Alyson is a founding member of Dempsey Foster. She specializes in commercial litigation and helps her clients in federal and state courts, contract negotiation, business formation and governance, employment, arbitration, and mediation. Alyson has been recognized as a 2021 Leader in Law by the Idaho Business Review. She serves leadership roles in the Idaho State Bar Litigation Section and the Idaho Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and sits on the board of several Idaho nonprofits. 

Alyson is dedicated to her pro bono practice, helping underserved members of the community. She advises nonprofit organizations on startup and governance issues to help them accomplish their mission. She has co-authored several amicus curiae briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court on constitutional law issues.

Alyson, her park ranger husband, and their two rescue dogs love living in Idaho.
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
  • Currently represent asset-based lender in complex federal court shareholder derivative litigation.
  • Currently represent individual investor in federal court litigation against investment advisor in securities fraud action.
  • Currently represent insurance company in federal court litigation involving directors & officers' insurance coverage claims.
  • Currently represent, as local counsel, construction company in federal court litigation involving claims of breach of contract.
  • Represented biofuels investor in federal court  breach of contract action against construction company hired to build complex biofuel processor; achieved favorable settlement.
  • Represented asset-based lender as first-chair trial counsel in fraudulent transfer case brought against debtor; achieved bench verdict in client's favor.
  • Represented low-wage condominium employee in state court sexual harassment case against employer and abuser; achieved favorable settlement.
  • Represented law firm in state court litigation against claims brought by former co-counsel for breach of contract, negligence, and fraud; achieved summary judgment verdict on majority of claims and favorable settlement on remaining claims.
  • Represented real estate broker in state court litigation against former client for breach of contract; achieved favorable settlement.
  • Represented agribusiness in state court litigation brought by former customer alleging consumer protection violations and related contract breaches; achieved favorable settlement.
  • Represented local entrepreneur in negotiating buyout agreement of business partner.
  • Formulated nationwide anti-workplace violence and gun policies for international agribusiness.
  • Represented financial adviser in licensure disqualification before FINRA; restored adviser to full licensure.
  • Represented author and copyright holder in contract negotiations with publisher.
  • Represented insurance broker in preparing producer agreements for multiple-broker agency.
  • Represented labor organization against discrimination complaint filed in state human rights commission; achieved dismissal of complaint.
  • Obtained 501(c)(3) approval and developed bylaws and operational policies for multiple nonprofits.
EDUCATION
  • University of Michigan Law School, 2000, cum laude
    • Michigan Law Review, Executive Articles Editor
    • Women Law Students' Association, Co-President
  • University of California, Berkeley, B.A., Mathematics, B.A., German 1995
    • Georg-August University, Goettingen, German, 1993-1994
    • Highest Honors with Thesis in German studies

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE​
  • Idaho
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • District of Columbia (inactive)
  • U.S. District Court, Idaho
  • U.S. District Court, Utah
  • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (inactive)

JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP 
  • Honorable Sidney R. Thomas, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2000- 2001

COMMUNITY & AWARDS
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS 
  • "Batten Down the Hatches: Handling Business Data in a Pandemic (and Always)," The Advocate, co-authored with Jennifer Schrack Dempsey, May 2021
  • Idaho and Fourth District Rules: Recent Amendments, Idaho State Bar Litigation Section, April 16,  2021
  • Employment Discrimination, Guest Lecturer, Boise State University, MBA Program, March 24, 2021
  • Business Law: Issues in Employment Law, Guest Co-lecturer, Boise State University, MBA Program, April 2019
  • Judges’ Panel – Federal Practice: Tips & Trends, Moderator, Federal Bar Association Tri-State Seminar, September 2018
  • “Gaslighting in Litigation,” The Woman Advocate, Spring 2017, Vol. 22, Issue 3, May 25, 2017
  • Liability Insurance Issues for Litigators, Alyson Foster & Haley Krug, Idaho Bar Employment Section, May 2017
  • Marijuana in the Workplace, Idaho Bar Litigation Section, May 2017
  • The Impact of Legal Marijuana Use on the Workplace: Should employers hire marijuana users?, Jennifer Schrack Dempsey & Alyson Foster, Federal Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, September 2015
  • Overview of Written Discovery From a Lawyer’s Perspective, Idaho Association of Paralegals Spring Meeting, April 2015
  • How to Look Good in a Derivative Suit, Tom Banducci & Alyson Foster, Idaho Trial Lawyers’ Association Seminar, February 2015
  • Current Issues in Discovery and Retention of Electronically Stored Information, Boise In-House Counsel Working Group, January 2015