Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Portland, OR

Honors and Awards:

• Recommended Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Chambers USA, 2012
• Named "Local Litigation Star", Benchmark Litigation, 2012
• Martindale-Hubbell® Client review Rated Lawyer of AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5.0, Martindale-Hubbell, 2012
• 2005-present, Dennis was selected by his peers for his inclusion in Best Lawyers, the oldest peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession. Best Lawyers compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers., Best Lawyers, 2012
• Dennis received a "Leadership in Law" award, Daily Journal of Commerce, 2011

Bar/Professional Activity:

• Owen M. Panner American Inns of Court, master (1997-present), 2012
• Oregon State Bar Litigation Section, chair and executive committee member (1992-present), 2012
• Oregon State Bar Litigation Institute and Retreat, chair (1993-present), 2012
• International Association of Defense Counsel, member (2006-present), 2012
• Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (2005-present), 2012
• Association of Corporate Counsel (2005-present), 2012
• Member of the Council (Board of Directors) of the Section of Litigation of the ABA (2010-present), 2012
• American Bar Association Section of Litigation, division director (2006-2008; 2009-2011), 2011
• ABA Section of Litigation, Credit Crisis National Institutes, chair (2009-2010), 2010
• American Bar Association Section of Litigation Committee on National Institutes, chair (2008-2010), 2010
• American Bar Association Section of Litigation Trial Evidence Committee, co-chair (2003-2006), 2006
• Oregon State Bar, president, 2006
• Oregon State Bar House of Delegates, member (1999-2006), 2006
• Oregon State Bar Board of Governors, member (2002-2006), 2006
• American Bar Association Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, co-chair (2000-2003), 2003

Pro bono/Community Service:

• First Growth Children and Families Charities dba Classic Wine Auction Board, former chair and present executive committee and board member, 2012
• Portland Business Alliance, board of directors (chair), 2012
• Arlington Club, former president and director
• Greater Portland, Inc., founding board member

Verdicts and Settlements:

• Wyndham Resort Development Corporation et al v. Swinerton Builders Northwest, Inc., et al (July 2010).Multimillion-dollar recovery in the largest construction-defect case in the history of the state. Case involved claims of negligence, breach of contract, and breach of warranty. Representation of the Resort at Seaside against a general contractor and some 28 additional subcontractors, architects, designers, vendors, and material suppliers. Case complexities included dealing with condominium association rights and complex insurance and coverage issues., 2010
• Bruce Engelbrecht et ux v. Motorola, Inc., et al (August 2010).Client: Defendant URS Electronics, Inc. Claims: Wrongful death, loss of consortium, strict liability, and negligence claims arising from the distribution of two-way radio components containing phenolic resins which plaintiff claims caused him to contract Mesothelioma. In this "new wave" asbestos case, we cross-claimed on behalf of the distributor against radio manufacturers GE, RCA, Motorola, and Raytheon based on indemnity in contribution . . . breaking the traditional practice among asbestos defendants to unite. We also filed a motion for summary judgment against plaintiffs, which was heard by the court on the "eve" of trial. The court granted summary judgment to URS alone and dismissed the multi-million dollar claims against URS. Claims against insurers resulted in reimbursement of defense costs., 2010
• Portland Art Museum v. Ann Beha Architects, Inc. (December 2004-March 2007). Obtained multimillion-dollar recovery during the course of a mediation that involved breach of contract, negligence, and breach of warranty against a Boston architectural firm arising from incomplete and uncoordinated drawings in connection with the renovation of the Masonic Temple and construction of the Mark Building, the new home of the Portland Art Museum. Representation of the museum additionally included resolution of multimillion-dollar contractor and subcontractor claims (which were resolved for less than 30 percent of the principal amount of the claims) and avoiding payment of any costs or attorney fees., 2007
• James E. Rich v. Rippling River Association et al (October 2007). Recovered more than $1 million in attorney fees and costs and disbursements. Plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction was denied. Claims against Rippling River Association and its board included breach of fiduciary duty, breach of state statutes relating to homeowners association and master plans, and violation of homeowners association articles and bylaws. The case involved an effort by minority members to take over the board of a homeowners association and recover millions of dollars in damages and attorney fees based on, among other things, failure to obtain proper membership vote for change in voting procedures and election of directors., 2007