National trial attorney Renée Rothauge has built a powerful reputation representing clients in high-stakes, complex business litigation. With over 33 years of trial experience, she has earned the trust of regional, national, and global businesses representing and advancing their interests in true bet-the-company litigation.
Renée’s experience includes a substantial number of jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations in matters involving intellectual property, breached contracts, trade secrets, director and officer disputes, shareholder disputes, securities, real estate, fiduciaries, and trusts. She is known and respected for her acumen in advising clients on their national litigation strategies.
Clients have lauded her as “the best female trial lawyer in Oregon for commercial work” and an attorney whose eye is on “the big picture and strategy.” She is ranked in Band 1 among the top tier of Oregon trial attorneys by Chambers USA. Clients say, “We have never seen any attorney who has better litigation and leadership skills than Renée,” “She is so smart and tireless in her pursuit of giving her clients a force to be reckoned with in court,” “She is a well-organized and top-notch litigator,” and “Renée has excellent courtroom skills.”
Renée is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, representing the top 1% of the country’s trial bar. She is a former chair of the Oregon State Committee and serves on the National Mock Trial Competition committee and the Samuel E. Gates Litigation Award committee. Renée is an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), which requires 20 or more civil jury trials for admission as well as the highest professionalism in trial advocacy. She is on ABOTA’s National Board and is the president of the Oregon Chapter’s Executive Committee.
As a co-founder of the Rothauge & Kaner Women’s Trial Academy, Renée mentors women litigators to develop their trial skills. She also is a member of Pipeline Angels.
Portland’s Trial-Tested Team
Handling the most consequential, bet-the-company matters, we protect our clients’ reputations, brands, people, and other critical assets. We bring our institutional knowledge to a broad roster of companies across industries, including those from the education, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing sectors.
Ranked by Chambers USA 17 Years in a Row
Litigation: General Commercial
Intellectual Property, 2023
Professional Recognition
- Ranked by Chambers USA as “America’s Leading Lawyer” for Litigation: General Commercial, 2007 – 2023; Intellectual Property, 2023
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Associate Member
- Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2010 – 2024
- Recognized by Chambers USA, Band 1
- Women of Influence Honoree, Portland Business Journal, 2017
- Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers magazine, Top 50 Attorneys, 2012 – 2023
- Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers magazine, Top 25 Women Attorneys, 2006 – 2023
- Listed in Benchmark Litigation, Top 250 Women in Litigation, 2019
- President’s Membership Service Award, Oregon State Bar, 2014
- American College of Trial Lawyers’ Induction Ceremony, Class Responder, 2014
Professional Leadership
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Oregon State Committee Chair
- American College of Trial Lawyers, National Mock Trial Competition Committee Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates, President, Oregon Chapter, 2023
- Oregon State Bar Litigation Section, Executive Committee and Past Chair, 2012 – 2022
- Oregon State Bar Business Litigation Section, Past Chair
- Oregon State Bar Technology Law Section, Past Chair
Community Involvement
- Rothauge & Kaner Women’s Trial Academy, Sponsored by Oregon Women Lawyers
- Oregon Trial College, Member
- Pipeline Angels, Member
- Arlington Club, Finance Committee, Member
- Oregon Ballet Theatre, Trustee, 2005 – 2008