Emilie K. Edling

Practice Experience

Emilie Edling is a member of both the Litigation Department's trial practice group and the appellate team. Her practice focuses on complex business disputes, including product liability defense and construction defect claims. She also has experience representing clients on appeals, both in state and federal courts, and has handled arbitration proceedings.

Emilie has developed a significant area of expertise in punitive damages law. In the past two years, she has defeated (at the pleading stage) plaintiffs' efforts to obtain punitive damages in nearly every motion she's handled. Her efforts have kept punitive damages at bay in medical malpractice cases, vicarious liability sexual abuse cases brought against schools or religious organizations; and in construction defect cases. Defeating these punitive damages claims directly improved her clients' positions during settlement negotiations and assisted her clients in obtaining a favorable settlement. Additionally, Emilie is experienced in handling punitive damages through trial and post-trial proceedings, and is well-versed in the constitutional issues that can be raised to minimize or avoid punitive damages awards. Her successful motion to bifurcate the punitive damages phase of a trial for one manufacturing client meant that prejudicial evidence was kept from the jury until after the jury first determined liability, a move that assisted co-counsel in obtaining a complete defense verdict in a case involving a highly sympathetic plaintiff.

As the junior member of the appellate team at Bullivant Houser Bailey, and prior to joining the firm, Emilie has been involved in the briefing of several appeals. She has served as the lead appellate attorney for Oregon appeals that are currently awaiting disposition, and she advises her colleagues on preservation issues that may impact their clients' appellate rights. Emilie's trial achievements include a recent defense verdict obtained in a six-figure premises liability case involving permanent injuries. Emilie proved at trial that her client diligently and carefully maintained its property. The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict after less than ten minutes of deliberation.

Emilie's product liability experience includes representing manufacturers in the medical device industry, farm equipment and tractor manufacturers, and manufacturers of construction products such as EIFS and other types of siding. She also has experience representing general contractors in construction defect litigation.

During law school, Emilie successfully first-chaired several jury trials as a Law Student Advocate for the Lane County District Attorney's Office. After graduation, she served as a clerk to the Honorable Larry Hicks, United States District Court, District of Nevada. She worked at a large Portland law firm for two years prior to joining Bullivant. Currently, Emilie operates as co-chair on the OSB Diversity Section Convocation on Equality Subcommittee. She also serves on the OSB Diversity Section Executive Committee, volunteers with Basic Rights Oregon and other affiliated organizations, and is a member of Bullivant's Diversity Committee.