About
Our lawyers solve problems creatively, effectively and efficiently for our clients.
People entrust us with critical, complex and sensitive issues. We honor their trust by deploying teams of seasoned lawyers to fulfill the goals of each and every client. Our lawyers and staff are committed to providing clients with the best comprehensive legal services. That has been the tradition at Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C. since we began more than 75 years ago, which is why we pride ourselves in building long-term relationships with our clients.
Administrative Law
Appellate Law
We assist clients in every aspect of civil appeals, including strategy, motions practice, briefing, and oral arguments before state and federal appellate courts. Several of our attorneys worked as judicial law clerks prior to joining the firm, and others have extensive experience as advocates before the Oregon Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court
and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. These attorneys not only practice in the appellate courts, but they also work closely with trial counsel in complex cases to preserve potential issues for appeal. We strive to be a resource to litigants and attorneys who wish to associate experienced appellate counsel in appeals of their important cases.
Business & Corporate Law
We help our clients select the right form of business organization. We help clients form and maintain the chosen business organization, be it corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, or sole proprietorships. We work with our clients and their accountants to make sure the tax implications of what we do is fully understood. We counsel clients on acquisitions, mergers, sales of businesses, and on issues involved
in changing business structures. Whether clients need representation in designing business forms, negotiating agreements or resolving disputes with other companies and agencies, our attorneys are here to help.
We understand the unique issues facing family businesses, including succession and leadership. Working with family members, our attorneys develop the business and tax strategies necessary to meet family goals.
Business & Real Estate Law
Business Litigation
Civil Rights Defense
Civil Sex Abuse Defense
Complex Civil Litigation
While it may go without saying, our creative civil litigators love achieving the best possible result for our clients. Our seasoned, savvy attorneys not only know when to negotiate prompt and reasonable resolutions out of court, but also when to aggressively advocate in court. Whether we negotiate or litigate, we handle cases efficiently and economically.
From relatively small disputes to multi-million dollar cases, we regularly represent individuals, businesses, corporations,
insurance companies and public entities in a wide range of cases. Our attorneys regularly appear in trials and appeals in state and federal courts and in front of administrative and regulatory agencies. We represent clients in disputes that involve professional liability, commercial and complex civil litigation, property and casualty, product liability, catastrophic injury, civil rights, wrongful discharge, and employment and workers’ compensation defense.
Condemnation
Construction Law
While the modern building and design process is complex and rapidly changing, our construction attorneys are well-versed in all aspects of construction law. We represent owners, developers, architects, engineers, general contractors, construction managers, specialty and other subcontractors in public and private projects of any size and type.
Our extensive experience in all phases of the construction process includes:
Real estate acquisition and development;
Project financing and bonding;
Negotiating, drafting and interpreting contracts;
Selecting and implementing project delivery methods, such as design-award-build, fast-track projects, design-build and construction management relationships;
Bond and insurance review and claims;
Assessing, negotiating and handling claims involving bid preparation
and protests, construction defects, defective design, delays, payment, liens, change orders, differing site conditions, acceleration, labor inefficiency, suspension and termination, the Spearin doctrine and pay-when-paid provisions;
Employee and independent contractor issues, including wage-and-hour and fringe benefits, collective bargaining agreements, compliance with employment laws such as age, race, gender and disability discrimination, and workplace safety;
Zoning, municipal and governmental matters;
Dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, mediation and hybrid methods;
Ownership rights in plans, specifications and other forms of intellectual property; and
Water law, including transfer rights, easements, applications, adjudications and administrative hearings.
Defense of Professional Licensing Actions (Administrative Law)
Divorce & Family Law
We assist clients in every aspect of family law, including dissolution, child custody, spousal and child support, parental rights and visitation. We help clients divide properties, investments, and complex businesses
and provide counsel on the tax implications of these actions. Our family law attorneys also represent clients in adoption proceedings. Whether you need quick advice or a long-term plan, we are here to help you.
Employment & Labor Law
We work with owners and managers to design and implement business plans, policies and employment agreements. When disputes arise, our attorneys vigorously represent clients in all aspects of employment matters, including claims of unfair labor practices, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination, and civil rights violations. We routinely advocate for clients before judges and juries in state and federal courts, and on appeal.
We also defend employers in administrative matters, including workers’ compensation, EEOC and BOLI.
