Chris Kitchel
Experience
Chris Kitchel has been a trial lawyer with Stoel Rives for over 30 years. As a result of
her successful courtroom experience and her business background, Chris offers her
clients proven insight into all phases of the business litigation process. "Preparation,
preparation, preparation" is her motto. Chris strongly believes her role is to
understand her client's overall business objectives and to align case management
accordingly. She strives to provide clients with a clear understanding of their strategic
options for each step of the legal controversy at issue. Her goal is "no surprises."
Chris traditionally has focused on employment law matters, primarily counseling and
employment litigation. She also has deep experience working with health
organizations on physician peer review and related proceedings. Her work has won her
Partner
many plaudits from her clients and peers. Named an Oregon Top 25 Women Super
Lawyer by Oregon Super Lawyers, Chris is praised in Chambers USA: America's Leading
Portland, OR
Lawyers for Business 2011 for her "very good client relationship skills and extensive
(503) 294-9429 direct
litigation experience."
Recent Representative Work

Secured a jury defense verdict in a retaliation case. Plaintiff's employment was
terminated after a coworker reported that plaintiff had threatened to shoot his
(503) 220-2480 fax
chris.kitchel@stoel.com
Education

supervisor.

and Clark College, J.D., 1981, cum
laude
Secured a jury defense verdict in a claim of gender and age discrimination
Recipient, Cornelius Award
asserted by the former in-house employment lawyer for a manufacturing firm.

Secured a jury defense verdict in a claim of gender and age discrimination
asserted by the EEOC and former long-term employee who was laid off by a
transportation firm.




Portland State University, M.B.A.,
1977

University of Minnesota, B.S.B., 1973
Obtained a motion to dismiss a $2 million gender discrimination case. The matter
Admissions
was subsequently settled in mediation on very favorable terms for the client.

Oregon
Obtained summary judgment dismissing a wrongful discharge and retaliation case

Washington
based on alleged "whistle-blowing."

U.S. District Court for the District of
Oregon
Obtained summary judgment dismissing employment claims (discrimination and
wrongful discharge) and inventorship/ownership rights in four pending patent

Obtained summary judgment dismissing a series of employment claims involving a

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit
physician whose medical privileges application had lapsed. Subsequently secured
summary judgment on all of the client's counterclaims, including breach of
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and
Western Districts of Washington
applications.

Northwestern School of Law at Lewis

U.S. Supreme Court
Chris Kitchel
covenant not to sue, breach of promise to release and provide immunity, indemnity and attorney's fees.

Received an arbitration decision dismissing former employee's ADA and FMLA claims and awarding attorneys fees.
Professional Honors and Activities

Selected by Best Lawyers® as Litigation-Labor & Employment Law Lawyer of the Year, Portland, 2014

Listed in Best Lawyers in America© (currently: Employment Law-Management, Litigation-Labor & Employment), 1995-2016

Selected as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (Oregon) by Chambers USA (currently: Labor and Employment),
2006-2016

Selected as one of the Top 25 Oregon Women Lawyers by Oregon Super Lawyers®, 2006-2015

Selected as one of the Top 50 Oregon Lawyers by Oregon Super Lawyers®, 2006-2009

Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers® (Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation: Defense), 2006-2015

Named 2010 Mentor of the Year by the Multnomah Bar Association

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; Former Chair, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Past President, Oregon Association of Defense Counsel

Member, Washington Association of Defense Trial Lawyers

Member, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System

Member, American Bar Association

Former Instructor of Accounting, Portland State University and Lewis & Clark College

Former C.P.A., Oregon
Presentations

Frequent speaker on employment, litigation and peer review issues
Publications

Author, chapters for the Oregon State Bar Evidence manual, Remedies manual and Damages manual
Civic Activities

Travelled to Kenya as part of the Lawyers Without Borders program, Spring 2011. During her stay, Chris interacted with multip le
non-government agencies, including Portland-based Ray of Hope and Mercy Corps. You can read about her experience at
http://chrisinkenya2011.blogspot.com.

Former Officer, Board of Trustees, Oregon Episcopal School

Former Director, Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust ("SWIFT")

Former member, Research Board of Portland City Club
Chris Kitchel