Litigation: General Commercial: Oregon

THE FIRM This firm, one of the most potent litigation shops in the Northwest, excels at cases concerning financial services, contracts, employment, intellectual property, corporate governance and securities, acting on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. The lean and efficient team provides expert representation to clients including Asante Health Systems, Columbia Helicopters, Portland General Electric and Washington Mutual.

Sources say: "I can't say enough good things about them."

KEY INDIVIDUALS David Markowitz is particularly adept at contract disputes and professional negligence cases. Clients find he can "smoke opponents in any litigation procedure." 

Peter Glade is a go-to for all manner of complex commercial litigation. He has a distinguished record of defeating class certification of lawsuits. 

Renée Rothauge enjoys a well-deserved reputation for her work in intellectual property and complex commercial litigation. Major Oregon-based aerospace company Columbia Helicopters is a key client.

Kerry Shepherd takes a lead in the firm's representation of banks and financial institutions in business tort actions, contract disputes, lender liability and securities litigation.

THE FIRM With 26 lawyers, Perkins Coie's Oregon litigation team harnesses the kind of firepower few firms can match. It undertakes a mixture of plaintiff and defendant engagements, and has a fearsome reputation for class action defense work. Clients include Boy Scouts of America, CenturyLink (formerly Qwest Corporation) and PacifiCorp.

Sources say: "Very professional as well as a warm and caring team to deal with."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stephen English is lionized by sources as "one of Oregon's most experienced trial lawyers." He takes on accounting, patent and product liability cases, among others, and has deep expertise in financial fraud actions.

Senior litigator Paul Fortino is "towards the top of the list in any beauty contest for the larger cases in this market." Complex, 'bet the company' patent, contract, product liability and tortious interference cases are among his areas of expertise. 

James Gidley is appreciated as an expert in often grueling and high-value product liability cases, hard-fought contract claims and, recently, the defense of asbestos exposure litigation.

Generally recognized as a "next generation leader" at Perkins, Thomas Johnson is experienced in cases concerning antitrust, breach of fiduciary duty and SEC investigations.

THE FIRM The litigation team at the Portland office of this national firm has a well-earned reputation for negotiating complex litigation in and outside the courtroom. The bench is of a depth and breadth that virtually any kind of commercial litigation can be tackled, with strong suits in business torts, product liability and insurance coverage claims. The team also has an active docket of suits relating to renewable energy facilities.

Sources say: "They have got us some outstanding results."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Lois Rosenbaum is widely viewed as being one of the leading class action and securities defense counsels in the state.

"Very respected trial lawyer" Gregory Mowe has developed an excellent pedigree in eminent domain, land use and transport-related litigation. 

Joel Mullin, "one of the best and smartest business litigators out there," according to one loyal and satisfied client, represents clients such as Precision Castparts and enXco in lawsuits worth hundreds of millions of dollars. 

Randolph Foster recently successfully defended mining equipment firm ESCO in a $2 billion antitrust arbitration brought against it by its Australian licensee. The victory was so comprehensive that ESCO's legal fees were restored to them.

THE FIRM The 18-lawyer litigation team at Stoll Berne stands as one of the state's finest, particularly for securities cases and class actions. However, this is additional to the firm's distinguished record in cases involving matters as diverse as intellectual property, real estate and trade secrets. Unlike many on this list, the team handles both defense and plaintiff representation.

Sources say: "A top litigation firm." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Gary Berne is known for his magisterial handling of securities litigation - not least his ability to successfully relate complicated financial instruments to juries. That said, he is also much in demand for professional liability defense and trust and estate matters.

Keith Ketterling is described variously by sources as a "fine advocate" and a "very practical-minded attorney who represents his clients very well." His practice is mainly concerned with securities, regulatory and complex business litigation.

Robert Shlachter represents plaintiffs and defendants in business litigation, including securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, contract and white-collar criminal cases. He also takes on IP disputes involving trademark and trade secret issues.

Steve Larson, an "aggressive and capable" trial lawyer, takes on consumer, employment and wage and hour class actions, as well as securities, trade secret and IP disputes.

Robert Stoll "has the best legal nose of anyone I've ever met," according to a source. His trial practice has wound down somewhat in recent years, although he remains a trusted adviser to key clients and a mentor to the firm's most senior lawyers.

THE FIRM The litigation arm of this Pacific Northwest powerhouse goes up in the rankings this year in recognition of the esteem in which it is held by the business and legal communities in Oregon and beyond. The team has an imposing bench of highly accomplished and experienced lawyers, and between them they have the expertise and resources to bring almost any matter to a more than satisfactory conclusion.

Sources say: "A very prestigious business practice."

