Email this page Print this page Print to PDF

Harlan

Harlan Mechling

Associate

Harlan Mechling is an accomplished senior Associate who focuses on a broad spectrum of commercial litigation matters. Harlan’s commitment to his clients and his ability to navigate complex legal landscapes make him a valuable asset to Lane Powell’s Commercial Litigation Team. His dedication to achieving favorable outcomes and strategic approach to litigation are hallmarks of his practice.

Harlan excels as a commercial litigator and consistently demonstrates a high level of competence in complex litigation strategy, persuasive legal writing, and dynamic courtroom advocacy. Harlan is proficient in both drafting and arguing dispositive motions, ensuring successful resolutions for clients. Recently, he drafted and argued a seventy-page opposition brief in a complex federal court case, resulting in a successful defense to multiple summary judgment motions and ultimately securing a seven-figure settlement for his client.

Prior to private practice, Harlan served as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Michael Fitzgerald at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, where he drafted detailed opinions, orders, and memoranda, gained a deep understanding of discovery management, evidentiary disputes, and trial preparation, and acquired extensive experience in civil procedure, motion practice, and the Federal Rules of Evidence. Prior to his clerkship, Harlan joined the Washington State Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in the Honors Program, where he litigated a high volume of cases across administrative, trial, and appellate courts, and took five cases to trial. Prior to his tenure as an Assistant Attorney General, Harlan served as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Mary Fairhurst, Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court, where he honed his skills in complex legal analysis, strategic case management, and the art of persuasive legal writing.

Harlan is actively involved in the legal community through his membership in the Oregon and Washington State Bar Associations and the Multnomah Bar Association. Outside of the office, Harlan enjoys rafting, boxing, dual sport motorcycles, and spending time with friends and family.

Professional Experience

Tonkon Torp LLP, Associate (2021-2024)

U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Michael Fitzgerald (2020-2021)

Washington State Office of the Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General (2018-2020)

Washington State Supreme Court, Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Mary Fairhurst, Chief Justice (2017-2018)

U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, Judicial Extern to the Honorable Thomas Zilly (2016)

Community Involvement

Multnomah Bar Association, Member (2021-Present)

Oregon Student Association, Volunteer Organizer (2012-Present)

Oregon State Bar Association, Member

Washington State Bar Association, Member

Thought Leadership

February 20, 2024News
Mechling Joins Commercial Litigation Team
Firm Announcement
June 1, 2017Publication
Third Party Consent and Container Searches in the Home
Washington Law Review

Practices & Industries

Commercial Litigation

Education

University of Washington School of Law, J.D., with honors, 2017
- CALI Award: Torts (2015)
- CALI Award: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing – Term I (2015)
- CALI Award: Legal Analysis, Research, and Writing – Term II (2015)
- Washington Law Review, Managing Editor
University of Oregon, B.S., Political Science and Government, 2013
- Centurion Award for Outstanding Leadership
- Student Senate President & Director of Academic Affairs

Admissions

Oregon
Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Lane Powell PC, please do not include any information in this email that you or someone else considers to be confidential or secret in nature. Prior to the establishment of a lawyer-client relationship, unsolicited emails from non-clients containing confidential or secret information cannot be protected from disclosure.