My name is pronounced "owk-yen" and I am an experienced litigator and trial lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in arbitration and administrative, state, federal, and appellate courts. Known for my success rate in winning "unwinnable" cases, I am a strategic thinker and problem solver. Equally comfortable representing plaintiffs or defendants on the right side of an argument, I work with my clients to attain the best results in difficult situations.My experience spans a variety of matters, from product liability to transportation litigation, including railroad cases. I focus on trial work and spend significant time in the courtroom. I am adept at handling complex commercial litigation and creating strategies for multiple lawsuit litigation for regional and national clients. A seasoned trial lawyer, I have tried multiple bench and jury trials to verdict, in addition to numerous arbitrations. I have also argued in front of numerous Circuit Courts across Oregon and Washington.

Pro bono work is important to me, and I am dedicated to advancing legal social justice. I regularly represent clients from local legal clinics as well as act as pro bono trial counsel for matters in Oregon and Louisiana on behalf of organizations such as the Mwalimu Center for Justice in New Orleans, which represents clients in post-conviction matters, including death penalty cases.

Bar Admissions

• Oregon State Courts
• Washington State Courts

Education

• Whitman College, Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, Minor in Spanish, 1998
• University of New Mexico, Masters in Latin American Studies, 2003
• University of New Mexico School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2002

Significant Accomplishments

Transportation, ports & maritime

• Handled over 25 rail-related cases, including grade crossing accidents, wrongful death, and contract disputes.
• Successfully represented a port client in high stakes dispute with a former rail operator. Led client through confidential arbitration, lawsuit, and settlement.
• Successfully resolved catastrophic injury suit claiming multi millions of dollars against maritime client
• Successfully resolved a personal injury claim for a rail car owner.

Product liability

• Obtained dismissal of a $25 million personal injury and products liability lawsuit against a small, family-owned business.

Healthcare & medical devices

• Represented a physician in a lawsuit against a hospital, obtaining a $1.5 million jury verdict.
• Represented a healthcare company in pre-suit litigation related to a multimillion dollar contract dispute.

Published opinions

• Dine Citizens et al. v. Bureau of Indian Affairs (9th Circuit, July 29, 2019) (cert. denied); affirming district court dismissal of a case pursuant to FRCP 19 and based on tribal sovereign immunity (argued)
• Figueroa v. BNSF, 351 Or 142 (2017); ordering circuit court to dismiss case against BNSF Railway Company based on lack of general personal jurisdiction.
• SAIF v. Hoffman, 193 Or App 750 (2004); upholding insurer responsibility for a hearing loss claim in a workers' compensation case

• Biden Administration Voices Strong Support for the Jones Act

  By Aukjen Ingraham |January 2021

Additional Articles

• Extrinsic Evidence-The Modern Use of the Parol Evidence Rule
• How To Overcome Trial Lawyers' Courtroom Experience Gap
• Pro Bono Spotlight Three: Immeasurable and Essential
• Biden Administration Voices Strong Support for the Jones Act
• OP-ED: Legal Term Review: Litigation Terminology Cheat Sheet
• Schwabe Defends Tribal Sovereignty
• With the Supreme Court Poised to Address Personal Jurisdiction Again, State High Courts Reject Attempts to Evade Daimler v. Bauman
• Oregon Supreme Court Considers Authority to Hear Cases Arising Outside of Oregon
• OP-ED: Be Prepared When an Emergency Occurs

Seminar

• Schwabe Safety Summit 2021: Taking Advantage of Structural Change to Embed Safety
• YLS CLE Seminar: Depositions
• COVID-19, Returning to Work
• Defending the Corporate Representative