Independent practice · Portland & Seattle
When the stakes are real, plain-spoken law wins.
Commercial law and dispute resolution for closely-held businesses across the Pacific Northwest. Independent practice since 2009.
- 26
- Years of practice
- 9
- Partners, senior-led
- 84%
- Clients retained 5+ years
- 24h
- Conflict check turnaround
Where we act
Corporate
Transactions and governance for owner-led and mid-market companies.
- M&A + due diligence
- Board + governance advisory
- Securities + financings
- Commercial contracts
Litigation
Disputes prepared as if they will be tried — most then settle well.
- Commercial disputes
- Class-action defense
- Regulatory investigations
- Trial + appellate advocacy
Estate planning
Intergenerational structures built to survive both taxes and family dinners.
- Wills + trusts
- Family-business succession
- Probate + administration
- Charitable structures
Real estate
Counsel across the property lifecycle, acquisition to development.
- Acquisitions + disposals
- Commercial leasing
- Zoning + land use
- Development finance
A different kind of firm
We were built on the conviction that great representation is personal. Senior partners stay on every matter from intake to outcome. That's why our clients tend to stay with us for decades.
- Senior-led representation
- Transparent fee arrangements
- Discreet, results-driven advocacy
Attorneys
The partner you meet at the first conversation is the partner on the matter. That is the whole operating model, so it is worth knowing who they are.
Eleanor Vance
Accepting new patientsManaging Partner
Admitted to practice · 26 years
Founded the firm in 1998 on the conviction that partners should stay on matters rather than sell them. Runs the private-client practice and the conflicts desk.
James Holloway
Accepting new patientsPartner, Litigation
Admitted to practice · 19 years · trial counsel
Prepares every matter as though it will be tried, which is why most of them settle well. Handles the firm's appellate work.
Priya Mehta
Accepting new patientsPartner, Corporate
Admitted to practice · 15 years
Acts for owner-led and mid-market companies through transactions, and for their boards afterwards. Known for reading the schedules nobody else reads.
Every matter clears conflicts within 24 hours of the first call. If a conflict exists we say so immediately and recommend qualified counsel elsewhere.
How an engagement begins
A first conversation
A complimentary 30-minute call to scope the matter. Held in strict confidence whether or not we proceed.
Conflicts + proposal
Conflicts cleared within 24 hours. You receive a written scope with the fee structure — fixed or capped — before engagement.
Senior-led work
The partner you meet is the partner on the matter, from intake to outcome. No hand-offs to associates.
Outcomes that mattered.
A small selection of recent work, anonymised. Full case histories are available under engagement.
Whistleblower retaliation matter taken to mediation and settled before trial, after expert-witness disclosure.
Shareholder objection to a mid-market acquisition. Motion to dismiss granted; the deal closed on its original timeline.
Consumer class action defended for a technology company and resolved at a small fraction of the initial demand.
Regulatory investigation into an owner-led manufacturer closed with no action after voluntary disclosure and remediation.
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.
What an engagement costs
Indicative fixed fees for the work we are asked for most. Anything outside this list is scoped and quoted in writing before it begins — there is no engagement here that starts on an open meter.
Private client
- Introductory conversation30 minFree
Confidential either way
- Will, singlefrom $1,400
- Wills, couplefrom $2,200
- Revocable trust packagefrom $4,800
- Probate administrationfrom $6,500
By estate complexity
Corporate
- Company formation + governance packfrom $3,200
- Shareholder agreementfrom $6,000
- Commercial contract reviewfrom $1,200
Per agreement
- Transaction supportCapped fee
Agreed before diligence starts
- Ongoing counsel retainerfrom $2,500
Per month
Litigation
- Matter diagnostic + written opinionfrom $2,800
- Pre-action correspondencefrom $1,800
- Represented mediationfrom $7,500
- Trial representationCapped hourly
Cap agreed in the engagement letter
- Contingent arrangementsCase by case
Assessed after the diagnostic
Court fees, filing fees and expert disbursements are charged at cost and listed separately. You approve every disbursement above $500 before it is incurred.
Counsel that delivered.
“They walked us through a complex M&A dispute with calm, clear analysis at every turn. We will retain them again.”
Common questions
How are fees structured?+
Most engagements are fixed-fee or capped hourly. We discuss the structure up front and put it in writing.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?+
Yes — a 30-minute introductory call is complimentary. We use it to scope the matter, not to upsell.
Can fees be contingent in litigation?+
In select matters, yes. We evaluate contingent arrangements on a case-by-case basis after the diagnostic.
How quickly can we get started?+
For most matters, within one to two weeks. Urgent litigation can be triaged same-day.
Do you work with in-house counsel?+
Routinely. We extend internal legal teams rather than displacing them.
What if the matter conflicts with an existing client?+
Conflicts are cleared within 24 hours of the introductory call. If one exists, we will tell you immediately and recommend qualified counsel elsewhere.
A discreet first conversation.
We respond personally to every enquiry. All initial calls are held in strict confidence whether or not we proceed to engagement.
When the office is open
- Monday – Friday
- 08:00 – 19:00
- Saturday – Sunday
- ClosedUrgent litigation triaged by phone
Urgent litigation is triaged the same day, including weekends — leave a message on the main line and a partner returns it. Everything else is answered within one business day.
Request a consultation
All inquiries are held in confidence.
- Phone(503) 555-0192
- Emailreception@brennancole.law
- Address1211 SW 5th Ave, Suite 1400, Portland OR 97204
- HoursMon–Fri · 8:30am–5:30pm PT