Top best Environmental Lawyers in Portland | 202 available

Water law is my passion, solving often historic puzzles to obtain legal, efficient water use particularly for farmers, ranchers, and small muncipalities in the West continues to provide challenges and rewards even into the third decade of practice.  Over the last decade, international water supply development particularly in the Middle East and water quality issues including storm water management and drainage in the wetter regions of the Western states have broadened my practice that includes "Everything Water."

Tori is a focused, but compassionate attorney. Her goal is to understand the legal and practical needs of her clients and she works hard to achieve results. Tori's practice is focused upon helping families and individuals with their legal needs. Her practice areas are primarily in Family Law, including Divorce, Parental Rights and Responsibilities, Child Support, Spousal Support, and Post Judgment Modifications, and Guardianships, and Conservatorships. Additionally, Tori has developed a practice area in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status state court practice.. Tori is a 2005 cum laude graduate of the University of Maine School of Law, and also holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy and Management from the Muskie School at the University of Southern Maine (2015).. A Maine native, Tori and her husband settled in Westbrook in 2004 and most recently moved to a mid-1800's farmhouse where their son, twin daughters, 2 dogs, bunny, and chickens have plenty of room to roam. She enjoys spending time in the community, attending and participating in local events with her family. She is an avid supporter of local schools, businesses, and community organizations. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoor recreation that Maine has to offer, including hiking, kayaking, swimming, and exploring Maine's farms and orchards.. Community / Public Service. • Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Immigrant Children's Project Volunteer 2020-current. • Westbrook City Band, 2024-current. • Campfire Institute, Board Member 2024-current. • Kiwanis, October 2017-2020. • Maine Guardian Ad Litem Institute, 2008-2016, past board member, 2016. • Girl Scouts of Maine, 2015-2017. • Volunteer Lawyers Project, Domestic Violence Pro Bono Panel, and Court House Assistant Program, 2008-2013. Professional Memberships. • Maine State Bar Association

Ted is a member of Tonkon Torp's Real Estate practice group. His practice focuses on real estate acquisitions, sales, leasing, financing and development, particularly in the seniors housing market. Additionally, he counsels on general business matters and negotiates and drafts a wide variety of business contracts. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his real estate law expertise.

Steve English is the Director of the firm's Litigation has over 33 years of trial experience in state and federal courts inthe Northwest. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict. His experienceincludes business disputes, commercial torts, trade secrets,securities, breach of contract, directors and officers liability, andproduct liability claims. He has served as national, regional andOregon counsel for international businesses and manufacturers.. Steve acted as lead plaintiff's counsel in the largest Taft-Hartleyinvestment manager fraud case in U.S. history, representing ERISA plansin pursuit of those responsible for the losses, resulting in a record80 percent recovery of over a third of a billion dollars in losses. Herecently successfully defended a client in a four-week jury trialbrought under Oregon's Trade Secret Act, against claims of over $175million.. Steve has successfully defended multi-million dollar environmentalcleanup litigation involving Superfund and commercial sites around theNorthwest. Steve also handles sensitive, high-risk matters forcorporate clients, both large and small.. Chambers USA, Americas Leading Lawyers for Business, statedthat Steve "has a reputation as one of the state's toplitigators…exceptional frontman for the firm." His clients told thepublication that he "is an experienced and consistent lawyer who isimpressive in front of a jury and has superb judgment." Chambers USA ranked Steve in Band 1 and also reported that clients said, "there's no better trial lawyer in the state." Best Lawyers in America listedSteve in several categories, including as one of the four top lawyersin the State for "Bet the Company Litigation" and in "CommercialLitigation." He was ranked in the top 10 lawyers by Oregon Super Lawyers in the category of Business Litigation attorneys.. Since 1999, Steve has served as a non-executive member of the Boardof Directors of Dr. Marten's Airwair USA, and also served its Britishparent company as a Member of the Board of Directors from 1999 through2003, while the company successfully transitioned its manufacturingfrom the United Kingdom to Asia.

