Thomas W. Brown

Thom Brown is a 1980 graduate of the night school program at Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College. Before joining the Cosgrave firm, he served as a clerk to Judge William L. Richardson of the Oregon Court of Appeals (1980-81). Thom is admitted to practice before all Oregon courts, the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. From 1994-2010, Thom was his firm’s managing partner. He is presently special counsel to his firm.

Thom currently primarily serves as a neutral, although he continues doing limited client work involving appeals, insurance coverage, and professional liability defense. He is an approved arbitrator for commercial cases nationwide administered through AAA and an approved mediator for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, The State of Oregon Environmental Claims Mediation Program, and the Oregon State Bar Fee Dispute Resolution Program.

In 2008, Thom was selected as a fellow in the Honorary Trial Society of Litigation Counsel of America (Emeritus), and he has also been selected for The Best Lawyers in America (Appellate Practice (2006-21) and Insurance Law (2010-21), Benchmark: Appellate (Ninth Circuit 2012-13), and as an Oregon Super Lawyer (Appellate Practice, 2006-17, ADR 2018-). In 2013, Thom received the Multnomah Bar Association’s Professionalism Award, which is the organization’s highest honor and recognizes lawyers who exemplify the standards set forth in the MBA Professionalism Statement. Thom’s been “AV Preeminent” rated by Martindale Hubbell since 1985.

Thom was designated by Best Lawyers In America as the “2014 Portland, Oregon Best Lawyer of the Year: Appellate Practice” and “2015, 2017, and 2019 Portland, Oregon Best Lawyer of the Year: Insurance.” He is involved in many professional activities related to his practice areas, law practice management, and professionalism, including ALFA International, The Global Legal Network (Board 2008-2011; Insurance Practice Group Vice-Chair 2009-13 and Chair 2013-15; Law Practice Management Group Chair 2005-2007); Multnomah Bar Association (MBA) Board of Directors (President 2007-08); MBA Managing Partners’ Roundtable (Co-Chair 2001-06); Oregon State Bar (OSB) ADR Section Executive Committee (Member, 2013-16); OSB Appellate Process Review Committee (Member, 2003-04), Oregon Bench and Bar Commission on Professionalism (Member 2000-2004); MBA Professionalism Committee (Co-Chair 1999-2000); OSB Appellate Practice Section Executive Committee (Chair 2001-02); Oregon Association of Defense Counsel Amicus Committee (Member 1989-2001); Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee (Member 1994-2000); and OSB Law Practice Management Section Executive Committee (Chair 1995-96). He has been actively involved in the Classroom Law Project (Board Member, 1999-2017); Board Chair 2003-2005), the Lewis & Clark Law School Board of Visitors (Member 2004-2014), and the Multnomah Bar Foundation Board of Directors (Member 2012-14; Secretary/Treasurer 2013). On appointment by the Oregon Supreme Court, each month for close to 13 years Thom heard motions for summary judgment as a Circuit Court pro tem judge.

Thom writes and speaks about arbitration, mediation, appellate, insurance coverage, attorney liability, law practice management, and professionalism issues. Otherwise, he likes bowling, cooking, crossword puzzles, golf, guitar, his family (two adult children and wife), movies, photography, travel, and walking.