Education
Willamette University College of Law
J.D., 1994
University of California, Los Angeles
B.S., 1988
Tel Aviv University
Ulpan Program, 1985
Harvard University
Summer Semester, 1982
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Oregon
Honors
Best Lawyers
Chambers USA
Oregon Super Lawyers
Dan Grinfas counsels employers throughout the United States in a variety of employment-related areas, including workplace harassment, civil rights laws, wage and hour laws, OFLA and FMLA, disability laws and reasonable accommodation, injured worker laws, legal hiring practices, policy writing and employer record-keeping requirements. He also represents employers before administrative agencies including the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (“BOLI”) and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”).
Dan is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute and as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). He has also been selected for inclusion in the Employment Law category of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2006 - 2023); in Best Lawyers in America (2008 - 2023); and in Oregon Super Lawyers (2010 - 2022). A recent Chambers publication noted Dan’s “legal acumen,” quoting a source as stating, “He knows every single detail of employment law. He is like an encyclopedia on his areas of specialty. We know we’ll get a thorough, considered answer.”
Dan previously served as Lead Program Coordinator with BOLI’s Technical Assistance for Employers Program. He has presented employment law seminars to thousands of attorneys, managers, supervisors, and human resources professionals at public agencies and private organizations throughout the West Coast. He has presented for organizations including the National Employment Law Institute, the Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference, the Oregon State Bar, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Northwest Human Resources Management Association, the Oregon Employer Council, BOLI, the EEOC, the Oregon Law Institute, and the Labor Education Research Center.
From 2011 to 2018, he taught Employee and Labor Relations as an adjunct professor at the School of Business Administration at Portland State University. He also regularly speaks as a guest lecturer on disability laws and leave laws at Willamette University College of Law.
“Lessons in Prevention: Employer Policies, Training and Culture,” Trial Lawyer magazine, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association (Fall 2018).
“Oregon’s 2017 Legislative Session Produces Significant New Civil Rights Laws,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (September 2017).
“Paid Parental Leave Continues to Gain Traction,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (December 2016).
“Oregon Follows the Growing Trend with New Statewide Mandatory Sick-Leave Law,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (September 2015).
“Oregon’s 2015 Legislative Session Produces Substantial Changes and Additions to Civil Rights Laws,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (July 2015).
“Legislation Introduced in Oregon’s 2015 Session,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (March 2015).
“Employers of In-Home Caregivers Must be Aware of Many Labor and Tax Laws,” Oregon State Bar Elder Law Newsletter (January 2014).
“Civil Rights Laws Enacted in Oregon’s 2013 Session,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (June 2013 and August 2013).
“Civil Rights Laws Enacted in Oregon’s 2011 Legislative Session,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (August 2011).
Co-author, “Statutes Affecting Compensation, Labor and Employment Law: Public Sector,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2011 revision).
Co-author, “Equal Employment Opportunity: Disabilities; Labor and Employment Law: Private Sector,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2011 revision).
“One Year In: Civil Rights Developments in the Obama Administration,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (March 2010).
“Oregon's 2010 Special Session: A Legislative Update,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (March 2010).
“Change We Can Count On: Civil Rights Developments in the New Administration,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (March 2009).
“Oregon 2007 Legislative Update,” Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (October 2007).
"Federal and Oregon Military Leave Laws: An Overview" and "Military Leave and Employee Benefits," Oregon State Bar Civil Rights Newsletter (March 2005).
Primary author, "Policy Writing Guidelines: A Handbook for Oregon Employers," Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (2004).
Primary author, "Documentation, Discipline & Discharge: A Handbook for Oregon Employers," Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries (2004).
Primary author, "Family Leave Laws: A Handbook for Oregon Employers," Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (2004).
Co-author, “Statutes Affecting Compensation, Labor and Employment Law: Public Sector,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2002 revision).
Co-author, “Family Leave Laws, Labor and Employment Law: Private Sector,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2002 revision).
From 1999 to 2004, Dan authored a weekly BOLI newspaper column that addressed a wide range of employment issues. The column ran in Oregon newspapers including The Register-Guard in Eugene, The Statesman Journal in Salem, The Democrat-Herald in Albany, The Gazette-Times in Corvallis, The Bulletin in Bend, and The East Oregonian in Pendleton.
“ADA & FMLA Compliance Update,” National Employment Law Institute (2018).
“Oregon and Federal Wage & Hour Laws,” Xenium Human Resources (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018).
“ADA & FMLA Compliance Update,” National Employment Law Institute (2017).
“2015 and 2016 Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 32nd Annual Employment Law Conference (2016).
“Oregon 2015 and 2016 Legislative Update: The Changing Face of Employment Law,” Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Annual Conference (2016).