Professional Experience. Marc Sellers has been named "Tax Lawyer of the Year - Tax Litigation and Controversy" for 2012 in Portland, Oregon by Best Lawyers, a preeminent national peer review organization.  Since joining Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt in 1980, Mr. Sellers has focused his practice in the areas of civil and criminal tax controversies, including administrative appeals and tax litigation. He has extensive experience working with tax controversies arising under the federal laws, as well as under the laws of the states of Oregon, Washington, and California.Mr. Sellers is the first attorney in the U.S. to obtain an award of attorney fees against the Internal Revenue Service under the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (26 USC §7430). He has represented clients in tax controversies before the United States Tax Court, the U.S. District Court (Oregon and the Southern and Central Districts of California), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, as well as in the Oregon Tax Court. He also maintains an active transactional tax practice.Mr. Sellers is listed in Best Lawyers in America for his work in tax law. Since 2006, he has been named an Oregon Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine. This peer-elected distinction is bestowed upon only the top 5% of all attorneys in the state of Oregon. He also carries an "AV" rating with Martindale Hubbell, their highest ranking.. Professional & Community Activities. Mr. Sellers has lectured extensively on many areas of the laws of taxation, including corporate, partnership and individual income taxation; property tax issues; civil and criminal tax controversies, and on many procedural areas of tax practice. He has also lectured on topics arising under the environmental criminal laws of the United States.Mr. Sellers has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Tax Section of the Oregon Tax Bar for nine years, and in 2007, served as the Chairman of the Tax Section. He is a member and Past President of the Beaverton, Oregon Rotary Club and has served on the Board of Directors of the Beaverton Rotary Foundation. In addition to other civic activities, Mr. Sellers serves as pro bono legal counsel to several publicly supported charities in Washington County, Oregon. Mr. Sellers is an accomplished mountaineer and has competed at regional and national championship levels in martial arts sporting events.. Admitted to PracticeOregon State CourtsCalifornia State CourtsWashington State CourtsUnited States District Court, District of OregonUnited States District Court, Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court, Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court, Southern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court, Eastern District of WashingtonUnited States District Court, Western District of WashingtonUnited States Court of Appeals, Ninth CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals, Federal CircuitUnited States Tax CourtUnited States Court of Federal ClaimsUnited States Supreme Court. EducationGeorgetown University Law Center, Master of Laws degree, Taxation (1980)Loyola University School of Law, Juris Doctor degree (1978)University of Redlands, Bachelor of Science degree (1975). ArticlesThe AMT Crunch, BrainStorm NW, February 2007 Search & Seizure of Business Property: An Advisory for Business Owners and Managers

