Jeff Edelson

Over his career, Jeff has handled over 2,000 cases as a civil litigator. He has represented individuals and corporate clients in business, corporate, real estate, construction, securities, and employment disputes, emphasizing competitive injury, trade secrets, and other business torts and contracts. His deep knowledge of countless business sectors and experience in and out of court for plaintiffs and defendants make Jeff uniquely qualified to help litigants find creative mediated solutions to difficult business, employment, real estate, and other civil disputes.

As a mediator, Jeff grasps complex legal concepts and factual nuances. He is patient, inquisitive, and creative. He cultivates an environment where the parties are heard and respected. Court dockets are suffering historically long backlogs, and effective mediations are more important than ever. Jeff works with lawyers and their clients to create the best opportunities to settle their cases without trials and appeals.

Since 2012, Jeff has been ranked by Best Lawyers in America for alternative dispute resolution and business litigation. Since 2011, Oregon Super Lawyers has recognized him for commercial litigation and employment law for both individuals and management. He is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation Plaintiff's Edition as a Litigation Star, and ranked AV® Preeminent Peer Rated by Martindale Hubbell.

Jeff currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Mediation Association and is an Emeritus board member for the Lawyers’ Campaign for Equal Justice.

After graduating from the Villanova School of Law in 1986, Jeff served as a staff attorney for Delaware County Legal Assistance Association in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he represented indigent clients primarily in bankruptcy, public housing, and healthcare. In 1988, he became a member of the Oregon State Bar and served as a staff attorney for Marion-Polk Legal Aid Service in Salem, Oregon. From 1988 to 1989, Jeff served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge George E. Juba. In 1991, Jeff served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Owen M. Panner, until joining Markowitz Herbold later that year. Jeff has completed comprehensive mediation training programs through the United States District Court, the Multnomah County Circuit Court and at the renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law.

In addition to private mediations, Jeff conducts monthly mediations pro bono for Multnomah County small claims cases. Jeff is also frequently selected to serve as an arbitrator through Arbitration Services of Portland.

Jeff chairs the firm’s pro bono committee, and is a frequent lecturer for continuing legal education programs for lawyers, including sessions on mediation for lawyers and the legal ethics of mediation.