From everyday contract disputes to bet-the-company litigation, Stoll Berne’s litigation group has few equals when it comes to understanding the importance of protecting our client’s business and employees. We specialize in finding creative, pre-litigation solutions to your thorniest business disputes.
We're One of Oregon's Most Tenacious and Respected Business Litigation Firms
Successful Outcomes in Many Industries
Whether through trial or settlement, we have obtained successful outcomes for various types of disputes across industries, including, but not limited to:
Contract disputes
Employment termination
Non-competition covenants
Non-solicitation agreements
Confidentiality agreements
Power supply contracts
Financial fraud
Real estate and construction
Toxic torts
Professional (accountant, lawyer, and business/professional consultant) malpractice
Whistleblower
“[Your team’s] tactics were clever and always found their mark. You were able to quickly recognize winning arguments and expand the advantage. The final [arbitrators’] decision and complete achievement of our objectives is, of course, the best illustration of the quality of your team.” – Ronald Myhro and Howard Bode, Co-Managers of American Retail Services, LLC
We Are Consistently Ranked in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers, and Oregon Super Lawyers
Stoll Berne attorneys Steve Berman and Keith Ketterling, acting as special assistant attorneys general, defended a constitutional challenge to Oregon’s eviction ban. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and devastating wildfires, the Oregon legislature enacted a law that temporarily prevented landlords from evicting tenants for non-payment of rent.
Stoll Berne attorneys Steve Berman and Keith Ketterling, acting as special assistant attorneys general, defended a constitutional challenge to Oregon’s foreclosure ban. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oregon legislature enacted a law that temporarily prevented lenders from foreclosing on borrowers or charging fees to borrowers for late payments.
Cody Berne represented a mortgage lending company in a quiet title action filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. The plaintiffs sought to quiet title in a residential property located in Medford, Oregon, and named the mortgage lending company in the lawsuit, even though the company had no interest in the property.
Cody Berne represented a foreign corporation in a dispute involving goods that were manufactured for use in the energy industry. A third-party allegedly hacked into the email system of a parts manufacturer and redirected a payment for a specially manufactured part.
Stoll Berne attorney Cody Berne represented a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) and an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) in a dispute about the sale of a book of business and an RIA.
Stoll Berne attorney Josh Ross represented the purchasers of majority interests in a Washington brewery in a dispute with the sellers for breach of contract and other claims.
Josh Ross, Lydia Anderson-Dana, and Ben Leedy represent two of the majority owners and directors of the Alpenrose Dairy business and related family-held businesses.
Josh Ross represents a Canadian solar power developer and operator in a dispute regarding a warranty claim over the development of a solar farm in southern Oregon.
Rob Shlachter, Tim DeJong, and Lydia Anderson-Dana, together with California co-counsel, defended a labor union sued for alleged unfair labor practices at the Port of Portland.
Cody Berne and Josh Ross represented Southern Oregon investors who were seeking to recover their investments in a privately held consumer products company.
Keith Dubanevich, Cody Berne, and their co-counsel represented a certified class of thousands of current and former customers of Ruby Receptionists, Inc. in McKenzie Law Firm P.A. et al. v. Ruby Receptionists, Inc., Case No. 3:18-cv-01921-SI (D. Or.).
Rob Shlachter and Cody Berne advised a logistics and shipping company about legal issues arising in connection with possible competition by a public entity.
Keith Ketterling has represented a national broker-dealer in numerous actions against former brokers acting in violation of noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements.
The firm represented a leading Pacific Northwest real estate management, development, and investment firm in an action to enforce its contract rights against a co-owner/operator who had breached its operations and management obligations.
Keith Dubanevich defended a regional hospital group in a wrongful termination and antitrust action filed in Deschutes County by a physician who lost hospital privileges when terminated by his professional group.
Steve Larson represented a Portland, Oregon luxury jewelry store in a lawsuit filed by a customer who alleged that her very expensive emerald ring had not been returned by the jewelry store.
Keith Ketterling and Josh Ross represented a software developer in a contract dispute with a “platform as a service” provider over the failure to provide services as promised, resulting in delayed development of a critical software package.
Stoll Berne attorney Rob Shlachter represented Med-Tech Resource, LLC, a Eugene-based distributor of medical and safety equipment and supplies, in a lawsuit brought by a former employee who sought up to $1 million in damages based on an alleged oral partnership agreement between plaintiff and the client.
Rob Shlachter and Tim DeJong obtained a preliminary injunction preventing a prime government contractor from terminating a multi-million-dollar contract for supply of helicopters in Afghanistan.
The firm represented the Chief Operating Officer for a major food products company, who was terminated without being paid a large severance payment that was owed.