Patrick focuses on litigation and transactions involving environmental, natural resources, toxic tort and real property issues. He has extensive experience representing clients in court and before administrative agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. He has particular expertise in matters involving contaminated properties and water quality issues. Patrick emphasizes big picture strategies in order to prevent problems before they occur, while working in a focused, efficient manner to solve problems after they arise.His practice includes: • Water quality permitting       Clean water act       NPDES and 404 permits       Oregon WPCF permits. • Brownfield/contaminated properties     Regularly serves as counsel to purchasers and sellers of contaminated properties regarding environmental liabilities under federal and state law.. • Natural Resources/Food Safety/Agriculture    Advising clients regarding natural resource law issues, such as forestry and grazing practices and clients in the food and beverage industry regarding regulatory compliance. Representative Work. • Business DisputesRepresented trucking company in lawsuit against national financial institution; successfully recovered remedial action costs incurred in cleaning up property contaminated by past owners/operators.Represented an entity being sued by a former member for, among other items, wrongful expulsion from the LLC, breach of contract and unjust enrichment.  Plaintiff sought in excess of $6 million in damages. After a week long arbitration before a panel of three arbitrators, Patrick obtained a complete defense decision, and a six figure award on counterclaims brought on behalf of his client.. • Brownfields / Transactions Involving Contaminated PropertiesRepresent Oregon developer regarding its purchase, development and potential sale of a large waterfront property that was contaminated by operations of former paper mill owner/operator.Represented a major shipping company in one of the largest Brownfield acquisitions in Oregon history.  The client acquired property within a Superfund site for redevelopment.  The firm advised the client with respect to due diligence, obtaining innocent purchaser status, and retaining non-liable status during redevelopment activities.  We also drafted and negotiated related contracts (Purchase and Sale Agreement, retention of general contractor), and in related wetlands, tax abatement and other regulatory issues. Continue to advise this entity regarding expansion of its facility and in negotiations for the purchase and development of other properties around the Northwest.. We represent a County government that acquired a large contaminated property via tax foreclosure, providing counsel regarding liability protection and remediation of the property.. •  Citizens Suit DefenseRepresented a landfill operator in the defense of a citizen suit action based on the Clean Water Act and RCRA, resulting in settlement of the action on favorable terms and financed with insurance funds.Have represented multiple parties defending citizen lawsuits alleging violations of Clean Water Act NPDES stormwater permits.. •  Cost Recovery / Contribution DefenseCurrently representing an individual who owned a property upon which tannery waste had been deposited many years prior to his purchase, but which was not discovered until several years after he sold the property. A developer that purchased the property to construct a subdivision sued our client and others in the chain of title after our client, as well as involved lenders and the tannery owner.  In a protracted litigation with significant financial exposure, Patrick successfully negotiated favorable settlements with the plaintiff, and with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in a parallel action.  He continues to represent this individual during a third party's appeal of the settlement with DEQ.. •   Food SafetyProvided counsel to a bottled water company regarding labeling requirements.•  Health Care Facility Construction and Cost Recovery The firm first advised a community hospital on a fast track design/build remedial system in conjunction with construction of a new facility.  The property was heavily contaminated by fuel releases from an adjacent gas station.  The firm sued the Responsible Party and obtained full recovery of past costs and a mechanism to recover future costs.  Patrick continues to advise the hospital on ongoing remediation and cost recovery issues. •  Industrial Groundwater ContaminationThe firm represented Cascade in Boeing v. Cascade at trial and on appeal in the 9th Circuit, and then represented Cascade Corp. in City of Portland v. Boeing and Cascade, a $20 million claim for damages to the Portland well field.  Patrick continues to represent Cascade in a $30 million, multi-decade clean up and ongoing remedial cost allocation issues with Boeing. •  Landfill RegulationAssisted a landfill owner/operator with landfill permitting, regulatory and compliance matters.  •  Regulatory Enforcement DefenseRepresented numerous clients defending enforcement actions brought by EPA and the Oregon DEQ, including an international seafood company contending with alleged Clean Air Act violations and an Oregon based trucking company defending allegations of Clean Water Act violations due to a tanker truck spill.. •  Remedial ActionRepresented a former bulk fuel facility operator in negotiations with the property owner and Washington Department of Ecology to propose and perform a remedial action plan to clean up petroleum releases.  The site was complicated by the fact that it sits on the Tacoma Coal Gasification Superfund Site and that the coal tars form part of the confining unit between the upper and lower aquifers.. •  SuperfundRepresented an international paper products company in obtaining a favorable settlement of a claim for contribution brought under federal Superfund law at the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site.. •  Toxic TortSuccessfully defended many clients in asbestos and other toxic tort litigation, including manufacturers and distributors of boilers, building supplies, apparel and other asbestos containing products, and the defense of claims arising from alleged exposure to silica and formaldehyde.. •  Water Rights Advised numerous clients regarding water rights issues, including representation of an Eastern Oregon property owner involved in an Oregon Department of Water Resources administrative adjudication brought by a neighbor seeking to terminate the client's water rights based on the alleged non-use by a prior owner

Laurie enjoys practicing law and takes great pride in being responsive and dependable to her clients.  Laurie's approach to representation is results-oriented with attention to detail.

