Just as the economic downturn caused business to buckle down and focus on the basics, employment lawyers are seeing a return to the most basic workplace cases. The current focus is on making decisions the right way, says Chris Kitchel, a partner at Portland-based Stoel Rives.

“There has been a flurry of cutbacks,” says Kitchel, “and I think that brings a lot of litigation concerns.” Randall Sutton, an attorney for Salem-based Saalfeld Griggs, points to changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act, which broadened the definition of disability. The changes are bringing back familiar concerns.

“It used to be much easier to win those claims without going to trial, Congress changed that,” says Sutton. He added that companies still need to train their supervisors about employment law.

MAX GELBER