Kevin is a trial attorney with an appellate practitioner’s eye. He learned his way around the courtroom and grew accustomed to fighting uphill battles for his clients while working as a public defender for four years in state courts in Washington. He is an empathetic advisor and a zealous advocate, and he has helped clients from a wide variety of backgrounds obtain favorable outcomes in difficult circumstances. Notably, Kevin has significant experience representing children and individuals with disabilities, and he understands that a client’s sense of justice stems not only from the outcome of a case, but also from being treated with dignity and respect throughout the case.

Kevin previously served as a law clerk for Justice Rives Kistler at the Oregon Supreme Court and for Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud at the Washington Supreme Court. As a law clerk, he made recommendations to the court and helped draft the court’s decisions in cases involving complex issues of state and federal law.  Kevin brings the insight that he gained while clerking at the Pacific Northwest’s highest courts to his day-to-day work on litigation matters at Stoll Berne. 

Before attending law school, Kevin was the Deputy Director of Communications for the Office of Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander. In that role, he helped develop media strategy and interacted with reporters on behalf of the office. For example, he issued press releases, drafted talking points, and responded to reporters’ questions about the office’s many responsibilities, including securities regulation and enforcement, ballot initiatives, and election administration. Kevin also contributed to the office’s efforts to enact ethics reform laws and expand voting access for all eligible voters. 

Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University. He earned his law degree magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis. He also holds a Certificate in Public Management from the University of Missouri’s Truman School of Public Affairs. 

Erin is an associate in the firm’s litigation group, where she focuses on complex litigation matters.

She was most recently an inaugural Judicial Clerk to the Hon. Jennifer Sung at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where she drafted judicial opinions, memoranda, and other documents related to federal appeals. Erin also served as a Judicial Clerk to the Hon. Scott Shorr at the Oregon Court of Appeals, where she drafted judicial opinions and memoranda in state court appeals. In between her two clerkships, Erin practiced at another Portland area law firm primarily in the area of labor and employment law.

Maddie is an associate in the firm’s litigation group where she focuses on complex litigation matters including environmental torts, securities, and class action matters.

She was a member of the trial team pursuing claims on behalf of the State of Oregon against Monsanto Company for PCB contamination, which rendered a nearly-$700 million settlement for the State, the largest environmental settlement in Oregon history. Maddie continues to litigate claims for PCB contamination against Monsanto Company on behalf of the City of Seattle and she is currently a member of the team representing the State of Oregon against various entities, including DuPont and 3M, for PFAS contamination.

Prior to joining Stoll Berne, Maddie served as a law clerk for the Honorable Scott Shorr (Oregon Court of Appeals).

Emily is an associate in the firm’s litigation group where she focuses on complex litigation matters. She was an integral part of the trial team, representing victims of the 2020 Oregon fires against PacifiCorp, in which the jury found in favor of the class after a two-month trial. Emily was also a key member of the team representing the State of Oregon in litigation against Monsanto for damages to the state’s public trust resources from PCB contamination, obtaining the largest environmental settlement in Oregon History, and she is a member of the team representing the City of Seattle and the State of Delaware in PCB litigation against Monsanto. Emily currently serves on the board of governors of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and serves as co-chair of the Oregon Trial Lawyers New Lawyers section.

Prior to joining Stoll Berne, Emily was an Associate Attorney for another Portland law firm where she practiced personal injury litigation. She served as a law clerk in the Civil Enforcement Division – Financial Fraud & Consumer Protection for the Oregon Department of Justice. Working in the Civil Enforcement Division – Finance Fraud & Consumer Protection, Emily focused on Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act violations, civil investigative demands, and settlement proposals.

While attending Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark Law College, Emily served as a Research Assistant where she researched bankruptcy law. She served as the Executive Editor and member for the Lewis & Clark Law Review and was a member of the Animal Law Review where she was named Source Checker of the Year. While attending the University of Washington, Emily studied abroad in Linköping, Sweden.

Elizabeth is an associate in the firm’s litigation group where she focuses on complex litigation matters. Her practice focuses on tort claims for the environmental harms caused by toxic substances, business and contract disputes, class actions, and securities fraud. Elizabeth uses a pragmatic, deliberate, and results-oriented approach to assess and address the various issues that arise in complex cases.

Elizabeth was an integral part of the trial team pursuing claims on behalf of the State of Oregon against Monsanto Company for PCB contamination, which rendered a nearly-$700 million settlement for the State (the largest environmental settlement in Oregon history). Elizabeth is currently litigating claims for PCB contamination against Monsanto for the State of Maryland, and also represents the State of Oregon in a case against several companies (including 3M and DuPont) for environmental contamination from PFAS. Additionally, she is a member of the team pursuing class action claims on behalf of investors in the nearly $1.8 billion GPB Funds Ponzi scheme action. Elizabeth also enjoys assisting clients with business disputes.

Elizabeth is experienced across all phases of litigation, from initial case assessment, to drafting and responding to complaints, serving and defending discovery demands, and preparing clients for testimony at depositions and trial. She is skilled at drafting persuasive briefs and has presented successful oral arguments, as well.