Keiter & Associates offers clients a tradition of highest quality, cost effective legal services, as well as personal attention and aggressive promotion of our clients’ interests. We bring the experience of over 25 years representing companies and enterprises of all sizes, to issues both large and small. We pride ourselves on taking a personal approach, and on building long term relationships with clients by focusing on their goals and needs, and the most practical ways of achieving them. We are dedicated to our clients and consider ourselves team members with clients in pursuing their goals, whether that may be closing a business deal, starting a new venture, avoiding a liability or just helping to make an important decision. We insist on the highest standards of legal practice, and pay attention to the details.. Tim Keiter graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, and began his private practice in 1992, after spending several years with a major Portland firm, and refusing an offer of partnership there. He offers the insights and perspective of the highest quality legal education, combined with many years of real life sophisticated commercial practice. He has dealt successfully with national, international, as well as regional and local companies, from large corporations to mom and pop businesses, both as clients and as opposing parties. His friendly and practical approach to finding solutions to clients’ varying challenges, and his toughness and vigorous representation of his clients’ interests, are hallmarks of his practice. He is pleased to know both when to say “yes,” and when to say “no,” whether in negotiations, in court, in mediation, or in other types of discussions.

Jim was born in Chicago in 1949. He worked as a construction laborer, apprentice plumber, dishwasher, golf caddy, and parking attendant during high school and college. He graduated from Yale University in 1971 and the Lewis and Clark Law School in 1977, having served as Editor-in-Chief of the law review. He spent a year as a law clerk to the Hon. Robert C. Belloni in Federal Court before beginning private practice.. Jim has devoted his practice since 1978 to representing individuals, labor unions and non-profit public interest groups against government agencies, employers and insurance companies. He is a past chair and long-time member of the Oregon Trial Lawyers association Amicus committee. He has taught at Lewis and Clark Law School and speaks at conferences for lawyers on punitive damages, product liability, appellate practice, social security and the coordination of public and private disability benefits. Jim is a member of the Bars of the Oregon Supreme Court, United States Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and United States District Court. He has served on the boards of the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, Oregon Environmental Council, Portland Sustainability Commission, and Community Cycling Center.. He performs irregularly at Artichoke Music. Jim and his wife Cheryl live in Northwest Portland and ride their tandem bike to work.

Jay Griffith is part of Kell Alterman & Runstein, L.L.P’s Environmental and Natural Resources Practice Group. He joined the firm in 2016 from an in-house position at a large international steel manufacturer where he started in environmental compliance at the company’s Portland mill site. Jay’s compliance experience includes managing compliance with the company’s NPDES permits, Title V air permit, and hazardous and solid waste rules and regulations. His experience in heavy industry informs his understanding of his business client’s needs and gives him the unique ability to see challenges and opportunities from the client’s perspective. As senior counsel for the company, Jay supervised outside legal counsel on the Portland Harbor superfund project for several years and became well-versed in CERCLA practice. Jay also has handled large and complex policyholder environmental insurance coverage claims related to cleanup matters.. His environmental compliance background and keen understanding of the business case for acquisitions and dispositions makes him a key component of any M&A transaction. Jay has been involved in transactions with challenging environmental issues, multiple purchasers, and major upgrades. He also has extensive experience negotiating contracts for sales, procurement, finance, lease agreements, and customer claims and approaches these negotiations with the client’s business goals in mind and practical solutions to achieving those goals. Further, Jay has lead and resolved several large litigation matters, including multiple party litigation, environmental tort litigation, and large customer claims. His broad spectrum of experience in business law and litigation brings a solid understanding of his clients’ goals to transactions and disputes.. Jay also ran his own law practice while maintaining full-time employment in environmental compliance. In his private practice, Jay prosecuted collection cases for northwest collection agencies. He negotiated settlement of cases where appropriate for his clients, and pursued legal remedies where necessary.. Jay earned his Bachelor of Science in Politics from Willamette University where he met his wife in a class that mixed the politics majors with the environmental science majors. He attained his J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School, graduating with a certificate in environmental law.. He is a northwest native, returning to Portland after four years in Chicago. Growing up in Olympia, Washington, he loves the outdoors, hiking, biking, camping, skiing, and working around the house. Jay enjoys working on house projects, including tinkering with wiring and plumbing projects, and even finished his basement himself. When not at the office, Jay and his wife and sons enjoy camping, visiting the coast with their Labrador Retrievers, and enjoying the Oregon outdoors.

