Samuel C. "Sam" Kauffman

Nicole has defended individuals and businesses in a wide variety of complex litigation matters over her 22-year legal career, including trucking and automobile liability, liquor liability, legal malpractice, and hospitality and hotel-related claims. She is a strong advocate for her clients and an experienced and effective trial/arbitration attorney. Nicole is often retained to defend cases which are of a sensitive nature, such as defending businesses in vicarious liability claims involving se...

Julie is a trial attorney specializing in business and real estate disputes, banking litigation, and insurance coverage disputes. She enjoys a reputation among her colleagues for success in the court room. She has long held an AV peer rating with Martindale-Hubbell. Since 2007 she has been named by her peers to the top five percent of all business litigation attorneys in the State of Oregon in the annual publication of Super Lawyers. She has also been selected by her peers for inclusion in Th...

Jeffrey S. Frasier is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Jeffrey S., who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael J. (Sam) Sandmire Partner Sam Sandmire's practice is focused on complex business, product liability, personal injury, and employment litigation and counseling. Sam defends and prosecutes claims in a wide range of business disputes and defends insured and self-insured manufacturers in product liability, class action, consumer fraud, construction and mass tort litigation. He has litigated toxic exposure, catastrophic injury, and multi-state consumer fraud claims on behalf of manufacture...

Thomas S. Hillier is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Thomas S., who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marisa Meltebeke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Nonprofit / Charities Law and Tax Law. Marisa, who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marisa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Teresa Foster is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Teresa, who practices law in Vancouver, Washington, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Teresa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael W. Shackelford is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s Portland office and a Member of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group. Mr. Shackelford’s corporate practice focuses on counseling and business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, equity financings and joint ventures for privately-held and family-owned businesses in a variety of industries, including the technology, manufacturing, healthcare, bioscience and food processing industries.

Karen O’Kasey’s trial practice focuses on defending employers and medical professionals in state and federal courts in both Oregon and Washington. She has represented employers in all types of employment discrimination claims brought in federal and state court. In addition to defending private employers, Ms. O’Kasey has extensive experience defending municipalities against all types of tort claims, including Section 1983 claims, First Amendment claims, and public accommodati...

Elaine R. Albrich is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. Elaine R., who practices law in Portland, Oregon, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elaine R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.