Hoffman, Hart & Wagner was founded in 1992 by a group of Oregon's most experienced civil defense trial attorneys. Their goal was to provide cost-efficient, state of the art courtroom defense for medical and other professionals, private and public employers and institutions in courts throughout Oregon and Washington.

The firm now has forty three attorneys with offices in Portland and Redmond, Oregon. Hoffman, Hart & Wagner trial attorneys actively handle litigation in federal and state courts throughout Oregon and Washington.

As opportunities for lawyers to develop real civil trial experience diminish, the extent of trial experience possessed by the attorneys at Hoffman, Hart & Wagner is unique.

All of the firm's senior trial attorneys have extensive trial experience and have been professionally recognized for their skills in the courtroom. John Hart, a founding partner, has tried over 360 cases to jury verdict during his career. He is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and past president of Oregon's chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been identified in The Best Lawyers in America for 20 years and is regularly named as an elite trial lawyer by various publications.

Gordon Welborn, the managing partner in the Redmond office, is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and has tried over 100 cases to verdict. Richard J. Kuhn, the firm's senior design professional trial attorney, has tried over 100 cases. He is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, and has been named in the Best Lawyers in America several times.

Steve Kraemer, the firm's senior trial attorney handling municipal liability cases, has tried over 150 cases. Rodney K. Norton, one the firm's senior medical malpractice trial attorneys has tried over 100 cases to jury verdict and is a Master in the American Inns of Court. Karen O'Kasey, the firm's senior employment defense trial attorney, has tried over 50 cases, and is a fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America. Janet Schroer, the firm's senior appellate attorney, has argued over 100 appellate matters, and is a member of American Board of Trial Advocates and the American Association of Appellate Lawyers.

These senior trial lawyers are representative, and all other partners and associates at Hoffman, Hart & Wagner focus on the firm's founding purpose: to provide a thorough and effective defense to clients, and to try cases when they need to be tried.