I represent public and private clients in complex environmental civil litigation and regulatory matters. I have conducted both trial and appellate litigation in federal and state tribunals across the country, including the Second and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals, Eastern District of New York, New York and Oregon state trial courts, and Virginia State Corporation Commission. I regularly handle matters involving federal and state environmental and natural resource agencies, including EPA, BLM, USFWS, Oregon DEQ, and the Washington Department of Ecology. I have assisted with the environmental review and compliance aspects of numerous corporate transactions. I earned my J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where I was a Stone Scholar, and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law.

I have been advising clients throughout the West on environmental, natural resource, and land use law since 2000.  My practice is focused on helping clients to obtain the federal, state, and/or local approvals required for construction and operation of range of project types, including electric transmission and renewable generation projects.  I work daily with clients, agency representatives, and consultants across a range of environmental and natural resource disciplines. My skill set includes representing clients in administrative hearings and litigation, as well as providing regulatory compliance advice.

I am an attorney and partner at Portland, Oregon-based Bodyfelt Mount LLP, where I practice general civil litigation, with an emphasis on insurance coverage, products liability, environmental law, toxic tort, and professional liability matters.  I joined the firm as an associate in 1986, and became a partner in 1991.  I worked as an associate at Velure & Bruce in Eugene, Oregon, for two years before moving to Portland.. I spent six weeks in trial on one of the five environmental coverage cases that went to trial in Oregon. In 2009, I tried one of the few construction defect cases to be tried in Oregon, which was also a six-week trial. In addition, I tried a three-week product liability "repetitive motion” trial in Seattle, Washington.. I have taken part and held positions in many organizations including:  Hollyrood School Foundation (2005-2007); Vice Chair of Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Coverage Practice Group (1996-2001); Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners (1995-1998 and Chair, 1997-1998); Member of Federal Practice & Procedure Committee (1991-1993 and 1995-1997); and Session Elder, First Presbyterian Church (2010-present).. I have lectured for the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (1998, 1997, 1995, 1993); spoken twice for Bad Faith Litigation in Oregon (1997, 1995); and, presented at the Oregon Law Institute (1994). I co-authored Insurance (Ch. 4, Necessity of an Insurable Interest, 2003, 1996); co-edited Damages (2007, 2002, 1998); and, authored Pleading and Practice, (Ch. 41, Post-Trial Matters, 1998, 1994).. I have been listed as an Oregon Super Lawyer from 2007 to the present. I also serve regularly as an arbitrator on non-court mandated cases for the Multnomah County Circuit Court.

I am an attorney and litigator, licensed in Oregon and Washington, in Portland Oregon and a partner in a boutique firm. I practice chiefly in the area of insurance coverage litigation on the policyholder side, representing businesses and individuals in disputes with insurance companies.  My experience includes first-party property claims, bad faith claims, Directors & Officers coverage disputes and Employment Practices Liability claims.  I have tried cases in federal and state courts and handle appeals as well.  I also litigate business disputes of many types.  Prior to entering private practice I was law clerk to a federal trial judge in the Eastern District of Washington.

I am a highly organized and practical solutions-driven attorney with extensive regulatory, transactional and corporate experience.  My colleagues and clients value my ability to cultivate lasting relationships, work effectively with people from all walks of life, efficiently manage workloads and bring a positive attitude to even the most difficult of projects.

Dustin Till's practice focuses on environmental and land use litigation, and he has specialized experience with natural resource, permitting, and environmental review issues in the Pacific Northwest. Dustin represents clients in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Missouri. He has appeared before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, federal district court, and the Washington State Court of Appeals.

Diane Polscer is a founding member of Gordon & Polscer, L.L.C. and has been the managing partner since the firm’s inception in 1994 in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Gordon & Polscer was named, once again, one of the 2016 U.S. News & World Report - Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms,” recognized as Tier 1 in Portland for Insurance Law. Diane focuses her practice on insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and a wide range of business and insurance disputes.

