Brian Kernan
Senior Assistant Legal Counsel
Bio
Brian Kernan was raised in Redmond, Washington. Brian obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California. He also studied Mandarin Chinese in college and spent a year in China after graduating from Santa Clara. Brian moved to Portland in 2011 to attend law school. He obtained his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2014.
Brian joined OSBA’s legal department in 2021. Prior to joining OSBA, Brian worked as a Senior Assistant County Counsel for Marion County, where he provided advice on labor and employment matters. Prior to that, Brian practiced civil litigation at two private law firms in Portland, Oregon for over six years. Brian has significant civil litigation experience, with an emphasis on defending employment matters.
Brian is a member of the Oregon State Bar. He is admitted to practice law in all Oregon state and federal courts. In his spare time, he enjoys running, tennis, and spending time with his family.
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Education and Admissions
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- Lewis & Clark Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2014
- Santa Clara University, B.A. and B.S., 2009
- Oregon State Bar, 2014
- United States District Court, District of Oregon, 2014
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Professional Distinctions and Affiliations
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- Multnomah County Bar Association
- Marion County Bar Association
- National Council of School Attorneys
- Cabinet Member, Oregon Historical Society
- Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch distinction in Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment (2021)
Presentations and Trainings
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2026
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- Suspected Child Abuse and Sexual Conduct Reporting Obligations, PACE Webinar
- Mandatory Reporting Obligations, Rainier School District
- Classified Staff Issues, OSPA Summer Retreat
- Mandatory Reporting Obligations for Abuse and Sexual Conduct, City View Charter School
- ADA Hot Topics: Legal Compliance Issues HR Needs to Know, OSPA Spring Conference
- Resignation/separation Agreement Requirements, Sutherlin School District
- Sexual Conduct & Abuse Reporting, Lake Oswego School District
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2025
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- Legal Issues Impacting Oregon Small School – Oregon School Law Conference
- Dismissals, COSA School Law Conference
- School Law and Finance, COSA School Law Conference
- Public Meetings – Required Training, OSBA Annual Convention
- Public Meeting Law Training, Fall Regional Training @ Hillsboro SD
- Hot Legal Topics – What you need to know for the 2025-2026 school year, Warrenton-Hammond
- Public Meetings – Required Training, OSBA Summer Board Conferences
- Avoiding Legal Risk in Layoffs and Recalls, OSPA Summer Conference
- School Reductions in Force – Best Practices, PACE Webinar
- Navigating Employee Discipline, Non-Renewals, and Layoffs, Oregon Small Schools Association Conference, Oregon Small Schools Conference
- Hot Topics Table: Employee Discipline, Non-Renewals, and Layoffs, Oregon Small Schools Conference
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, Multnomah ESD
- Non-Renewal Process, PACE Webinar
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2024
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- Not in Our School – The Administrator’s Role in Preventing and Addressing Bullying, Oregon School Law Conference
- Legal Issues Impacting Small Schools, Oregon School Law Conference
- Liability Game, OCCA Conference
- Recent Federal Agency Rules Affecting Schools and whether They Matter After the Demise of Chevron, COSA Fall School Law Seminar
- The Complaint Process, OSPA Summer Conference
- School Law for Board Members, OSBA Summer Conference
- Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, David Douglas School District
- Employee Discipline Process, OSPA Spring Conference
- Teacher and administrator contract renewal/non-renewal process – PACE Webinar
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2023
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- Legal Issues Impacting Oregon Small School – Oregon School Law Conference
- Leave Laws including unpaid leave under the ADA, PACE Webinar
- School Law for Board Members, OSBA Annual Conference
- Contract Non-Renewal and Complaints, Winston-Dillard School District
- Preventing Workplace Retaliation Claims Presentation, OSPA Fall Summit
- School Law for Board Members, OSBA Summer Board Conference
- Administrative Professionals and Public Meetings, OSBA Summer Board Conference
- Case Law Update for HR Professionals, OSPA Summer Conference,
- Legal Hot Topics, OSPA Winter Retreat
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2022
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- Legal Issues Impacting Oregon Small Schools, COSA School Law Conference
- School Law for Board Members, OSBA Annual Convention
- The Holidays are Upon Us – Religious Freedom vs. Endorsement of Religion, PACE Webinar
- Public Records Requests, COSA Pre-Conference
- PACE Legal Update for Coaches, Corvallis School District
- Workplace Harassment Prevention Training, Oregon City School District
- School Law for Board Members, OSBA Summer Board Conferences
- Adverse Employment Separations, Community College Virtual Training Day
- Parental Rights Update, OSPA Virtual Winter Retreat
