Throughout her legal career of over 20 years, Liani has worked in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors as both in-house general counsel and as outside counsel. She has represented hundreds of clients ranging from start-up businesses to the Governor of Oregon. She has extensive litigation experience, having taken numerous cases to a jury trial verdict and arbitration award. In each case, Liani works closely with clients to find the best strategy and outcome for each particular case and client.
In addition to her litigation practice, Liani is often hired as an external investigator to conduct investigations into sensitive and high-profile matters, including sexual misconduct, ethics violations, and harassment and discrimination. She also conducts investigations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Before joining Miller Nash LLP in October 2023, Liani was partner and president at Bullard Law, an employment, labor, and employee benefits law firm. Liani joined Bullard following her service as General Counsel to the Oregon Office of the Governor under the Kitzhaber administration. As General Counsel, Liani advised on a wide range of legal issues, including employment, government transparency, First Amendment issues, public safety, and government ethics.
Before she worked for the Governor, Liani spent almost a decade as an assistant attorney general and deputy chief trial counsel for the Trial Division of the Oregon Department of Justice, focusing on tort, employment, and constitutional litigation. Her clients included state agencies such as the Oregon Department of Corrections, Oregon’s public universities, and the Oregon State Legislature.
Throughout her career, Liani has devoted significant time to issues involving underrepresented communities by mentoring students of color and actively engaging in and leading organizations and associations throughout the community, including serving as the past president of OAPABA. A proud Korean adoptee, Liani advocates for her community of international adoptees, including co-founding the Asian American Adoptee Network within NAPABA and advocating for the importance of passing the Adoptee Citizenship Act which closes a gap for adult adoptees who came as children but whose parents failed to properly secure their citizenship.
Liani is the proud mom to two cats—Nebula and Quill. When she is not working or volunteering, Liani is traveling the world and attending multi-day music festivals!