About Our Portland, Oregon, Law Firm
Criminal Defense and Personal Injury
Representing Clients throughout Northwest Oregon
Multnomah County · Clackamas County · Washington County
Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen, P.C., opened its doors in 2003. We founded our law firm recognizing the need in Portland for a small law firm providing focused and discreet legal services in criminal defense and personal injury. As the practice of law in these areas became increasingly technical and specialized we realized our clients needed lawyers who focused in these areas.
Our attorneys are defined by the depth of their experience. Our most senior partner, H. Scott Raivio, has more than 30 years of legal practice to his name, and our other three lawyers each has more than a decade of practice to their credit. We have all focused our legal careers on either criminal defense work or personal injury work – and our decades of focused legal practice greatly benefits our clients.
“The Client Chooses the Goals, and the Lawyer Navigates to Reach Those Goals”
We strive to put our clients at ease during difficult times. We do this because we recognize that our clients are a critically important member of their own legal team. Often the mere fact of facing criminal charges can be both emotionally and intellectually devastating on our clients. We strive not to add to their anxieties. We do our best work when our clients contribute to their own case by clearly communicating to us their goals – not just in terms of financial compensation or avoiding a prison sentence – but also in terms of goals that would not be apparent to us without our clients' input – such as protecting a career, providing for a family, or guarding one's privacy.
Only when our clients are comfortable with us can they be truly effective members of their legal team – actively communicating their goals and trusting our assessment of their situation. Our attorneys understand this, as does our professional office staff. We keep an informal office atmosphere, and our office itself is in a converted 1800s home outside downtown Portland. We employ three highly trained and experienced paralegals to assist us in meeting our clients' wishes.
About Costs and Fees
Our law firm is also committed to providing the highest-quality legal representation at reasonable fees. All initial consultations are free. All personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis – this means there are no up-front fees or costs and we accept attorneys' fees only if and when our client receives a settlement or jury award.
In criminal defense cases, we will discuss fees in depth at the initial consultation and we will work with you to find a fee structure that is appropriate given the nature and relative complexity of the case. We can negotiate flat rate fees or hourly-rate fees, depending again on the type of case. Fees to defend drunk driving charges are different from fees to defend a homicide charge – as you can imagine.
In all cases, we make sure our clients always understand exactly what fees and costs they will pay for our services.
To discuss a criminal matter or personal injury case with one of our lawyers, contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential initial meeting. Call toll-free to 1-888-311-2016, or send us an e-mail.
