Eden E. Vasquez
About Eden
Eden Vasquez is an associate on the firm’s education and employment law teams. Eden assists clients, including higher education and K-12 institutions, public school districts, and private schools in advice and litigation matters related to disability discrimination and accommodation, wage and hour compliance, and other tort claims. Her education-related work has encompassed providing guidance under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Eden began at Miller Nash as a summer associate in 2019. As a summer associate, she assisted the general litigation, education, employment, and business practice groups.
Before joining the firm, Eden clerked for the Oregon Department of Justice in the Appellate Division, where she gained experience briefing cases before the Oregon Court of Appeals and assisted in briefing and preparing arguments before the Oregon Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Eden graduated second in her class from Willamette University College of Law. During law school, Eden was active in the Multicultural Law Student Association and the Latinx Law Student Association and was a regional competitor on both the National Appellate Advocacy and Jessup International Moot Court teams. After graduating from law school, Eden co-chaired the Willamette Racial Justice Task Force, formed to study the peremptory challenge, a tool used by attorneys during jury selection to remove jurors without having to state a reason.
Representative Experience
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Education Experience Plus
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Represent higher education institutions in tort actions alleging negligence on behalf of coaching staff (ongoing).
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Represent public school districts in tort actions alleging negligence on behalf of the district and school personnel (ongoing).
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Provide higher education institutions guidance on compliance with federal law for disability accommodations for employees and students in returning to on-campus operations.
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Provide guidance to private educational institutions in creating and implementing COVID-19 vaccination policies and recommendations.
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Additional Information
Activities
- Multnomah Bar Association, Member
- Oregon State Bar, Member
- Oregon New Lawyers Division
- Oregon Hispanic Bar Association
- Oregon Women Lawyers
- Oregon Department of Justice, Law Clerk, 2018-2019
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children, Ambassador Board, 2022-present
- Willamette University College of Law, Racial Justice Task Force, Cochair, 2019-2020
Insights from Eden
- “COVID Update: EEOC Revises Guidance on Workplace Screening,” Miller Nash, Employment Law in Motion, coauthor (Sept. 2022)
- “Oregon Limits Settlement Agreement Terms Where Discrimination Alleged,” Miller Nash, Employment Law in Motion (May 2022)
- “OT for Ag(ricultural) Workers – Oregon, Washington, and California,” Miller Nash, Employment Law in Motion (Mar. 2022)
- “Willamette Law Grads Form Racial Justice Task Force,” Willamette University College of Law, Willamette Lawyer, interview (Nov. 2021)
- “Living On-Campus During COVID-19: Prepare for Reasonable Accommodations Requests,” Campus Legal Advisor, coauthor (Aug. 2021)
- “How HOT Is Too HOT? Oregon OSHA’s New High and Extreme Heat Rule,” Miller Nash, News You Can Use, coauthor (July 2021)
- “The Future of Workplace Diversity Initiatives Post the Supreme Court’s SFFA Decision,” Hispanic National Bar Association, Corporate Counsel Conference, panelist (Mar. 2024)
- “Current Trends in Public Labor Law: Special Considerations for Schools,” Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA), Annual School Law Conference (Dec. 2023)
- “Board Update: Hot Topics in the Law,” Oregon Community College Association, Annual Conference (Nov. 2023)
- “No Whammies: Don’t Press Your Luck on Wage and Hour Issues,” Miller Nash, Employment Law Seminar (Oct. 2023)
- “Creatures of Contract: Best Practices for Managing Grievances,” Confederation of Oregon School Administrators, 42nd Annual Oregon School Law Conference, copresenter (Dec. 2022)
- “All Aboard the HR Express: A Tour of Federal, State, & Labor Legal Updates,” Miller Nash, Employment Law Seminar (Oct. 2022)
- “Clarifying Disability & Religious Accommodations” Miller Nash, Employment Law Seminar (Dec. 2021)
- “Willamette University Law Graduates Examine Bias in Jury Selection,” Oregon Public Broadcasting, Think Out Loud, interview (May 2021)
- “Advancing Equity in our “Post-Pandemic” Schools,” Oregon School Boards Association, PACE Day 2021 (Apr. 2021)
Outside the Office
Eden was raised in both the Pacific Northwest and Oaxaca, Mexico. She enjoys spending her free time in the PNW hiking, snowboarding, or golfing—depending on the season. When visiting Oaxaca, Eden enjoys spending time with family and exploring Southern Mexico. Eden is also an avid softball player, playing since she was four, and still enjoys playing in Portland recreational leagues.