Stephen F. English
Widely recognized for his skills and success as a trial lawyer, Steve has tried to verdict more than 100 cases in his 40-year career.
Called “one of the best trial attorneys in the history of Oregon” by sources in Chambers USA, Stephen English has represented many of the region’s most noted investors as both defense and plaintiffs’ counsel. Nationally, he represents clients in a range of high-profile matters, including cases involving corporate fraud, sports law, technology, and the environment. His successful outcomes on behalf of his clients have included what was then the largest Taft-Hartley settlement in U.S. history. The resolution of this case prompted an invitation for Steve to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions regarding protection of Americans’ pension plans from fraud.
Steve has successfully settled multiple complex matters and received verdicts resulting in seven- and eight-figure settlements. In representing plaintiffs, Stephen has been responsible for recoveries in excess of $400,000,000. In representing defendants, he has successfully defended (either defense verdicts or trial recoveries) well below demands in the hundreds of millions with claims totaling in the hundreds of millions.
Known for simplifying complicated cases and compelling representation, Steve’s trial experience includes business disputes, commercial torts, trade secrets, securities, policyholder disputes, product liability claims, and institutional liability. He also has successfully served as a mediator of last resort in difficult and contentious disputes.
Steve is a diplomate and former state chair of the American Board of Trial Advocates which requires proof of at least 50 jury trials as lead counsel. He also is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, comprising the top 1% of the trial bar in the United States and Canada. He is also a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization whose membership is limited to 500 lawyers.
Areas of focus
Industries
Services
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D.
- University of Oregon Honors College, B.A.
Bar and Court Admissions
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Oregon
- Federal District Court
- Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Recognition
Recipient of the Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award, 2024
Recognized by the 2022 Corporate INTL Global Awards for Banking & Finance Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Oregon; Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Oregon; M&A Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Oregon
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2005-2010; Litigation, 2011-2024; Listed as "Star Individual" in Oregon
Recognized by Portland Business Journal as a "Giant of Litigation," 2018
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions; Litigation - Real Estate; Litigation - Securities; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants 2006-2025
Named the Best Lawyers’ Portland, Oregon "Bet-the-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year," 2011, 2013, 2020; “Product Liability Litigation Defendants Lawyer of the Year,” 2012, 2024; "Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year," 2014, 2021; "Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year," 2015; "Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year", 2016; "Litigation - Banking and Finance Lawyer of the Year," 2017, 2019; "Litigation - Real Estate Lawyer of the Year," 2023
Recognized by Chambers Global 2010 as one of the top 50 trial lawyers in America
Consistently selected by Oregon Super Lawyers as one of the top 10 attorneys in Oregon, 2006-2024
American Board of Trial Advocates (by invitation upon proof of over 50 jury trials), President, Oregon Chapter, 2003-2004
Listed in Benchmark Litigation’s Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys as a Local Litigation Star in Securities, Professional Liability and Product Liability
Impact
Professional Leadership
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomate
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, State Co-Chair
- The National Judicial College, National Board of Trustees, Former Member; National Board of Visitors
- Oregon State Bar, Chair, Litigation Section, 1990-1991
- U.S. District Court of Oregon, Judicial Merit Selection Committee, Judge Paul Papak position, Chair
- Hastings College of Law Advocacy Program, Business Litigation Institute, Faculty, 2000
- Oregon State Bar Masters of Trial Advocacy, Faculty Member, multiple years
- Portland Center Stage, Board of Directors, 2005-2008
- American Bar Association
- Multnomah Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
- Defense Research Institute (DRI)
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- Mt. Angel Benedictine Abbey Foundation of Oregon, Board of Directors
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Litigation
Synectic Ventures I, LLC, et al. v. Craig L. Berkman and Arthur Andersen, LLP, et al.*
State Court of Oregon
Jury trial representation of individual investors including public employee pension funds against venture capitalist and national accounting firm. Claims were theft, conversion, fraud and aiding and abetting by a professional services corporation. The four-week jury trial resulted in verdicts in excess of $60 million.
Adams, et al. v. Jawed, et al.
