John M. Kreutzer

Overview

John Kreutzer has spent nearly thirty years defending employers in litigation that threatens their operations and reputation—discrimination claims, wage and hour class actions, trade secret disputes, and breach of restrictive covenant cases. His practice balances courtroom savvy with the daily counseling that prevents lawsuits: advising on terminations, documenting performance issues, and navigating leave requests under conflicting state and federal frameworks. Clients appreciate that John is tenacious, someone who communicates options and risks clearly so business leaders can make informed decisions.

Beyond employment law, John handles commercial disputes, including those involving unlawful trade practices, Limited Liability Company dissolution, False Claims Act allegations, and tax controversies related to 1031 exchanges. His residential landlord-tenant and Fair Housing work adds another dimension to his already deep bench of expertise—he knows how discrimination laws operate outside the employment context and how investigative agencies approach pattern-and-practice claims. John's class action defense experience is also particularly valuable for employers facing systemic wage and hour allegations, where the stakes multiply with each additional plaintiff and the cost of defense can exceed the underlying exposure.

Experience

• Obtained summary judgment for an international hospital organization against the FMLA and in disability discrimination, whistleblower, and wage claims in U.S. District Court Oregon
• Won a motion for judgment on the pleadings against FACTA putative class action claims for a national client based on lack of Article III injury in fact standing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
• Obtained summary judgment for a national timber inspection company against “bet the company” FLSA collective action claims based on a Motor Carrier Act Exemption in the U.S. District Court Oregon
• Won summary judgment for a nationally recognized arts festival against claims alleging ADA public accommodation violations, which was affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Had a defendant throw up his arms and say “you got me” and favorably settled a non-competition agreement trial following the opening argument and commencement of the case in chief on behalf of a national automotive forms business

Honors, Publications, & Speeches

Honors

• Super Lawyer – Employment Litigation: Defense, Oregon Super Lawyers, 2013- 2021
• Best Lawyer in Employment Law – Individuals; Employment Law – Management; Insurance Law, The Best Lawyers in America, 2016-2025

Publications

• Author, “Noncompetition Agreements in Oregon, The Basics Every Employer Must Know,” Oregon Dental Association Membership Matters, December 2009
• Author, Oregon Non-Competes, DRI Trade Secrets and Non-Competes: A Compendium of State Law, 2011

Speeches

• Speaker, “H.R. Essentials: Recruit, Retain & Remove,” Portland Business Journal BizGrowth Expo
• Speaker, Southwest Washington Human Resources Management Association (SW HRMA) Human Resources Certification Exam Study Group, 2009
• Moderator, Professional Liability Attorney Network (PLAN) event and webinars

News

Civic

• Member, Executive Committee, United States District Court of Oregon Historical Society, 2005-2006

Professional

• Member, Employment Law Steering Committee (2008-2009), DRI
• Member, Executive Committee, Civil Rights Section (2005-2007), Oregon State Bar