Stephen F. English

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Intellectual Property
• Product Litigation and Regulation
• Professional Liability
• Securities Litigation

Industries

• Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law

Bar/Court Admissions

Admitted in Oregon State and Federal Courts, pro hac vice admissions in Alaska, Washington, and California

Education

• University of California, Hastings College of the Law - J.D.
• Honors College, University of Oregon - B.A.

Experience

Steve English is recognized nationally and in Oregon as a premiere litigator and trusted business advisor. He has broad experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes cases and handles sensitive, high-risk matters for both individuals and corporate clients, large and small.

Steve is recognized by Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business as "a tremendous advocate" among trial lawyers nationwide in 2008. In Oregon, Chambers USA stated that Steve "has a reputation as one of the state's top litigators…exceptional frontman for the firm." Chambers USA reported that clients said, "there's no better trial lawyer in the state." His clients told the publication that he "is an experienced and consistent lawyer who is impressive in front of a jury and has superb judgment." Best Lawyers in America listed Steve in several categories, including as one of the four top lawyers in the State for "Bet the Company Litigation" and in "Commercial Litigation." He has been consistently ranked in the top 10 lawyers in Oregon by Super Lawyers. In 2007, Steve was named a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization whose membership is limited to 500 lawyers. He also is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), which comprises the top 1 percent of the trial bar in the U.S. and Canada. He has been a member of the ACTL Oregon state committee since 2003.

Steve is the Director of the firm's Litigation Department and has more than 30 years of trial experience; he has successfully tried over 100 cases to verdict. His experience includes business disputes, commercial torts, trade secrets, securities, breach of contract, directors and officers liability, and product liability claims. He has served as national, regional and Oregon counsel for international businesses and manufacturers.

Since 1999, Steve has served as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors of Dr. Marten's Airwair USA, and also served its British parent company as a Member of the Board of Directors from 1999 through 2003, while the company successfully transitioned its manufacturing from the United Kingdom to Asia.

Representative Work

• Securities litigation
• Defense of a trade secret misappropriation
• Breach of lease for one of the nation's largest railroads
• Defense of "poison pill" claim
• Patent infringement and trade secrets defense of Portland-based company
• Business fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claim for Japanese investors
• Complex commercial dispute
• Largest investment manager fraud case in U.S. history - ERISA

Professional/Civic Involvement

• Board of Visitors, The National Judicial College
• Chair, Litigation Section, Oregon State Bar, 1990-91; Executive Committee, 1987-91
• Chair, Judicial Merit Selection Committee, US District Court of Oregon, for selection of US Magistrate to replace retiring US Magistrate Judge John Jelderks
• Faculty, Hastings College of Law Advocacy Program, Business Litigation Institute, 2000
• Faculty Member, Oregon State Bar Masters of Trial Advocacy, 1999-present
• Board of Directors, Portland Center Stage, 2005-2008