“Basics of Wage and Hour Law,” Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section CLE, Employment Law Series (2016).
“Leave Laws for Oregon Employers,” Yamhill County Human Resource Association (2016).
“Overview of Oregon and Federal Laws Laws (FMLA, OFLA, Military Leave, and More),” Oregon State Bar 2nd Annual Labor and Employment Law Boot Camp (2016).
Oregon 2016 Legislative Update and 2015 Recap,” Oregon Law Institute 2016 Annual Employment Law Update (2016).
“ADA & FMLA Compliance Update,” National Employment Law Institute (2016).
“FMLA, WFLA, WFCA, WMFLA, PDL, OFLA, OMFLA, OVCL, OVCCLA, ADA, ADAAA and More! The Alphabet Soup of Employee Leave Laws for Washington and Oregon Employers,” Clark County Bar Association (2016).
“Where Can You Get Paid Parental Leave?” Oregon Public Broadcasting radio interview (2015) - http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/where-can-you-get-paid-parental-leave/.
“2015 Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 31st Annual Employment Law Conference (2015).
“New Proposed Changes to FLSA Exemption Laws,” Xenium Human Resources podcast (2015) - http://www.xeniumhr.com/blog/podcast/hrsb/podcast-attorney-dan-grinfas-on-new-proposed-changes-to-flsa-exemption-laws/.
“Oregon 2015 Legislative Update,” Oregon Law Institute 2015 Annual Employment Law Update (2015).
“The Bermuda Triangle of Employee Leave Laws,” Oregon State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section 33rd Annual Conference (2015).
“ADA & FMLA Compliance Update,” National Employment Law Institute (2015).
“Nineteen ‘No-No’s’ for Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 30th Annual Employment Law Conference (2014).
“Advanced Wage & Hour Laws,” Xenium Human Resources (2014).
“The Devil’s Triangle: Injured Worker Laws, Disability Laws, and Family and Medical Leave Laws,” Oregon City Attorneys Association Annual Spring Conference (2014).
“ADA & FMLA Compliance Update,” National Employment Law Institute (2014).
“2013 Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 29th Annual Employment Law Conference (2013).
“Employment Law: Legislative Update,” Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Annual Conference (2013).
“Nineteen ‘No-No’s’ for Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 28th Annual Employment Law Conference (2012).
“Oregon Legislative Update / New ADAAA EEOC Regulations,” Oregon State Bar Labor & Employment Section Annual Conference (2011).
Family and Medical Leave Act Coverage, Eligibility, Enforcement Standards, and Interference and Retaliation Claims, National Employment Law Institute, Seattle, Washington (2011).
“The Alphabet Soup Thickens: An Update on Employee Leave Laws,” 43rd Annual Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference, Seattle, Washington (2010).
“2011 Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 27th Annual Employment Law Conference (2011).
“The Bermuda Triangle of Leave Laws," Willamette University College of Law, Disability Law (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012).
“2010 Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 26th Annual Employment Law Conference (2010).
“Employment Law Update," Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Public Defense Management Conference (2010).
“Workforce Planning and Employment Legislation," Southwest Washington Human Resource Management Association (2010).
“Employment Eligibility Verification: I-9 and E-Verify Essentials," Oregon Law Institute, Annual Employment Law Update (2010).
“The Alphabet Soup Thickens: An Update on Employee Leave Laws," 43rd Annual Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference (2010).
“2009 Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 25th Annual Employment Law Conference (2009).
“Hiring and Firing, Wage and Hour, and New BOLI Rules and Regulations," Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Public Defense Management Conference (2009).
"Employment Law Hot Topics: State & Federal Legislation," Oregon City Attorneys Association Annual Continuing Legal Education Program (2009).
Co-presenter, “Navigating Choppy Waters: Practical Employment Law Guidance for the Economic Downturn,” Multnomah Bar Association (2009).
Co-presenter, “Hot Topics in Labor and Employment Law,” Oregon Law Institute Annual Employment Law Update (2009).
“Leave Laws in Oregon,” National Association for Legal Professionals (2008).
Co-presenter, “Recent Developments in Employment Law and Legislation,” Multnomah Bar Association (2008).
“2008 Legislative Update,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 24th Annual Employment Law Conference (2008).
Co-presenter, “A Practical Guide to Employment Law in Oregon,” The Lewis & Clark Law School Small Business Legal Clinic (2008).
Co-presenter, “Family and Medical Leave in 2008: Expanded Leave for Military Families and New Proposed Regulations,” Stoel Rives Client Seminar (2008).
“Advanced Leave Laws” and “Wage and Hour Laws,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (2008).
Co-presenter, “2008 Legislative and BOLI Update,” Labor Education Research Center Public Employment Relations Conference (2008).