Prior to joining Stoll Berne, Elizabeth served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge David W. Christel (U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington) as well as a judicial extern to the Honorable Jolie A. Russo (U.S. District Court of Oregon). She also served as a law clerk for a law firm in Springfield, OR, focusing on business and local government matters.

Lydia is a shareholder in the firm’s litigation group where she focuses on class actions, appellate cases, elections and government law, and securities litigation. She has experience representing clients before state and federal trial and appellate courts, in arbitrations, and before the Land Use Board of Appeals. She was a member of the teams that worked to achieve a $235 million settlement on behalf of investors in the Aequitas securities fraud class action, and a $55 million settlement on behalf of investors in the multi-district securities litigation against CenturyLink. Recent work includes representing progressive clients in ballot measure challenges and other initiative matters, litigation on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in securities class action cases, and helping clients reach resolution in a variety of contract disputes. Lydia also is a member of the firm’s Management Committee.

Prior to joining Stoll Berne as an associate in 2018, Lydia served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Morgan B. Christen (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit), and for the Honorable Chief Judge Michael W. Mosman (District of Oregon).

Cody Berne is an advocate for his clients in cases large and small. He is prepared to go to trial if that is what the case requires. Cody has been first chair at over 40 trials. He leads Stoll Berne’s team in the class action lawsuit against PacifiCorp for starting fires across Oregon during the Labor Day 2020 storm. He was co-lead trial counsel in an 8-week trial where the jury found PacifiCorp liable to a class of several thousand people for gross negligence, punitive damages, and other claims. The jury awarded on average approximately $5 million to each of the 17-named plaintiffs. He was also co-lead trial counsel in the first and second damages-only jury trials on behalf of 19 more class members. The juries awarded several million dollars per person. The trials and litigation, including the work by Cody and his colleagues at Stoll Berne, have been featured in national and local news, including NPR, the Washington Post, Oregonlive, the New York Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the AP.

Along with representing wildfire survivors and their families, Cody advises investors who lost money because of fraud and other misconduct and plaintiffs in class actions. His class action experience includes securities, consumer, ERISA, food labeling, and fire cases. Cody’s practice also includes commercial and complex litigation.

He is an active member of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. Cody previously worked as a deputy district attorney at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. Before that, Cody represented individuals and businesses in cases involving investment fraud and a wide range of business disputes at a large Northwest firm.

He received the Haglund Award in 2016 from the Multnomah Bar Association. He was selected as a Future Star in Benchmark Litigation and also named in The Best Lawyers in America and Oregon Super Lawyers.

During law school, Cody interned for U.S. District Court Judge Kimberly Mueller and U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn Delaney. Elected to Order of the Coif, he received the Clinical Legal Education Association Award and a Witkin Award. Cody also represented clients as a law student at the Civil Rights Clinic and Prison Law Clinic and earned a Public Service Certificate.

Before law school, Cody served as a police officer with the Portland Police Bureau and as a wildland firefighter across the West.


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Steve provides clients with responsive, effective, and efficient solutions to complicated problems. Steve’s litigation practice focuses on complex business, securities, insurance coverage, and consumer disputes. He also regularly provides counsel to progressive causes and candidates regarding Oregon and local elections law.

Steve represents both individuals and institutions, predominantly as plaintiffs, in state and federal trial courts, before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and before other arbitration and regulatory bodies. He has briefed and argued appellate matters before the Oregon Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Steve has also served as an arbitrator the past several years. His clients value his straightforward but strategic approach to resolving disputes both in and out of the courtroom, and his special expertise in navigating politically sensitive matters.

Rob is an accomplished mediator, arbitrator, and trial lawyer emphasizing all types of complex business litigation, including intellectual property, unfair competition, and real estate litigation.

In 2009, Rob was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is the former president of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and frequently lectures and writes about strategies in mediation and litigation. Rob is widely regarded as one of the preeminent mediators, arbitrators, and litigators in Oregon, and has acted as an official and unofficial mentor to countless lawyers, both inside and outside of the firm. Chambers USA, in 2022, ranked Rob in their Spotlight Table under “Oregon Litigation: Mediators,” one of only six attorneys ranked in the state. Rob models professionalism in every facet of his practice and consistently aims to meet the highest standards of client service. In 2018, Rob received the Oregon State Bar’s 21st Annual Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award which recognizes both personal and professional qualities, reputation, and conduct.


Examples of mediation and arbitration matters:

• Insurance Coverage • Attorney Fee Disputes
• Business Litigation • Business Dissolution or Break Ups
• Real Estate Litigation • Shareholder Disputes
• Employment Disputes • Intellectual Property Disputes
 including Patent, Trademark, Trade Dress, and Trade Secrets

As one of the cornerstones of the firm for over 25 years, David represents clients in a wide range of business and real estate transactions, including forming business organizations (corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies), buying and selling businesses, equity buy-ins and buy-outs (including business “divorces”), development, acquisition, sale, and financing of all types of commercial and investment real estate, structuring and completing forward and reverse Section 1031 exchanges, and representing developers and lenders in affordable housing projects. One of David’s greatest strengths is finding common ground for clients in what are often contentious and complex transactions and negotiations. With his quiet confidence and respect for coworkers and clients alike, David has long set the tone for the firm’s lawyers.

