Enter legal issue and location
Thomas W. Brown - Portland, OR
900 SW Fifth Avenue24th Floor Portland, OR 97204
Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP
Updated: 03/19/2019
Your Profile? Update Now
Portland Appellate & Litigation Support Lawyer
Overview
Thom Brown joined Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP in 1981. He was its managing partner from 1994 to 2010 and remains chair of the firm's multi-sector litigation practice group. Thom's practice focuses on civil appeals in state and federal courts, insurance coverage opinions and litigation, and professional liability defense...
Thom Brown joined Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP in 1981. He was its managing partner from 1994 to 2010 and remains chair of the firm's multi-sector litigation practice group. Thom's practice focuses on civil appeals in state and federal courts, insurance coverage opinions and litigation, and professional liability defense...
Thom Brown joined Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP in 1981. He was its managing partner from 1994 to 2010 and remains chair of the firm's multi-sector litigation practice group. Thom's practice focuses on civil appeals in state and federal courts, insurance coverage opinions and litigation, and professional liability defense. He is an approved arbitrator for the Arbitration Service of Portland and an approved mediator for the Oregon Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
About Thomas W. Brown
Practice Areas
- Appellate & Litigation Support
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Coverage Opinions & Litigation
- Employment Litigation
- Professional Liability
Litigation
- 100%
Current Employment Position(s)
- Special Counsel
Year Joined Firm
- 1981
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Oregon, 1980
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1980
- U.S. District Court District of Oregon, 1980
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1989
- Washington, 2002
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington, 2007
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 2011
Other Affiliations
- Oregon Association (Defense Counsel OADC)
- Multnomah Bar Association ((MBA), )
- American Academy of Appellate Lawyers (Fellow)
- Litigation Counsel of America (emeritus) (Fellow)
- Owen M. Panner American Inn of Court (emeritus) (Master)
- United States Supreme Court Historical Society (Member)
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Historical Society (Member)
- Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (Member)
- Boards of the OSB Appellate Practice Section Executive Committee, 1997 - 1998 (CLE Subcommittee Chair)
- OSB Appellate Practice Section Executive Committee (Secretary, 1998-1999)
- OSB Appellate Practice Section Executive Committee (Chair-Elect, 2000-01; Chair, 2001-02)
- OSB ADR Section Executive Committee (Member, 2013)
- MBA (Secretary, 2005-06)
- MBA (President-Elect, 2006-07; President, 2007-08; and Past President, 2008-09)
- ALFA International (ALFA) (Former member of the Board of Directors)
- ALFA Finance Committee (Past member)
- ALFA Strategic Planning Committee and Insurance Law Practice Group (Current member)
- ALFA Strategic Planning Committee and Insurance Law Practice Group (Vice-Chair, 2011-13, Chair 2013-2015)
- ALFA Strategic Planning Committee and Insurance Law Practice Group (Chair Emeritus, 2015 – 2017)
- Multnomah County Circuit Court (Pro tem judge)
Education
- Lewis and Clark College Northwestern School of Law, Portland, Oregon, 1980
J.D. - University of Texas, 1974
B.S.
Major: Radio/Television/Film
Past Positions
- Honorable William Richardson of the Oregon Court of Appeals, Clerked, 1980 - 1981
- Multnomah County Circuit Court, Pro Tem Judge, 1997 - 2000
- Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP, managing partner, 1994 - 2010
Pro Bono Activities
- Board of Directors of ALFA International (ALFA), the oldest and largest network of domestic and international law firms.
- Past-Chair of the Classroom Law Project (CLP) Board of Directors, 1999 - 2016
- Board of Directors for Columbia Edgewater Country Club
- Board of Directors for Multnomah Bar Foundation
- Lewis and Clark Law School Board of Visitors
Classes and Seminars
- Collaborative Law and the Vanishing Jury Trial, Panelist, Multnomah Bar Association debate, 2010 - Present
- Exiting the Partnership, ALFA Annual Business Meeting , 2010 - Present
- Punitive Damages, Panelist, Chartis Insurance Company Defense Panel Program, 2010 - Present
- Bridging the Generations , Oregon State Bar's Future of the Profession Symposium, 2008 - Present
- Attorney Liability for Client's Breach of Fiduciary Duty after Reynolds v. Schrock, Professional Liability Fund Panel Conference , 2007 - Present
- Popular Strategies and Tactics in Mediation: Which Work and Why?, Panelist, ALFA International, International Client Seminar, - 2013
- Adjunct professor, Lewis and Clark Law School in its legal writing department
- “Implications of Recent Oregon Supreme Court Decisions”, Presented at CLE hosted by the Oregon State Bar and cosponsored by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, October, 2016
- “Popular Strategies and Tactics in Mediation: Which Work and Why?”, Panelist, ALFA International, International Client Seminar, March, 2013
- “Collaborative Law and the Vanishing Jury Trial”, Panelist, Multnomah Bar Association debate, April, 2010
- “Exiting the Partnership”, ALFA Annual Business Meeting, October, 2010
- “Punitive Damages”, Panelist, Chartis Insurance Company Defense Panel Program, June, 2010
