Michael Farrell

Practice Areas

Mr. Farrell has represented clients in civil litigation in Oregon and Washington federal and state courts for over 35 years. He focuses his practice in the areas of defense of commercial litigation, gig economy, transportation, insurance, financial institutions, insurance coverage, and general litigation. This includes compliance review and advice for federal and state laws and regulations impacting his clients.  He acts as local counsel for many clients in coordination with national counsel.

Education

Mr. Farrell received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Oregon, his Juris Doctorate from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law, and his Masters in Taxation (LL.M) from Georgetown University Law Center.

Court Admissions

Mr. Farrell is admitted to practice law in Oregon and Washington and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court of Oregon, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington.  He has also defended cases in Alaska as pro hac vice.

Professional Recognition and Affiliations

Mr. Farrell is a member of the American Bar Association, the Oregon State Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the Multnomah County Bar Association, the Seattle-King County Bar Association, the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (“OADC”) and the Defense Research Institute (“DRI”). He is also the firm’s liaison to The Harmonie Group.  He has been selected as a Super Lawyer in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Mr. Farrell’s community activities have included memberships on the board of directors or board of advisors for many non-profit organizations, including St. Aidan’s Place, the Orton Dyslexia Society, Fundamentals of Written Language, Inc., Old McDonald’s Farm, and Free Flight Bird and Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center.  He is currently the President and a Board Member of the Meadows Race Team, a non-profit ski team for 300 youth athletes.

Representative Cases

  • Defending insurance companies and their insureds in property and casualty, commercial general liability, and coverage matters, including: defense of motor vehicle operators and insurers; defense of religious institutions and insurers in sexual abuse cases; defense of construction contractors, subcontractors, and their insurers in construct defect and lien foreclosure cases; and defending insurance guaranty association in liability and coverage cases.
  • Defending gig economy companies and drivers in dozens of personal injury actions throughout Oregon and Washington.
  • Defending trucking and transportation cases throughout Oregon and Washington.
  • Defending financial institutions against claims alleging violations of the Federal Truth in Lending Act, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act, and the Oregon Unlawful Debt Collection Practices Act.
  • Defending financial institutions in mortgage foreclosure lawsuits arising under federal and state laws, including claims involving MERS, injunctive relief, and challenges to standing.
  • Successfully representing clients on appeals before the Oregon Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, the Washington Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Washington, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Farrell has represented clients in civil litigation in Oregon and Washington federal and state courts for over 35 years. He focuses his practice in the areas of defense of commercial litigation, gig economy, transportation, insurance, financial institutions, insurance coverage, and general litigation. This includes compliance review and advice for federal and state laws and regulations impacting his clients.  He acts as local counsel for many clients in coordination with national counsel.

Education

Mr. Farrell received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Oregon, his Juris Doctorate from the Catholic University Columbus School of Law, and his Masters in Taxation (LL.M) from Georgetown University Law Center.

Court Admissions

Mr. Farrell is admitted to practice law in Oregon and Washington and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court of Oregon, and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington.  He has also defended cases in Alaska as pro hac vice.

Professional Recognition and Affiliations

Mr. Farrell is a member of the American Bar Association, the Oregon State Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the Multnomah County Bar Association, the Seattle-King County Bar Association, the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (“OADC”) and the Defense Research Institute (“DRI”). He is also the firm’s liaison to The Harmonie Group.  He has been selected as a Super Lawyer in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Mr. Farrell’s community activities have included memberships on the board of directors or board of advisors for many non-profit organizations, including St. Aidan’s Place, the Orton Dyslexia Society, Fundamentals of Written Language, Inc., Old McDonald’s Farm, and Free Flight Bird and Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center.  He is currently the President and a Board Member of the Meadows Race Team, a non-profit ski team for 300 youth athletes.

Representative Cases

  • Defending insurance companies and their insureds in property and casualty, commercial general liability, and coverage matters, including: defense of motor vehicle operators and insurers; defense of religious institutions and insurers in sexual abuse cases; defense of construction contractors, subcontractors, and their insurers in construct defect and lien foreclosure cases; and defending insurance guaranty association in liability and coverage cases.
  • Defending gig economy companies and drivers in dozens of personal injury actions throughout Oregon and Washington.
  • Defending trucking and transportation cases throughout Oregon and Washington.
  • Defending financial institutions against claims alleging violations of the Federal Truth in Lending Act, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act, and the Oregon Unlawful Debt Collection Practices Act.
  • Defending financial institutions in mortgage foreclosure lawsuits arising under federal and state laws, including claims involving MERS, injunctive relief, and challenges to standing.
  • Successfully representing clients on appeals before the Oregon Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, the Washington Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Washington, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Contact Us
Office Address
  • 620 SW Fifth Ave, Suite 300
    Portland, Oregon 97204
  • Monday - Friday
    9:00AM - 5:00PM

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