Julie A. Smith

Julie A. Smith

Portland, OR recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021
Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP

8 Best Lawyers awards

Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Appellate Practice Railroad Law
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Portland, OR.

Biography

Julie Smith is an appellate lawyer who also specializes in advising trial attorneys on litigation strategy and in drafting and arguing complex motions.

Before joining Cosgrave, she served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Trial and Appellate Divisions of the Oregon Department of Justice, where she twice received the department’s Outstanding Achievement Award. Prior to that, she clerked for the Honorable Virginia Linder of the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Appellate services include:

  • Reviewing the trial court record
  • Identifying appeal-worthy issues
  • Evaluating the merits of a potential appeal
  • Participating in appellate mediation
  • Developing a strategy for an appeal
  • Writing appellate briefs, including amicus briefs
  • Presenting oral argument

Litigation support services include:

  • Identifying and analyzing complex legal issues
  • Consulting on litigation strategy
  • Drafting and arguing dispositive motions
  • Drafting and arguing trial submissions, including trial memoranda, jury instructions, motions in limine, verdict forms, and directed-verdict motions
  • Drafting and arguing post-trial motions, including motions for new trial
  • Attending trial to ensure that a proper trial court record is made and that specific issues are properly preserved for appeal
Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP

8 Best Lawyers awards

Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP logo

Overview

  • University of Oregon, J.D., graduated 1998

  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar , 1998

  • the United States Supreme Court
  • the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • the United States District Court of Oregon
  • Oregon, Oregon State Bar , 1998
  • University of Oregon, J.D., graduated 1998
  • the United States Supreme Court
  • the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • the United States District Court of Oregon

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Appellate Practice
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Appellate Practice, Portland, OR (2026)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Appellate Practice
  • Railroad Law

Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.

Please use the print button to print this profile page.

Spinning circle Big letter B