiring and firing practices. Her combination of counseling, investigations, litigation, and education-sector experience helps clients address sensitive problems with practical, well-informed legal guidance.

Law Office Affiliations

• Principal, Foster Garvey PC
• Member, Oregon State Bar (1995-Present)
• Member, Washington State Bar Association (1996-Present)
• Member, Multnomah Bar Association (1995-Present)
• Member, Labor and Employment Law Section (1995-Present)
• Member, Litigation Section (1995-Present)
• Certificate Holder (AWI-CH), Training Institute Graduate, Association of Workplace Investigators

Licensed State

• Oregon
• Washington

Education

• Lewis & Clark Law School
  J.D., ( Magna Cum Laude
• Yale University
  B.A., ( Magna Cum Laude

Awards & Badges