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Dennis P. Rawlinson

Executive Committee and Board Member of First Growth Children and Families Charities, former President of the Oregon State Bar (2006), and voted among the Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation.

Title: Partner
Location: Portland

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Professional Experience

Dennis P. Rawlinson concentrates his practice on commercial litigation. He has 30 years of trial experience in state and federal courts in the Pacific Northwest. He has handled a substantial number of trials and arbitrations on a wide range of commercial subjects, such as breach of contract, commercial torts, construction and design, shareholder disputes, lender liability, real estate, professional negligence, employment, and trademark disputes. Recent cases handled include a multimillion-dollar recovery arising from construction and design claims, a multimillion-dollar recovery relating to professional malpractice, successful defense of a financial institution from multimillion-dollar lender liability claims, successful defense of independent directors from claims of breach of fiduciary duty and related claims, and a multimillion-dollar recovery in the telecommunications industry arising from claims of breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, and fraud.

Denny was the 2006 president of the Oregon State Bar, is the founder of the Litigation Institute and Retreat (annual seminar for seasoned Oregon lawyers), has been selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America, is a recommended commercial litigation lawyer by Chambers USA and the Association of Corporate Counsel, and is a frequent writer and speaker on litigation topics.

Denny has had considerable experience working with the media and has been interviewed on client-related matters by Diane Sawyer, Connie Chung, and Katie Couric.

Professional Activities

President, Oregon State Bar (2006)
Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation, Association of Corporate Counsel (2005-present)
Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (2005 - present)
Recommended Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Chambers USA (2005-present)
Recommended Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Association of Corporate Counsel (2005-present)
Selected as a Top 50 "Super Lawyer" (2006-present)
Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (2005-present)
Member, International Association of Defense Counsel (2006-present)
Chair, ABA Section of Litigation Committee on National Institutes (2008-present)
Member, ABA Section of Litigation, Credit Crisis National Institutes (2009-present)
Division Director, ABA Section of Litigation (2006-2008)
Cochair, ABA Section of Litigation National Institute Committee (2008-2009)
Cochair, ABA Section of Litigation Trial Evidence Committee (2003-2006)
Member, OSB Board of Governors (2002-2006)
Chair, OSB Litigation Institute and Retreat (1993-present)
Cochair, ABA Commercial and Business Litigation Committee (2000-2003)
Chair, Multnomah Bar Association Judicial Screening Committee (1997-2000)
Chair and Executive Committee Member, OSB Litigation Section (1992-present)
Managing Editor and Columnist, OSB Litigation Journal (1992-present)
Managing Editor and Columnist, ABA Trial Evidence Journal (2004-2006)
Managing Editor and Columnist, ABA Commercial and Business Litigation (1998-2003)
Multnomah County Bar Association Service Award (2000)
Litigation Section Service Award (1999)
OSB Membership Service Award (1995)
Columnist, ABA Commercial and Business Litigation Newsletter (1998-2003)
Managing Editor, OSB Oregon Commercial Practice Manual (1988-1995)
Cochair, ABA Civil Discovery Standards Task Force (1997-2000)
Member, ABA Civil Trial Standards Task Force (1996-1997)
Board and Executive Committee Member, U.S. District Court Historical Society (1997-2000)
Master, Owen M. Panner American Inns of Court (1997-present)
Member, OSB Strategic Planning Committee (1998-2000)
Member, OSB House of Delegates (1999-2006)
Listed in Law & Politics magazine as an Oregon "Super Lawyer" (Commercial Litigation 2006-present)
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2006-present directories

Civic Activities

Former Chair and Present Executive Committee and Board Member, First Growth Children and Families Charities dba Classic Wine Auction Board

Member of the Board of Trustees and Bylaw and Governance Committee member, Portland Art Museum

Board Member, Oregon Independent College Foundation; Chair, "Ethics Bowl," an annual event promoting competition between Oregon private colleges on the topic of ethical conduct in business

Executive Committee and Board Member, Portland Business Alliance

Former President and Trustee of the Multnomah Athletic Club

Former President and Director of the Rotary Club of Portland

Former President and Director of Arlington Club

Former President and Director of Portland Opera Association

Former Chair, Rose Garden Handicapped Children's Park (Washington Park)

Education
Denny earned his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, at the University of Notre Dame, and his master's degree in business administration and his law degree, cum laude, at Cornell University.

Personal Activities
Denny is a former boxer and marathon runner (Boston 1988) and also enjoys wine collecting, whitewater rafting, and backpacking.

Presentations and Publications

Denny has written a number of articles (usually in connection with seminars) on litigation topics, including the following by way of example:

"Point Counterpoint: Practical Advice from Practical Lawyers" (ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Summer 2007)
"Anatomy of a Trial"—Fundamentals of Oregon Civil Trial Procedures seminar (1999-present)
Column dealing with litigation topics, such as opening and closing statements, jury selection, direct and cross-examination techniques, and evidentiary issues (Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal, 1992-present); ABA Trial Evidence journal, 2004-2006; ABA Commercial & Business Litigation newsletter, 1998-2003)
"Old Dogs and New Tricks for Direct Examination" (Spring 2005, ABA Litigation magazine)
"Old Dogs and New Tricks" (ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Spring 2005)
"Written in Stone? A Fresh Look at 10 Commandments of Trial Practice" (American Bar Association Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Spring 2004)
Preparing for and Defending Depositions (Oregon State Bar, 1999-2003)
Civil Practice Discovery Standards (Co-chair for American Bar Association Section of Litigation committee, 1998-2000)
Civil Trial Practice Standards (American Bar Association Section of Litigation task force, 1997-1999)
"Economic Damages and the Use of Experts" (Oregon State Bar seminar, October 1998)
"The Internet Olympics" (ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Spring 2001)
"Internet Games" (ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Spring 2002)
"Litigating in the 21st Century" and "Resurrecting the Smoking Gun—How to Find and Recover Deleted Evidence" (ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Spring 2003)
"Electronic Discovery/Spoliation" (ABA Section of Litigation Annual Meeting, Spring 2006)
Faculty Member; National Institute of Trial Advocacy Trial and Deposition Seminars and Oregon State Bar Trial Advocacy College