- “Bridging the Generations”, Oregon State Bar’s Future of the Profession Symposium, September, 2008
- “Attorney Liability for Client’s Breach of Fiduciary Duty after Reynolds v. Schrock”, Professional Liability Fund Panel Conference, 2007
- “E-Discovery Strategies and Document Retention- Panel”, ALFA NW Regional Seminar, 2007
- “Learning the Ropes”, Panelist on Professionalism for the PLF’s annual 3-day program for new lawyers, 2007
- “Appellate Update”, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC) Fall Seminar, 2006
- “Attorney Liability”, Oregon Law Institute (OLI), 2006
- “Bridging the Gap Between Boomers and Gen-Xrs”, ALFA Annual Business Meeting, October, 2006
- “Williams v. Philip Morris”, Interview by CBS radio regarding punitive damages case pending in the U.S. Supreme Court to be argued October 31, 2006
- “Recent Appellate Cases”, Speaker, Oregon State Bar Products Liability Section, 2005
- “Retaining Gen X Attorneys”, Speaker, ALFA Annual Business Meeting, 2005
- “Appellate Update”, Speaker, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, 2004
- “MBA Effective Delegation Program”, Speaker, 2004
- “The Auto Liability Policy/Excess and Umbrella Coverage”, Speaker, OSB, Auto Coverage and Litigation Program, 2004
- “Civil Litigation Timelines”, PLF Loss Prevention Materials, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009
- “Standard Definitions”, OSB Insurance Law, 2003
- “What the Court Wants in Briefs”, Speaker, Oregon Law Institute, Appellate Courts Program, 2003
- “Appellate Update”, OADC Annual Program, 2002
- “Briefing Merits in Court of Appeals”, OSB Appeal & Review, 2002
- “Acquisition, Retention and Disclosure of Claim Information”, Speaker, Oregon Casualty Adjusters Association Program, 2001
- “Court of Appeals Review Standards”, Speaker, OLI Future of Oregon Appellate Courts Program, 2001
- “New Appellate Procedure Rules”, Speaker, OSB Appellate Practice Section Program, 2000
- “1999 Legislative and Case Update”, Speaker, OCAA Spring Symposium, 1999
- “Appeal Timelines/Attorney Fees”, PLF Loss Prevention Materials, 1999
- “Appellate Court Settlement Program”, Oregon Association of Legal Secretaries, 1999
- “Appellate Update”, Speaker, OADC Annual Program, 1999
- “Wrongful Initiation of Civil Proceedings Cases”, Speaker, PLF Defense Panel Conference, 1999
- “Briefing Merits in Court of Appeals”, OSB Appeal & Review, 1998
- “Appeals”, PLF In Brief, 1997
- “Statute of Limitations/Appeal Timelines”
- “Comparative Fault”, OSB Damages, 1995
Achievements
Other Sources of Feedback About Thomas W. Brown
Included on the 2023 Oregon list
Past Lists
- 2022 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2009 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2008 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2007 Oregon Super Lawyers list
- 2006 Oregon Super Lawyers list
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America in the specialties of Appellate Law , 2006 - 2011
- Oregon Super Lawyer, 2006 - 2016
- AV rated (highest rating) by the Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory's peer review for his ethical standards and legal ability.
- MBA Professionalism Award, 2013 - Present
- Best Lawyers in America as the 2014 “Portland, Oregon Lawyer of the Year”
- Best Lawyers in America in the specialties of Insurance Law, 2010 - 2016
Office Information
Address
900 SW Fifth Avenue24th Floor Portland, OR 97204
Phone
Fax
- (503) 323-9019
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Publication
Articles
- May it Please the Court, Measure 51 Multnomah Lawyer, 2008
- Law Day at 50, The Rule of Law and A Plug for CourtCare, Multnomah Lawyer, 2008
- Mentoring: It's More Important Now Than Ever”, Multnomah Lawyer, 2008
- My 15 Minutes of Fame, So Many to Thank, the Year Ahead and a Link in a Chain”, Multnomah Lawyer, 2008
- “Oregon’s Duty to Defend Rules: Proper Application in the Summary Judgment Context and the Proper Role of Casey v. N.W. Security Ins. Co.“, Client Update, ALFA International, Insurance Practice Group Property and Casualty Insurance Sub-Group, June 2013
- “Oregon’s Unique Approach to Punitive Damages Awards”, Client Update, ALFA International, Insurance Practice Group Property and Casualty Insurance Sub-Group, August, 2012
- “May it Please the Court and Measure 51”, Multnomah Lawyer, May, 2008
- “Law Day at 50, The Rule of Law and A Plug for CourtCare”, Multnomah Lawyer, April, 2008
- “Mentoring: It’s More Important Now Than Ever”, Multnomah Lawyer, March, 2008
- “My 15 Minutes of Fame, So Many to Thank, the Year Ahead and a Link in a Chain”, Multnomah Lawyer, June, 2008
- “Pro Bono (and a Well-Deserved Recognition)”, Multnomah Lawyer, January, 2008
- “The Vanishing Civil Jury Trial and Experienced Judge”, Multnomah Lawyer, February, 2008
- “A Crumbling Courthouse Puts the Entire Community in Jeopardy”, Multnomah Lawyer, October, 2007
- “Bridging the Gap to the Future”, Multnomah Lawyer, November, 2007
- “Civil Litigation Practice Guides”, Reviewed, edited and supplemented various civil litigation practice guides for the PLF, 2007
- “Potpourri”, Multnomah Lawyer, December, 2007
- “The Satisfaction and Benefits from Giving to the Profession and the Community”, Multnomah Lawyer, September, 2007
- “Bridging the Generations”, co-author Multnomah Bar Association Task Force, 2006
- “Case Summaries”, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC) Fall Seminar, 2006
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.
Write Your Review
Fields marked with an * are required
Call us at (503) 219-3806
Firm Address
Phone:
Fax:
(503) 323-9019
