• Overview
  • Representative Cases
  • Experience
  • Recognitions
  • Memberships
  • News

A resourceful, confident, experienced litigator, Heather Cavanaugh has over a decade of big firm litigation experience as well as a background as in-house counsel at a financial institution. Heather specializes in commercial litigation, including contract disputes, real property disputes, corporate governance and product liability.

Education

  • University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., Order of the Coif, 2002
  • Oregon State University, B.S., summa cum laude, 1998

Admitted

  • Oregon
  • Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Oregon
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
Heather Cavanaugh
Heather Cavanaugh Attorney
Legal Assistant
Annette Kimmel503-542-3101|
Recognized by
Best Lawyers®
Rated By
Super Lawyers

A resourceful, confident, experienced litigator, Heather Cavanaugh has over a decade of big firm litigation experience as well as a background as in-house counsel at a financial institution. Heather specializes in commercial litigation, including contract disputes, real property disputes, corporate governance and product liability.

Representative Cases

Represented an individual and corporation in a partnership dispute involving claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and others and that ultimately resulted in a favorable decision for the clients after a two-week arbitration.

Represented a private lender in a dispute with a loan servicer. The private lender asserted numerous contract and tort claims, including negligence, fraud and conversion, and sought nearly $3 million in damages. The matter was resolved through settlement.

Represented a private corporation in connection with offensive and defensive litigation (tort and contract) involving multiple parties arising out of a landslide. The matter was resolved through settlement.

Represented a commercial landlord in a dispute over the termination of a lease. Obtained partial summary judgment in favor of the client.

Obtained summary judgment in favor of Washington credit union directors in action by credit union members alleging claims of breach of fiduciary duty and other matters. Subsequently obtained appellate affirmance of summary judgment.

Successfully defended Washington credit union in action by former credit union directors and members seeking declarations from the court that they were improperly removed from office. Subsequently obtained appellate affirmance of the dismissal.

Assisted board of directors of regional financial institution in defending against recall efforts. Defended litigation against board of directors and organized special members’ meeting at which recall vote occurred. Following failure of recall efforts, assisted in organization and conduct of regular members’ meeting involving contested directors’ election.

Defended a bus manufacturer in Oregon state-court action involving allegations of design defect in connection with arrangement of the A-pillar and driver’s exterior mirror in a transit bus. Case was resolved the evening before a month-long trial was scheduled to begin.

Defended a helicopter maintenance facility in multiple lawsuits filed in Oregon state and federal courts arising from the crash of a helicopter in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest during firefighting operations. Claims asserted by plaintiffs included strict product liability and negligence in connection with the helicopter fuel control system. All claims against the helicopter maintenance facility were resolved short of trial.

Pursued claims of product liability and negligence in federal court against a manufacturer and seller of chemicals, including pesticides, and a chemical applicator in connection with damage to a blueberry crop after application of pesticides.

Defended manufacturer of building products in Oregon state-court strict product liability and construction defect litigation involving roof shingles. Case was resolved on the first day of trial.

Experience

Heather began her career in 2002 at Miller Nash LLP (now Miller Nash Graham & Dunn), where she practiced as associate in the litigation department. In 2009, she became a partner at Miller Nash Graham & Dunn where her practice focused on general commercial litigation, including financial institutions and tort litigation, as well as corporate governance disputes.

In late 2015, Heather went in-house at Umpqua Bank where she managed the majority of defensive litigation matters, initiated and handled numerous offensive litigation matters, and, on the transactional side, analyzed and prepared loan “workouts,” note sales, forbearance and other agreements and provided regular advice to the business units on various legal matters.

Recognitions

Oregon Super Lawyer Rising Star 2008-2014

Miller Nash Associate Mentor of the Year 2014

Recognized in Best Lawyers® for Commercial Litigation (2021)

Memberships

American Constitution Society, Oregon Lawyer Chapter Board of Directors, 2006 to 2011

Cascade Aids Project, Development Committee, 2009 to 2011

Member of Miller Nash Partnership Committee 2012

Oregon Women Lawyers

Multnomah Bar Association