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Defense of accounting firm in a class action involving securities fraud claims related to Ponzi scheme.
Defense of Professional Misconduct
Supreme Court of Oregon
Complete dismissal of all charges of professional misconduct against prominent clients brought before a professional administrative panel of judges after a contentious three week hearing and appeal.
Patent Infringement and Trade Secrets Claim on Behalf of a Portland-based Company*
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Represented a small, local biotech company against one of the largest biotech corporations in the world in a case alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and patent infringement. Settled the day before trial was to start for a cash settlement, well into eight figures, and other favorable remedies for the client.
Defense of a Trade Secret Misappropriation*
State Court of Oregon
Successfully defended an investor in state court who was accused of wrongfully assisting a software company’s misappropriation of trade secrets developed by a predecessor company. Prior to trial, court rulings fixed the compensatory damages at over $24 million. After a three-week trial, the jury returned a complete defense verdict in favor of the client investor.
Largest Taft-Hartley Investment Manager Fraud Case in U.S. History - ERISA*
Served as the lead counsel in representing numerous pension and benefit plans seeking recovery for losses in what the SEC called the largest Taft-Hartley investment manager fraud case in U.S. history. The resolution of these lawsuits resulted in the largest recovery in U.S. history for Taft-Hartley pension funds both in gross dollars and in percentage of recovery for the pensioners. The recovery and the speed of settlement resulted in Mr. English being invited to testify before the United States Senate Committee on Health Educations, Labor and Pensions and a letter written by the committee chair, to the Governors of all 50 states inviting them to use Capitol Consultants resolution as a national model.
Business Fraud and Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim for Japanese Investors*
State Court of Oregon
Successful state court jury verdict of over $1 million for a group of Japanese investors in a business fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claim brought against realtors and business advisors, in addition to recovering punitive damages against individual and corporate defendants.
Tonya Harding v. U.S. Figure Skating Association and Oregonian Publishing Company*
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Represented the U.S. Figure Skating Association in Injunction Evidentiary Hearing against Tonya Harding to determine whether Harding could represent the United States in the World Championship.
Pro Basketball Coach v. Professional Basketball Team*
Preliminary Injunction Evidentiary Hearing representing an assistant coach for an NBA team to allow him to accept a job with another NBA team.
Defense of ”Poison Pill” Claim*
Fortune 100 company defeated a class action lawsuit filed against our client, a Fortune 100 company, on claims arising from a hostile takeover bid. The suit alleged that the acquisition triggered a "poison pill" in the target's pension plan. Legal issues included complex corporate law, fiduciary law, and ERISA pension law. Assets at stake were in the range of $20 million.
Securities litigation*
Successfully represented a plaintiff investor who brought securities claims and related claims against law firms which participated in the preparation of Private Placement Memorandums and provided other advice. On the eve of trial, the case settled for an amount roughly equivalent to 100 percent of the original investment and the attorney fees incurred in bringing the action.
Employment Litigation*
Represented a major corporation in the defense of the company's "top hat" compensation plan for executives. Jury trial defense verdict, federal court.
Mentor Graphics Corp. v. Synopsys, Inc.
Oregon Trial Counsel. Part of a team representing Synopsys, Inc., EVE-USA, Inc., and Synopsys Emulation and Verification S.A. in a patent dispute through jury trial in the hardware emulation segment of the Electronic Design Automation industry.
* Prior Experience
Environmental Litigation
Environmental and Pollution-Based Claim Against One of The Nation’s Largest Railroads*
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Lead trial counsel in jury trial defending one of the nation's largest railroads in a $90 million breach of lease claim and environmental contamination claim (CERCLA, oil pollution). After a four-week trial, the jury rejected all but one of plaintiff’s last demands, and awarded less than 2% of claimed damages.
Southern Oregon Area Farm Fertilizer Supplier*
Lead trial attorney on behalf of a supplier of allegedly contaminated liquid fertilizer in claims of complete loss of multi-million-dollar potato crop. Obtained complete jury defense verdict on behalf of supplier.
* Prior Experience