Kyle Busse

Kyle recognizes that litigation is ultimately about people and that every case, just like every person, is different. Kyle prides himself on taking the time necessary to truly know his clients, their industry, their goals, and the problems that run to the heart of the case. Kyle’s relationships with his clients often go on long past the case’s conclusion. A client recently told Chambers USA that "Kyle seeks to not only understand our business, but the fabric of our culture." Another client said, "Kyle shows his views of cases and what next processes are. He constantly seeks client input."

Kyle is co-chair of the firm’s employment practices group, bringing with him more than 15 years of experience litigating all manner of employment-related cases as both plaintiff and defense counsel, from individual discrimination suits to thousand-member class actions, in state and federal court. Outside the courtroom, he is recognized as a skilled negotiator of executive contracts and a thoughtful advocate in resolving contract disputes and non-competition agreements. Kyle is also an integral part of the firm’s bet-the-company and government practice groups, where he has successfully represented companies, and the State of Oregon and its departments, in high stakes and class action litigation.

A force in the courtroom, Kyle's commanding presence and keen intellect is matched by his deep compassion and stellar people skills. He is widely recognized for his practical experience and has spoken and contributed to publications on various topics including litigating Oregon employment claims, deposition practice, statutory interpretation, federal practice, alternative dispute resolution, EEOC enforcement, and injured worker and workers’ compensation discrimination. He also has extensive experience in state and federal appellate courts, having briefed and argued numerous times before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Oregon Court of Appeals. 

Kyle is recognized as a Notable Practitioner for labor & employment in the prestigious Chambers USA directory, as well as by Super Lawyers®, both as a "Rising Star" and a "Super Lawyer," for sixteen consecutive years (2008-present). Since 2016, Kyle has been included in Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law, and Labor and Employment Litigation. Kyle was named Best Lawyers' 2020 "Lawyer of the Year" for Employment Law – Individuals, in Portland, Oregon, and a Labor & Employment Star by Benchmark Litigation®.

 Publications

• "The Deposition Handbook, 6th Edition, co-author, 2024
• “The Missing Link: Interpreting Oregon’s Aid and Abet Statute,” Chapter, Employment Law Update, Oregon Law Institute of Lewis & Clark Law School (2016)
  
• "Alternative Dispute Resolution," chapter, Oregon State Bar Legal Publications (2009)
• "Oregon Civil Rights Newsletter: Supreme Court Update," Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Section (2008-2015)
• "Labor and Employment Law: Private Sector, Equal Employment Opportunity: Enforcement" Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2011)
• "Federal Civil Litigation in Oregon," Oregon State Bar Legal Publications (2009)
• "Representing Low-Wage Immigrant Workers on Wage & Hour and Workers’ Compensation Claims," Speaker and Author (2009)