Jeff Edelson
Jeff Edelson has recently pivoted his practice to focus on serving as a full-time mediator and arbitrator. During his more than 35 years as a litigator, Jeff handled and resolved more than 2,000 civil cases. Jeff has represented individuals and corporate clients in business, corporate, real estate, construction, securities, and employment disputes, with an emphasis on competitive injury, trade secrets, and other business torts and contracts. His deep knowledge of countless business sectors, and his experience in and out of court for plaintiffs and defendants, make Jeff uniquely qualified to help litigants find creative solutions to difficult business, employment, real estate, and other civil disputes.
As a mediator, Jeff easily grasps complex legal concepts and factual nuances. He is patient, inquisitive, and empathetic; and he is not afraid to challenge lawyers to make their case. 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.
Jeff is ranked by the publications Best Lawyers in America and Oregon Super Lawyers as a top rated Portland attorney in business litigation. He is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation Plaintiff's Edition as a Litigation Star. Jeff is an active member of the Oregon Mediation Association.
After graduating from the Villanova School of Law, 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 chairs the firm’s pro bono committee. He is a former board member and membership chair for the Oregon chapter of the Federal Bar Association, a former board member and current emeritus board member for the Lawyers’ Campaign for Equal Justice, and a board member of a number of community organizations. Jeff is a frequent lecturer for continuing legal education programs for lawyers, including sessions on mediation for lawyers and the legal ethics of mediation.
Representative Cases
Memberships, Affiliations & Honors
- Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, 2011 – present
- Super Lawyer, Oregon Super Lawyers, 2012 – present
- Arbitrator and Mediator, Arbitration Services of Portland
- Former board member, Campaign for Equal Justice
- Board member, Kesser Israel
- Board of Directors, Lake Oswego Corporation
- Board member, Federal Bar Association, Oregon chapter; Membership Chair, 2009 – 2013
- Former member, Judicial Screening Committee, Multnomah Bar Association
- Former board member, Co-chair of Mid-Size Law Firm Committee, Campaign for Equal Justice
- Lecturer, trade secrets and non-competition agreements, mediation, and trial practice
Admitted to Practice
- Oregon
- Washington
- Pennsylvania (inactive)
- U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
- U.S District Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Third Circuit Court of Appeals
- Oregon Court of Appeals
- Oregon Supreme Court
Events
Education
- Villanova University School of Law — J.D.
- Lafayette College — B.A.
News
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