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Tom

Thomas W. Sondag

Retired

Prior to retiring in 2023, Tom Sondag was one of the most experienced and successful appellate lawyers in the Pacific Northwest, having been lead counsel in more than 200 appeals in state and federal courts. In addition to his appellate practice, he also served in multiple leadership roles at Lane Powell, including Vice President, Partner in Charge of the firm’s Portland office, and Chair of the firm’s Appellate Team.

Tom’s appellate experience spanned a gamut of substantive areas, including:

Constitutional challenges
Securities regulation
Class action certification
Business torts
Professional malpractice
Property rights
Antitrust
Labor and employment
Products liability
Commercial disputes.

Tom has twice been named Portland’s “Lawyer of the Year” in Appellate Practice and once as Portland's "Lawyer of the Year" in Bet-the-Company Litigation by Best Lawyers® and was a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers since 2007.

Experience

Espinoza v. Evergreen Helicopters, Inc.
359 Or. 63, 376 P.3d 390 (2016)
Recognizing application of forum non conveniens in Oregon.
Brandrup v. ReconTrust Co., N.A.
353 Or. 668, 303 P.3d 301 (2013)
Addressing eligibility of MERS to serve as trust deed beneficiary.
Alto v. City of Cannon Beach
247 Or. App. 641, 270 P.3d 392 (2012)
Standing to challenge vested property rights determination.
Daul v. PPM Energy, Inc.
444 Fed. Appx. 147 (9th Cir. 2011)
Claim under employee severance plans.
ZRZ Realty Co. v. Beneficial Fire and Cas. Ins. Co.
Case No. 349 Or. 117, 241 P.3d 710 modified, 349 Or. 657, 249 P.3d 111 (9th Cir. 2007)
Burden of proof in claims for coverage of environmental contamination.
Behurst v. Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc.
Case No. 346 Or. 29, 203 P.3d 207
Workers’ compensation exclusivity; certified question from federal court.
Resident Councils of Washington v. Leavitt
Case No. 500 F.3d 1025
Challenge to federal feeding assistant regulations under Nursing Home Reform Law. (Amicus)
Wah Chang v. PacifiCorp
Case No. 212 Or. App. 14, 157 P.3d 243 (2007)
Manipulation of electricity markets.
Key Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Edwards
Case No. 538 U.S. 974, 123 S. Ct. 1781, 155 L. Ed. 2d 662 (2003)
Excessiveness of punitive damages. (Amicus)
Buck v. SeaRiver Maritime
Case No. 211 Or. App. 324, 154 P.3d 750 (2007)
Shipowner’s “turnover” duty under federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act.
Stevens v. First Interstate Bank of Cal.
Case No. 167 Or. App. 280, 999 P.2d 551, rev. denied, 331 Or. 429 (2000)
Privacy claims arising out of third party’s misappropriation of customer’s credit information.
Phoenix Electric v. National Elec. Contractors Association
Case No. 81 F.3d 858 (9th Cir. 1996)
Job targeting program protected from antitrust challenge.
Pacific First Bank v. New Morgan Park Corp.
319 Or. 342, 876 P.2d 761 (1994)
Clarifying scope of covenant of good faith and fair dealing under Oregon law.

Professional Experience

Lane Powell

Vice President
Member, Executive Committee and Board of Directors
Past Member, Diversity Committee

Community Involvement

U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society, Past President

The Lawyers' Campaign for Equal Justice, Advisory Committee

Oregon State Bar Appellate Practice Section, Executive Committee, Past Member

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, 2016 Pathfinders, Host (April 2016)

Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee (by appointment of the Oregon Supreme Court), Past Member

Lane Powell, Executive Committee and Board of Directors, Past Member

Oregon Association of Defense Counsel, Amicus Committee, Past Member

Thought Leadership

June 30, 2023News
As Lane Powell Vice President Sondag Enters Retirement, Powell Assumes Role
Firm Announcement
September 15, 2022News
Sondag Quoted in Portland Business Journal Article 'How Portland Law Firms are Recruiting in a Very Hot Job Market'
In the News
August 18, 2022News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
March 8, 2022News
Sondag Named 2022 ‘Executive of the Year’ by Portland Business Journal
Awards & Honors
October 19, 2021News
Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized in Benchmark Litigation 2022
Awards & Honors
August 19, 2021News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
June 8, 2021News
Lane Powell Featured in Oregon State Bar Bulletin Article on the Post-COVID Future of Workplaces in Law
In the News
October 28, 2020News
Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized in Benchmark Litigation 2021
Awards & Honors
August 20, 2020News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2021 Recognizes 92 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
December 6, 2019Publication
Additional Civil Appeals: Oregon
Practical Law
December 6, 2019Publication
Initial Civil Appeals: Oregon
Practical Law
August 15, 2019News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Recognizes 63 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 5, 2019News
Twenty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Alaska and Oregon
Awards & Honors
October 12, 2018News
Lane Powell Highly Recommended in Benchmark Litigation 2019
Awards & Honors
August 15, 2018News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2019 Recognizes 62 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 24, 2018News
Twenty-three Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Alaska and Oregon
Awards & Honors
October 26, 2017News
Lane Powell Highly Recommended in Benchmark Litigation 2018
Awards & Honors
August 15, 2017News
Fifty-nine Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers® in America 2018
Awards & Honors
July 10, 2017News
Twenty-three Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Alaska and Oregon
Awards & Honors
May 10, 2017News
Sondag Quoted in Oregon Business Magazine Feature on Law Firms
In the News
October 20, 2016News
Lane Powell Highly Recommended in Benchmark Litigation 2017
Awards & Honors
August 17, 2016News
Fifty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017
Awards & Honors
July 11, 2016News
Twenty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Alaska and Oregon
Awards & Honors
April 14, 2016Event / CLE
Pathfinder Meeting
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity | Redmond, Washington
October 27, 2015News
Lane Powell Highly Recommended in 2016 Benchmark Litigation
Awards & Honors
August 17, 2015News
Forty-eight Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016
Awards & Honors
July 8, 2015News
Fifteen Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Oregon Super Lawyers’ and Four Named as ‘Oregon Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors
October 20, 2014News
Eleven Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized as “Litigation Stars;” Two Named as “Future Stars” in 2015 Benchmark Litigation Legal Guide
October 2, 2014News
Lane Powell Announces Succession Plan for Firm’s Top Management
August 18, 2014News
Fifty-One Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015
Awards & Honors
July 9, 2014News
Fifteen Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Oregon Super Lawyers’ and Five Named as ‘Oregon Rising Stars’
Awards & Honors

Education

University of California Berkeley School of Law, J.D., 1984
- California Law Review (1983-1984)
University of California Berkeley, A.B., with high honors, 1980
- Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

Oregon
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third and Ninth Circut
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Honors

Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers

"Portland Lawyer of the Year" Best Lawyers®, Appellate (2013, 2018); Bet-the-Company Litigation (2021)

"Local Litigation Star," Benchmark Litigation, Appellate, Commercial Litigation (2015-2023)

The Best Lawyers in America©, Appellate (2005-2023); Commercial Litigation (2018-2023); Bet-the-Company Litigation (2020-2023)

"Oregon Super Lawyer," Thomson Reuters, Appellate (2006-2019)

"Top 50 Oregon Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, Appellate (2008)

AV Preeminent® in Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™

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