Rob Shlachter successfully defended the CEO of the Portland Trail Blazers, who was accused of engaging in conflicts of interest and participating in fraudulent conveyances.
Rob Shlachter and Steve Berman successfully defended Klamath Algae Products in a three-week jury trial, one of the longest civil jury trials in Klamath County history.
Rob Shlachter and Josh Ross represented a European manufacturer of fiber optic equipment in a contract dispute with a third-party company who refused to supply certain agreed-upon technology.
Rob Shlachter successfully represented a major Portland-based real estate management, development, and investment firm in complex multi-party negotiations and litigation related to the client’s rights with respect to a portfolio of medical office buildings located across the country.
Stoll Berne represented a surety who had provided a standby letter of credit in connection with the construction of railcars for the TriMet WES commuter rail service in an action to discharge the surety’s obligation as a result of material changes to the underlying production agreement.
The firm defended GameWear, Inc., a sports memorabilia manufacturer, against claims of breach of contract, trade libel, and intentional interference with economic relations.
We were retained less than two months before a three-week arbitration hearing to defend a franchisor and its principal in a matter involving alleged violation of the Oregon Franchise Act, fraud, breach of contract, and related claims.
Following a five-day arbitration hearing, Rob Shlachter obtained a monetary award and injunctive relief on behalf of a retail gas station operator in a breach of contract action against a gasoline wholesaler involving a supply contract.
Keith Ketterling sued a regional bank and broker-dealer for securities fraud on behalf of a group of individual investors who were targeted by defendants for the sale of speculative, illiquid investments in spite of plaintiffs' lack of sophistication and limited investment horizons.
Steve Larson represented the owner of an Alzheimer's Senior Residential Care Facility in a breach of contract action against the company that managed the facility.
In a securities fraud lawsuit, the firm represented a client alleging that an accountant had improperly used her confidential information to recruit her to invest in a failed real estate venture.
Rob Shlachter defended the United States Golf Association in an action brought by an amateur golfer alleging breach of contract, breach of duty of good faith and fair dealing, and statutory violations arising out of the USGA's decision to rescind the golfer's amateur status.
Steve Larson represented a group of ophthalmologists seeking to recover monies that had been embezzled by their in-house accountant when he set up online banking on their checking account without approval by the signers on the account.
Rob Shlachter successfully defended a major Oregon high-tech company sued in California for malicious prosecution arising out of a major patent lawsuit.
In an action for breach of contract and specific performance for right to purchase property on Mt. Hood, Keith Ketterling obtained complete relief and damages for the client, a property development company, following arbitration.
Keith Dubanevich represented a senior executive who sought severance benefits in arbitration after a merger of two public companies resulted in a substantial change in her responsibilities.
Over the course of ten years, Keith Ketterling and Steve Berman represented a multinational steel and trading company and its principal in litigation across the globe.
Steve Larson represented an Oregon corporation that filed suit against its National Sales Manager alleging that the Sales Manager had engaged in an alleged kick-back scheme, in violation of his fiduciary duties. Following trial, the jury awarded the firm’s client its claimed damages.
An Oregon call center retained Stoll Berne to defend against investor claims that the Oregon corporation had misrepresented facts about the future operations of the call center.
Rob Shlachter and Tim DeJong won two arbitrations establishing advancement rights for attorney’s fees worth more than $5 million under Delaware indemnification law.
In a multi-million-dollar breach of contract arbitration, Steve Larson defended Hollywood Entertainment against allegations that it had breached a contract with the claimant to purchase security devices.
Rob Shlachter and Tim DeJong, representing the CEO, successfully litigated a wrongful termination case on behalf of a fired CEO, which resulted in a substantial severance payment and a public statement that CEO was fired "without cause."
Rob Shlachter successfully represented developers/owners in disputes over operations and investments in multi-family and commercial properties in the Northwest, California, and other states.
Rob Shlachter and Keith Ketterling represented a major California utility company in challenging a $250 million long-term energy contract, and represented solar energy companies in disputes with PGE.
Rob Shlachter and Steve Larson represented an Oregon home exercise machine manufacturer in alleging that a competitor was making false advertising claims.
Steve Larson obtained an injunction prohibiting former employees from starting a competing business using a client list and other proprietary information that were improperly taken from the client, a medical device manufacturer.
Keith Ketterling represented the property development branch of a major insurance company in contract litigation involving the $25 million purchase of moorages on the Columbia River.
Rob Shlachter and Steve Larson successfully represented the plaintiff, an Oregon home exercise machine manufacturer, in a lawsuit alleging that a competitor was infringing on its trade dress.
