Kevin H. Kono
Partner
Kevin Kono helps clients resolve their disputes in a broad range of commercial and complex litigation matters. He works closely with clients to provide a candid assessment of each matter and identify the client's goals. Kevin can resolve disputes at any point from pre-litigation negotiation through trial and the appellate process, but he believes in developing and implementing an effective resolution strategy tailored to each specific client's goals.
Kevin's approach allows him to effectively handle any litigation matter, but he has particular experience working with financial institutions and other creditors in debtor-creditor and consumer financial services litigation, including enforcing creditor's rights and defending claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and Fair Credit Reporting Act. Kevin also represents individuals and companies in general business disputes, including class actions, and has successfully litigated a wide variety of claims in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts. He also serves clients through the appellate process and has argued before the Oregon Court of Appeals, Oregon Supreme Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Kevin also advises broadcasters and newspapers on libel, publishing, media access, privacy torts, and other content-related issues, and defends media clients against defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright, and similar claims.
Practice Highlights
Financial services litigation and credit recovery
Appellate litigation
Publishing and First Amendment
Litigation
Appellate
Content-Related Representation
Admitted to Practice
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Oregon, 2002
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Washington, 2019
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U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
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U.S. District Court District of Oregon
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U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
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U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 2019
Education
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J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 2002
- First in Class
- Order of the Coif
- Executive Editor, Oregon Law Review
- Tesdahl Award for Best Brief
- Maxine F. Lee Award for Editorial Excellence
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B.A., Psychology, Spanish, Business Administration, University of Oregon, 1991, summa cum laude
- Departmental honors in Psychology
Memberships & Affiliations
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- Professional Development Partner, Commercial Litigation Group, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, 2014-present
- Executive Committee, Oregon State Bar Business Litigation Section, 2012-present
- Mentor, University of Oregon School of Law 1L Mentoring Program, 2016-2017
- Board Member, Oregon Law School Alumni Association, 2010-2014
- Member, Multnomah County Bar Association Court Liaison Committee, 2012-2015
- Japan-America Society of Oregon
- Treasurer, Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, 2009-2011
- Member, Multnomah County Bar Association Professionalism Committee, 2009-2012
- Member, Multnomah County Bar Association, 2002-present
Professional Recognition
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- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Litigation: General Commercial (Oregon), 2020-2022
- Selected by Best Lawyers as Portland's "Lawyer of the Year" in First Amendment Litigation, 2018
- Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers, 2015-present; in Appellate Practice, 2016-present; in Litigation – First Amendment, 2016-present
- Selected to "Oregon Rising Stars" in Appellate and First Amendment/Media/Advertising, Thomson Reuters, 2009, 2011-2012, selected in Civil Litigation Defense, 2010-2011
- Awarded "Lifetime Achievement Award" by America's Top 100 Attorneys
- Convocation on Equality “Champion,” 2011
