Practice areas

Insurance defense.

The core of our practice is the defense of individual Oregonians, and Oregon businesses large and small, who have been sued in state or federal court.  Over the course of his nearly 20 years in practice,  Jim Chaney has defended engineers, architects, contractors, long haul truckers, realtors, appraisers, psychotherapists, medical doctors, chiropractors, podiatrists, loggers, developers, car rental companies, retail stores, tire and auto manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies … as well as scores of ordinary Oregonians who have had the misfortune of being sued.  While most of our engagements in these areas come from insurers across the country, we welcome your inquiries regarding direct retentions.

Business disputes.

Unfortunately, competition and the drive to succeed in the business world sometimes give rise to disputes between rival businesses, between partners or shareholders within a business, or between a business and one of its employees. Business litigation can be a draining experience, in every sense of the term, in that it can be an emotional roller coaster, a cause of profound (or even fatal) disruption to day to day business, or a financial black hole -- or in the worst case, all three.  In the firm's business litigation practice, we advocate zealously for your cause, while striving to guide you through these pitfalls to a successful result, in the most cost-effective way possible.

Logging and timber claims.

Given the historical role of timber in Oregon’s economy, and the dangerous and demanding process through which growing trees become finished products, it’s not surprising that quite a few legal disputes arise in the woods.  Cutting over the line, outright timber theft, OROSHA violations, forest fires, log landing accidents, claimed violations of Oregon’s Forest Practices Act, mill accidents … all of these things can and do give rise to the need for dedicated, experienced legal counsel familiar with your industry.  Mr. Chaney has handled cases in each of these areas.

Victims of the wrongdoing of others.

While most of the practice focuses on the defense of civil litigation, we accept a limited number of select cases on behalf of people who have suffered injury – physical harm, emotional harm, or monetary loss – as the result of the wrongful conduct of others.  Should you wish to contact us about your claim, we will immediately evaluate your case, and perform a thorough check for conflicts of interest to ensure that we can move forward with your case.  In any case where we choose not to undertake representation, we will be more than happy to refer you to other fine lawyers in this community who may be able to help.