As a shareholder in the firm’s real estate and business group, Ben focuses his practice in the areas of commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, real estate finance, leasing, and real estate development. He frequently advises clients in connection with purchase and sale transactions, office, retail and industrial leases, and secured lending transactions. Ben believes that real estate and business transactions result in the best outcomes when they are structured collaboratively, and accordingly, Ben serves his clients with a calm demeanor, eye for detail, and minimum drama.

A founding member of the firm, Gary now primarily serves as an arbitrator and as an adviser to  other lawyers in the firm.  He has been selected as an arbitrator in over 100 matters involving a wide range of business and consumer issues.  In his legal practice, Gary represented clients in a variety of matters ranging from investment fraud and lawyer and accountant malpractice to insurance coverage claims, will contests, trust disputes, healthcare issues, employment disputes, and class actions. Many of his cases involved securities, shareholder, partnership, antitrust, trade practice, or elder abuse claims. He also assisted the Oregon Law Center in class actions for forestry and farm workers and represented the Columbia River Tribes in preserving their treaty rights to live along the Columbia River.

Gary serves as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and the Arbitration Service of Portland, and at times serves as a mediator in all types of commercial disputes.

An experienced trial lawyer who handles both hourly and contingent fee cases, Steve has expertise in class actions, environmental clean-up litigation, antitrust litigation, securities litigation, corporate disputes, intellectual property disputes, unfair competition claims, and disputes involving family wealth. Steve regularly represents individuals and businesses in federal and state court and has obtained class-wide recovery in multiple class actions. A veteran practitioner, Steve’s clients value his creative approach to resolving complex litigation matters.

Robert was one of the original firm founders. He retired from the practice of law but still maintains an office where he spends his time working on political matters for both governmental and private agencies. Robert’s original vision of the firm still holds true today, a progressive firm that puts clients first.

In his legal career, he tried over 150 jury and non-jury cases in state and federal courts, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Although these covered a wide range in both criminal and civil law, most of his practice focused on very large and complex financial litigation, including numerous securities, antitrust, and class actions cases.

Over the years, he has been honored by numerous awards by the state and federal bar associations as well as other non-legal related groups.

As the firm’s former co-managing shareholder for over 20 years, Keith has been instrumental in the growth of the firm. Keith is an experienced trial lawyer who represents institutional investors, government entities, and individuals in complex real estate litigation, securities class actions, and other large-scale litigation. Keith brings a unique perspective to his cases in that he represents victims of financial fraud and, in other instances, defends select clients who face allegations of financial or securities fraud. Consequently, his practice provides him a particularly useful perspective that is helpful in counseling clients as to the merits and risks of their specific cases.

His representation as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oregon has involved individual securities fraud cases as well as class cases, including against Marsh, BNY Mellon, JP Morgan and Oppenheimer. Keith just completed, as lead class counsel, a securities fraud class action lawsuit against Deloitte, TD Ameritrade and 4 other law firms and professional firms. The $235 million settlement is the largest securities recovery in Oregon history and was recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a Case of the Year for 2019.

He is currently serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oregon in litigation against Monsanto for damages to the state’s public trust resources from PCB contamination, the City of Seattle, and two other states in PCB litigation against Monsanto. Keith is also currently representing victims of the Oregon 2020 wildfires against PacificCorp and Pacific Power.

Keith’s clients value his counsel for his unique ability to envision and structure creative resolutions to complicated legal matters, particularly in multi-party litigation. Keith’s intuition and warm personality make him especially effective as an advocate in the federal and state courthouses where he regularly appears.

Tim is a tenacious and passionate litigator with more than 30 years’ experience litigating complex cases. Tim has been a lead attorney on numerous high-stakes and high-profile cases, including the trial of the first wildfires class action in history against PacifiCorp, in which the jury found in favor of the class after a two-month trial; and the Aequitas Ponzi scheme class action, in which Tim and his team recovered $234.6 million for investors, which is believed to be the largest recovery in a securities case in Oregon history. He is currently representing investors in a $100 million proposed breach of contract class action against NuScale Power and Fluor Corporation and a $1 billion GPB Funds Ponzi scheme class action, in which Tim is lead counsel for the claims against the auditors.

Tim’s practice focuses on class action, securities, complex business and intellectual property litigation matters. Tim regularly litigates matters involving securities and financial fraud, Ponzi schemes, stockbroker malpractice, and violations of state and federal securities statues; patent infringement, trademark infringement, trade secrets and copyright infringement; consumer class actions; and shareholder derivative and fiduciary duty claims.

Prior to joining the firm, Tim held a two-year clerkship with Hon. Robert E. Jones of the United States District Court (Oregon). He is listed in and has received several awards and recognitions including Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation “Local Litigation Star,” “Lawyer of the Year, Portland – Patent Litigation” The Best Lawyers in America®, and “Top 50” Oregon Super Lawyers.