Our experienced and solution-oriented attorneys guide public and private employers through all aspects of labor law, including at-the-table collective bargaining and grievances. When clients face human resource management issues, including fact-finding cases and arbitration, our employment and labor law lawyers are there to help.
Human Resource Consultation
Our attorneys provide consultation services to human resource managers in public entities, corporations and family-owned businesses. By regularly reviewing human resource policies with clients, we can often help them minimize risk and avoid claims or litigation. We offer a broad range of expertise and services for human resource managers. These include consulting on: employment policies
and programs; management training; compensation packages; hiring practices; disciplinary issues; diversity and equal opportunity employment; unemployment compensation; and compliance with local, state and federal laws and regulations. By working closely with employers, we develop practices that place our clients in the best position to defend themselves if a claim arises.
Land Use
Mediation & Arbitration
We offer seasoned and industry recognized mediators to assist your clients in resolving their legal disputes. Our mediators assess the risk, identify realistic settlement values, and assist parties in creatively resolving conflict. When you need a trusted partner in dispute resolution, you can depend on the mediators at Garrett
Hemann Robertson.
Our arbitrators possess the experience, skills, and knowledge to decide legal disputes in every practice area. Whether your arbitration is mandated through local courts, or administered through a private arbitration service, our seasoned attorneys will carefully and fairly adjudicate your client’s dispute.
Personal Injury
Our lawyers pursue and defend personal injury claims, including claims of catastrophic injury. We thoroughly assess each claim and strategically-develop a plan to resolve the claim
through pre-litigation processes or trial court litigation. Our personal injury lawyers are experienced, knowledgeable and successful advocates for all your personal injury needs.
Probates & Trust Litigation
Professional Negligence Defense
As a recognized leader in the legal community, our firm provides the comprehensive resources that allow our clients to focus on their goal of providing important services to the community. We represent licensed professionals, such as physicians, lawyers, architects and accountants in avoiding liability and, when necessary, defending claims of negligence. We have extensive experience in counseling professionals and developing appropriate strategies for protecting their practices and livelihood in court and
before administrative agencies. Our medical malpractice experts vigorously defend cases for hospitals, physicians, large and small medical organizations, private practices and medical insurance carriers. We also provide comprehensive services such as business representation, employment and human resources assistance, real estate and property transactions, risk management and litigation support. We represent clients compassionately and employ an innovative approach designed to achieve the best results.
Real Estate Disputes
Real Estate Transactions & Land Use
When it comes to real estate law, you have come to the right place. Our lawyers possess the skills and experience to handle every real estate issue–from transaction and development to financing, leasing and foreclosure. We assist clients with commercial, agricultural and residential transactions, including sales, leases and 1031exchanges. Our public and private landowning clients are carefully guided through
negotiations, contracts, leases and zoning and development laws that affect their property. We routinely handle homeowner association issues and assist clients with understanding their obligations under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. We also represent general contractors, sub-contractors and owners in negotiating construction contracts and resolving construction-related claims.
School & Public Entity Law
For decades, Garrett Hemann Robertson has been synonymous with distinguished service in all areas of school law. Our attorneys maintain that reputation every day as they represent more than 90 public schools, education service districts and community
colleges throughout the state of Oregon. Our clients entrust us with every aspect of the laws affecting them, including personnel, civil rights, business management practices, labor, contracting, local government relations and legislation.
Trust Administration
Trusts & Probate
We develop estate plans and trusts, initiate conservatorships or guardianships, and advise clients on the tax laws affecting their estates. We review and explain each estate planning option with our clients to reach the best possible legacy planning solution. We know, firsthand, that difficult issues face elderly people and their families. We challenge
and defend administrative actions by guardians and conservators, and bring actions to recover for financial abuse of vulnerable persons. We work sensitively and effectively to help minimize the impact of legal proceedings on families and their heirs, but will also take action when needed to challenge or defend probate or trust administrations.
Workplace Torts Defense
Insurance and self-insured companies and businesses, large and small, rely on our lawyers for general advice and for representation in state and federal courts. We regularly represent our clients in trials and in appellate courts and before
regulatory and administrative agencies. Our attorneys provide legal representation and advice in a broad range of cases. These include professional liability, casualty, product liability, civil rights, defamation, and wrongful discharge.