“Synchronized Swimming: Staying Afloat in the Bermuda Triangle of Leave Laws,” Sixth Annual SHRM Stoel Rives Labor & Employment Law Conference (2008).
“Leave Laws Overview and Legislative Update,” Oregon State Bar Government Law Section Conference (2008).
“2007 Legislative Update,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 23rd Annual Employment Law Conference (2007).
Co-presenter, “Oregon’s New Civil Rights Laws: Are You Ready?” Stoel Rives Client Seminar (2007).
“Military Leave and FMLA Update,” Oregon City Attorneys Association Annual Conference (2007).
“Avoiding Documentation Disasters,” TOC Annual Employers Conference (2007).
Co-presenter, “2007 Oregon State Employment Law Legislative Update,” Stoel Rives Client Seminar (2007).
“No Bluffing: Real Labor & Employment Issues” and “Even Money: Wage & Hour Issues,” Oregon School Personnel Association Annual Conference (2007).
Co-presenter, “Equal Rights and Sexual Orientation,” Classroom Law Project, 27th Annual Law Day Conference (2007).
Co-presenter, “What’s New, Pussycat: Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Fifth Annual SHRM Stoel Rives Labor & Employment Law Conference (2007).
Co-presenter, “All My Children: Managing Child-Related Absences,” Stoel Rives Annual Labor & Employment Law Seminar (2006).
Co-presenter, “Family and Medical Leave in 2006: What Have We Learned After 13 Years?” Stoel Rives Client Seminar (2006).
Co-presenter, "Navigating the Bermuda Triangle of Leave Laws," Oregon Law Institute, Annual Employment Law Update (2006 and 2007).
“Stop, Look and Proceed With Caution: The Intersection Between FMLA, ADA, and Workers’ Compensation Reinstatement Rights,” Oregon State Bar Workers’ Compensation Section, 24th Annual Meeting (2006).
“50 Under 50: 50 Tips and Strategies for Business With Fewer Than 50 Employees – Wage and Leave Laws for the Smaller Employer,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2006).
“The Wizard of Laws: Legislative Update for Oregon Employers,” Fourth Annual SHRM Stoel Rives Labor & Employment Law Conference (2006).
“Assessing Your HR Policies And Practices in Oregon: Legal Hiring Policies and Practices / Auditing Your Employee Handbook,” Lorman Education Services (2006).
“Leave Laws in Oregon” and “2005 Legislative Update,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 21st Annual Employment Law Conference (2005).
Co-presenter, “Using Tests and Other Assessments for Hiring,” Oregon and Southwest Washington Industry Liaison Group (2005).
“ADA, FMLA & Workers’ Compensation,” The Seminar Group (2005).
“Medical Certification, Intermittent Leave, and the Web of Overlapping Laws: FMLA Update 2005,” Council on Education in Management (2005).
Co-presenter, “Navigating the Human Resources Bermuda Triangle,” Oregon Law Institute, Annual Employment Law Update (2005).
“Untangling the Web of Overlapping FMLA, ADA, PDA, Workers’ Comp and Antidiscrimination Laws,” Council on Education in Management (2005).
Co-presenter, “Transgender Issues in the Workplace,” NW EEO Affirmative Action Association (2005, 2006 and 2007).
Co-presenter, “The Straight Dope: An Update on Medical Marijuana and Disability Laws,” Stoel Rives Client Seminar (2005).
Co-presenter, “Hot Discrimination Issues: Working With BOLI & EEOC,” Portland Human Resource Management Association (2005).
“Wage and Hour Update,” NW EEO Affirmative Action Association (2005).
“Wage & Hour Laws: The Basics” and “Family Leave Laws for Oregon Employers: Advanced Issues,” Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries 20st Annual Employment Law Conference (2004).
Lorman Education Services, “Leave Laws in Oregon” (2000–03); “Employment and Labor Law in Oregon” (2002); ”Strategies for Effective Employee Recordkeeping in Oregon” (2002, 2003); “BOLI Basics” (2003); “Employment Law from A to Z” (2006, 2007).
Co-presenter, “Reasonable Accommodation Issues Under the ADA and Oregon Family Leave Act,” EEOC Technical Assistance Conference (2004, 2005 and 2006).
Co-presenter, “Employment Practices Liability: Sources of Risk,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2003).
“Real Life Disability Law Issues and Answers: Intersection of the ADA with OFLA, FMLA and Oregon Injured Worker Laws,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2003).
“BOLI Basics: Wage and Leave Laws in Oregon,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2002).
“21st Century Employment Law: New Twists on Old Laws – Wage & Hour Issues,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2001).
“Fundamentals of Employment Law: Dealing With BOLI and EEOC,” Oregon State Bar Continuing Legal Education (2000).