Brian Chenoweth is founder of Chenoweth Law Group, PC where he represents clients in all aspects of complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts.. His practice emphasizes environmental, real estate, land use, business, construction, injury, insurance and administrative law.  With over eighteen years of experience, Brian is recognized for his litigation work with plaintiffs and defendants alike throughout Oregon and Washington.. Brian's environmental clients include property owners and businesses facing regulatory compliance and cleanup costs for all types of contamination. His specific experience includes cases involving gas stations, oil bulk facilities, dry cleaners, chrome plating facilities, auto wrecking facilities, ship repair yards, underground storage tanks, landfills, gas pipelines, PCB contamination, and wood treatment facilities. In addition, Brian represents clients in matters regarding environmental consultant and contractor negligence, water quality, endangered species, and bodily injury and property damage related to chemicals, lead, asbestos, and mold.. During his career Brian has negotiated complex settlements with state and federal agencies, advised clients on their legal responsibilities, and pursued recovery of cleanup costs from other responsible parties. Brian has also defended businesses and individuals regarding environmental claims. He also represents neighboring property owners who are impacted by pollution.. In addition to his litigation practice, Brian advises clients in business and real estate transactions with respect to environmental liability and regulatory compliance. Other work includes brownfield redevelopment and agency enforcement matters.. Brian’s environmental practice brings him face to face with government agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the Washington Department of Ecology.. Brian also represents clients regarding real estate transactions and disputes, land use law, business formations, sales, and purchases, insurance disputes, disputes with administrative agencies, and construction law.. Representative clients include food processing companies, outdoor advertising companies, real estate brokerages, insurance agencies, construction companies, small and medium size business of all types, attorneys seeking to co counsel on complex cases, municipal housing authorities, insurance companies, personal representatives and trustees, trucking companies, environmental consultants and and clean up contractors, testing laboratories, private universities, and individuals.. Licensed to practice law in Oregon and Washington, Brian received his law degree (cum laude) from the American University, Washington College of Law in 1994, and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from University of Oregon in 1989.. Brian speaks to industry professionals, governmental agency staff, and other lawyers on environmental, insurance, real estate, and land use.. Away from the office, Brian enjoys writing and playing music (in the firm's band--the Everyday Heroes), boating (on the firm's boat--"Short Sale"), hiking, traveling, and spending time with his children.

As a fifth generation cattle rancher, Laysan Unger brings invaluable knowledge and personal understanding to Dunn Carney’s Environmental and Agricultural & Natural Resources practices.. “I grew up on a cattle ranch in Hawaii,” explains Laysan, “and our property was home to an endangered species, the ‘Alala (Hawaiian Crow). As a result, we were sued under the Endangered Species Act by environmental organizations for access to our property to study that bird. This experience was the impetus for my career: I knew I wanted to work on behalf of private landowners on environmental and natural resource legal issues because of my family’s experience. I personally identify with these legal issues because they are the same issues my family’s agricultural operation faces.”. Beginning her career clerking at Dunn Carney while earning her J.D. in Environmental and Natural Resource Law at Lewis & Clark, Laysan proved herself to be a valuable and passionate ally to Dunn Carney’s clients, earning a position as a Dunn Carney attorney upon passing the Oregon bar. While in law school Laysan served on the executive board for Environmental Law (the environmental law journal of Lewis & Clark Law School) as articles editor and also as president of S.A.B.E.R. (Student Advocates for Business and Environmental Responsibility). She continues this advocacy and outreach through her contributions to Dunn Carney’s Natural Resources Updates blog and annual Ag Summit.. “I love having the opportunity to work on the Dunn Carney Ag Summit because it provides important information to the agricultural community by bringing speakers together in one place… . Facilitating the exchange of ideas and providing valuable information to our clients is something I’m very proud of.”. When not working hard in the trenches as a champion for Oregon Agriculture and landowners, Laysan plays hard as Dunn Carney’s formidable catcher propelling Dunn Carney’s softball team to the 2013 law league playoffs. Off season Laysan enjoys snowboarding, hiking and cheering for the Oregon Ducks as well as her younger brother Max Unger’s team, The Seattle Seahawks.