Charged with a Crime in Portland?
Multnomah County is widely regarded as one of the toughest DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants) jurisdictions in Oregon. The mandatory minimums, the implied-consent license suspensions, and the DA's filing patterns all favor early, aggressive defense. The right Portland firm will know the Multnomah County Circuit Court judges, the DUII diversion mechanics, and how to attack the breath-test and field-sobriety evidence before plea offers harden.
We've shortlisted 10 Portland criminal defense firms with documented Multnomah County trial wins, Oregon Super Lawyers recognition, and the experience to handle everything from first-time DUIIs to felony cases. Most charge a flat fee for misdemeanors and contested-case-by-case fees for felonies. Initial consultations are free.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo, AAML, AILA), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: DUII defense, criminal defense
Voted "Best DUII Law Firm in the Willamette Valley" three years running. Reynolds Defense is one of the largest DUII-only practices in Oregon, with substantial Multnomah and Washington County volume.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, DUII, personal injury
Oregon Super Lawyers; 5-star rated criminal defense and DUII attorneys serving Portland, Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties. Decades of trial experience.
Practice focus: DUII, criminal defense, expungement
Blake Doré has handled thousands of cases, hundreds of motions, and taken over 80 cases to jury trial. Particular focus on contested DUII cases where the breath-test or field-sobriety evidence is challengeable.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, DUII, federal cases
Adam Greenman began as a Multnomah County Deputy DA before going to defense work. The DA-side experience translates to deep knowledge of how the prosecution thinks at every stage of a case.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, expungement, post-conviction
Sandi Pellikaan is widely respected in the Portland defense bar — knowledgeable, measured, and particularly effective at expungements and post-conviction relief.
Practice focus: DUII, criminal defense
Robert Cleland is a long-tenured Portland DUII specialist with substantial Multnomah County trial experience. Deliberate small-volume practice — fewer cases, more partner attention.
Practice focus: DUII, criminal defense (Clackamas + Multnomah)
Cross-county DUII practice covering Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties. Strong Clackamas County trial record alongside Portland-area work.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, DUII, drug crimes
Portland boutique focused on drug-crime and DUII defense. Particular skill on motion-to-suppress practice — attacking the stop, the search, or the breath-test admissibility.
Practice focus: Criminal defense, federal cases, white-collar
Multi-attorney Portland firm capable on both state-court Multnomah County cases and federal District of Oregon matters. Best-fit for cases with federal exposure or white-collar elements.
Practice focus: Federal criminal defense, white-collar, complex cases
Top-tier Portland white-collar and federal-criminal defense boutique. Best-fit for high-stakes felony, federal grand jury, or complex investigation matters where premium representation is the right call.
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A typical Portland misdemeanor DUII case takes 4 to 8 months from arraignment to resolution. Step one is the arraignment in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Step two is the implied-consent administrative license hearing (must be requested within 10 days of the stop). Step three is pretrial motions — particularly motion to suppress if the stop or breath test is challengeable. Step four is plea negotiation, DUII Diversion application (for first-time eligible cases), or jury trial. Felony cases run longer: 6 to 18 months, often through grand jury and pretrial motion practice.
Portland DUII defense fees typically run $2,500 to $7,500 flat for first-time misdemeanor cases, with higher fees for contested matters that go to jury trial. Felony fees vary widely — $7,500 to $50,000+ depending on complexity. Federal cases regularly run $25,000 to $250,000+. A pure flat fee is the gold standard for misdemeanors; ask whether the fee includes the implied-consent hearing, motion practice, and trial — or whether those are billed separately.
Oregon DUII basics. Oregon's DUII statute (ORS 813.010) criminalizes driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, or while under the influence of any intoxicant. First-offense DUII is a Class A misdemeanor with mandatory minimums: 48 hours jail or 80 hours community service, $1,000 fine, 1-year license suspension, and required ignition interlock for one year after reinstatement.
DUII Diversion — once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Oregon offers DUII Diversion for first-time eligible offenders (ORS 813.200). Successfully completing diversion (treatment, fees, no further violations for one year) results in dismissal. You can only do diversion once in your life — the decision whether to take diversion or fight the case is consequential and time-sensitive.
Implied-consent and the 10-day rule. Refusing or failing the breath test triggers a separate administrative license suspension. You have just 10 days from the date of the arrest to request a DMV hearing — miss it and the suspension is automatic. Local DUII firms know to file within 24 hours.
Multnomah County — tough but fair. Multnomah County is widely considered Oregon's toughest DUII jurisdiction in terms of plea offers, but the judiciary is widely respected and motion practice is taken seriously. Local-bar firms know which judges grant suppression motions and which prosecutors will negotiate down.
The legal directories you find on Google list thousands of Portland criminal defense firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior attorney at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar-association recognition. “We've helped thousands of clients” is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate Portland lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most Portland firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Refusing triggers a longer license suspension (1 to 3 years depending on prior history) and an additional $650 fine — but it also denies the prosecution a key piece of evidence. The right answer depends on your circumstances. Talk to a DUII lawyer immediately.
A first-time-only program: complete treatment, pay fees, stay clean for a year, and the case is dismissed. You can only do diversion once in your lifetime. Whether to take it is a strategic decision — your lawyer should walk you through both paths.
Misdemeanor DUII convictions in Oregon are not eligible for expungement (ORS 137.225 excludes traffic crimes including DUII). A diversion-dismissed DUII can be set aside under different rules. This is one of the strongest arguments for fighting hard at the front end.
10 days from the date of arrest. Miss it and the suspension goes into effect automatically. This is the single most time-sensitive step in any Oregon DUII case.
Sometimes — usually only at the front end of a case where the BAC is borderline, the field-sobriety evidence is weak, or there's a credible motion to suppress. A 'wet reckless' plea is not a standard Oregon offer the way it is in some states; getting one usually requires meaningful pretrial leverage.
Yes. Diversion eligibility, the 10-day DMV hearing, motion-to-suppress practice, and the long-term record consequences all benefit from counsel. The cost of doing it wrong — including missed diversion eligibility — is higher than the fee.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team