KEY INDIVIDUALS William Martson is thought of as "a go-to guy if you've got a big company that's in trouble." His practice encompasses general business disputes, environment-related suits, securities, financial and shareholder actions.

Jon Stride undertakes a wide variety of commercial disputes, although his main focus is on intellectual property cases. Sources say he is "responsive, fair, reasonable and produces results."

Equipped with "very sound judgment" and seen as a "great strategist," Daniel Skerritt is rightly credited with shaping his department into the highly respected outfit it has become. 

THE FIRM This national firm, with a traditionally strong presence in the Pacific Northwest, has a suitably powerful team of litigators at its disposal in Oregon. A wide range of commercial litigation is covered here, including disputes involving breach of fiduciary duty, consumer class claims, environmental issues, insurance coverage and employment and wage and hour actions.

KEY INDIVIDUALS John McGrory was described by one impressed client as "showing great intelligence and command of the case - he always knew where best to strike among thousands of pages of evidence." His forte lies in antitrust, shareholder and corporate governance disputes.

Robert Newell handles intellectual property and trade secret litigation, breach of trust and fiduciary duty claims, unfair competition and commercial disputes within the healthcare sector. 

David Ernst has earned an excellent reputation for his handling of lawsuits in the food, beverage and hospitality sector. "In that arena he is the go-to guy in the state," according to a source. 

Daniel O'Leary concentrates on litigation and alternative dispute resolution for matters regarding environmental law, natural resources, cleanup insurance coverage and real estate.

THE FIRM Litigation is a key component of this firm's overall offering. A stalwart of the Pacific Northwest, its team handles all manner of business disputes, with special mention going to work regarding banking and financial services, construction defects and disputes, intellectual property and the education sector.

Sources say: "Miller Nash is an excellent law firm and we are delighted with its service."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Sand is variously hailed by sources as "a real gentleman" and a "tremendous lawyer." His main focus is securities litigation, although he also devotes much of his practice to employment and complex commercial disputes. 

John Neupert is considered "a smart guy who gets to the heart of the issue quickly." He handles cases concerning corporate governance, class actions, intellectual property and lender liability defense.

Dennis Rawlinson is a seasoned litigator who has shown himself to be adept in a wide array of cases, from fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, business torts and contract claims to construction defect and wrongful death matters.

Peter Richter has an admirably broad range of trial and litigation experience, which includes antitrust, banking, construction, creditors' rights, franchise, labor and timber law.

THE FIRM This large practice is recognized for its strength in depth and its aptitude in an impressive variety of litigious scenarios. Notwithstanding the team's record in general commercial litigation, its areas of strength include the defense of pharmaceutical companies and other businesses in product liability actions. The firm also enjoys a good reputation for real estate litigation, specifically eminent domain and condemnation work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Dulcich is frequently called upon to represent clients embroiled in contract, employment, real estate, securities and trade secret disputes. 

David Axelrod has carved out a name for himself in patent, trademark and trade secret cases, as well as shareholder actions and product liability suits.

William Crow is one of the most senior and respected deans of the trial lawyers' bar in Oregon. As well as the occasional big-ticket trial, he is also engaged for alternative dispute resolution and expert witness work.

THE FIRM This West Coast firm offers the full range of litigation and alternative dispute resolution services. Clients include Hewlett-Packard, Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland Family of Funds.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Steven Blackhurst is, according to one leading figure in the Portland legal community, "the kind of person you go to if you want a problem solved." He defends businesses and professionals from allegations of breaches of securities law and professional negligence.

THE FIRM This Portland institution enjoys a prominent position in the regional market for litigation, as it does in most practice areas. Both plaintiff and defense work is undertaken, while areas of excellence include insurance coverage for policyholders, construction litigation, securities suits and professional malpractice cases for lawyers, accountants and, especially, consultants.

KEY INDIVIDUALS James McDermott's practice leans towards insurance coverage, employment, professional malpractice and securities litigation.

THE FIRM The litigation team here devotes a substantial amount of its practice to defending law firms and attorneys against accusations of professional malpractice. The team also has a distinguished record in construction, environmental, intellectual property and employment litigation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Tongue is "one of the most respected advisers and litigators in the state," according to market sources. He handles a broad range of engagements, including complex commercial litigation, trust and estate disputes, contracts work and professional malpractice defense. 

THE FIRM The experienced and dedicated litigators at Lane Powell's Portland office are adept in a wide range of commercial litigation, and have loyal followings throughout the region's industrial landscape. The team is particularly active in the aviation and healthcare industries.

Sources say: "We got nothing but the highest quality work from them - New York City-standard work at Portland prices."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Milo Petranovich, considered "one of the topmost business litigators in the community," litigates and takes to trial antitrust, corporate governance, franchise, securities and white-collar criminal cases.