Timothy J. Bernasek

Partner

Tim Bernasek focuses on agriculture and natural resources law, as well as administrative, real estate, employment, and business law. He leads Dunn Carney’s Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Team, sponsor of the firm’s popular annual Ag Summit. He also heads Dunn Carney’s Government Relations Team.

Each business has a different goal. I try to give clients the flexibility to choose the option that gives them the best outcome for their business.

For nearly 20 years, Tim has honed his legal skills while immersed in the agriculture industry. Prior to joining Dunn Carney, he served as general counsel for the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation, where he developed a legislative strategy with the Governmental Affairs Department and served as the administrator for the Oregon Agricultural Legal Foundation. He is one of the first lawyers in Portland to develop a team approach for addressing the unique legal needs of those within the ag industry.

Tim is adept at getting to the heart of clients’ legal issues, whether they involve employment, land use, real estate or contract matters, or dealing with state or federal agencies, including U.S. Department of Labor and its “hot goods” authority.

He provides clients with alternatives they can understand and evaluate themselves, enabling them to make the most effective decisions for their businesses.

Within Dunn Carney, Tim serves on the Executive Committee and is a member of the Employment and Real Estate/Land Use Teams.

Tim and his wife Poppy live in Portland with their children. In his spare time, Tim enjoys fly fishing and hiking throughout the Northwest and particularly in Montana.

Admissions

Oregon, 1999

Washington, 2011

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington

U.S. District Court Western District of Washington

U.S. District Court District of Oregon

Education

Willamette University School of Law, J.D., 1998;  Atkinson School of Management, M.B.A., 1998

Willamette University, B.S., Business Economics, 1993

Representative Matters

Employment

Ortiz Bazan et. al. v. Coleman Industries, Inc. et. al.

Hernandez v. Siri and Son Farms, Inc.

Jackeline Rondin-Rios et al v. 4 B Farms, Inc.

Pan-American Berry Growers, LLC, et al v. Thomas E. Perez and United States Department of Labor

Laura Rivera-Rivera v. MJ’s Labor Services, Inc et al

EEOC v. Holiday Specialtrees, LLC

Business

Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. v. Taylor et. al.

Sym-Agro, Inc. v. Siepasa S.A.

Hawes v. DeVos

Real Estate

Bill Case Farms, Inc v. CT Benton LLC, Paul Kuehne

Presentations

Prior Planning Lessens the Chance of Litigation – wafla H-2A Summit, January 20, 2022

Agricultural Overtime Issues After the DeRuyter Decision – Ag Law CLE (April 8, 2021)

Legal Issues for Growers Using H-2A Program – Dunn Carney Ag Summit 2020 (January 24, 2020)

Legal Issues for Growers Using the H-2A Program – Agriculture Section CLE (September 19, 2019)

Employment Law Hypothetical – Eastern Oregon Agricultural Summit (October 15, 2019)

Responding to Sexual Harassment Claims on the Farm, Dunn Carney Ag Summit, January 2018

Preparing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Oregon Farm Bureau, February 2017 and July 2017

Lawsuit — Now What?, wafla Labor Conference, February 2017

Practical Advice from Attorneys Who Have Gone Through the Process: How to Prepare Your Client for Litigation, AALA Annual Educational Symposium, October 2016

How to Avoid a Hot Goods Mess During a DOL Investigation; and Top 10 tips for Being Prepared for DOL Investigation, Washington Farm Bureau Hot Goods Seminars, April 20, 2016

Paid Sick Leave Update, Oregon State Bar Agricultural Law Section, November 2015

Hot Goods – Down the Rabbit Hole with the US Department of Labor, Oregon Blueberry Conference, January 2015

Willamette Valley Farm Labor Update, Ag Advisor, January 2015

Farm Labor Update, Dunn Carney Ag Summit, January 2015

What do we do, and might such a career be a good fit for you? Oregon Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference, Ag Lawyers, Nov. 18, 2018

Advising Farms and Ranches on Employment Law Issues: Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation, panel presentation, AALA Annual Conference, Portland, OR, Oct. 25, 2018

Presentation Topics

Real Estate

Farm Stands

Employment

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Litigation

Professional Affiliations

Western Resources Legal Center Board

Farm Employers Education and Legal Defense Service (FEELDS), founder 2000; legal service provider for farm labor cases

Oregon State Bar, Real Estate and Land Use, Business Law, Labor and Employment, and Agricultural Law Sections, Member

Community Organizations

Willamette University Alumni Board, 2009-2015

Dorchester Board, President, 2012-2013

Oregon State University, adjunct instructor, undergraduate agricultural law, 2006

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