Meg Houlihan is an appellate and trial lawyer in the firm’s Complex Litigation + Advisement group. She represents clients in commercial and public law disputes at both the trial and appellate levels and is frequently called upon to examine witnesses and present oral arguments in court.

Meg’s trial court practice spans a broad range of matters including class actions, product liability, trade secret disputes, statutory interpretation, and constitutional litigation. Known for her command of the courtroom and ease with witnesses, she regularly plays a leading role in trial proceedings, including first- and second-chair responsibilities in jury and bench trials.

In her appellate practice, Meg is recognized for her exceptional writing and advocacy. She has briefed and argued cases in state and federal appellate courts on issues ranging from constitutional and administrative law to complex commercial disputes. Meg draws on her clerkship experience with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to successfully argue appeals in the Ninth Circuit and appellate courts, including matters involving issues of first impression and multimillion-dollar claims.

After law school, Meg clerked for the Honorable Michael H. Simon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and for the Honorable Morgan Christen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for three consecutive years and a recipient of the Oregon State Bar’s President’s Special Award of Appreciation.

Representative Experience

• Healthcare Provider. Representing a healthcare provider in a correctional facility in defense of § 1983 constitutional claims and state-law negligence claims, including conducting multiple expert depositions.
  
• Aviation Industry. Argued and prevailed in the Ninth Circuit on a multimillion-dollar fraudulent transfer claim arising from a restructuring dispute in the aviation industry.
  
• Successfully argued in the Oregon Court of Appeals to defeat a challenge to an underlying arbitration award.
  
• Government Entities and Officials. Obtained dismissal of constitutional claims challenging actions taken by government entities and officials during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
• State Bar Organization. Represented a state bar organization in litigation challenging mandatory membership and dues under the First Amendment.
  

• Regional Hospital. Second-chaired a jury trial for a regional hospital, obtaining a complete defense verdict on a battery claim.
  
• First-chaired a bench trial securing a complete victory for clients in an attorneys’ fee lien dispute.
  
• Startup Company. Represented a startup company in an arbitration dispute with a litigation funder arising out of patent litigation.
  

• Obtained dismissal of all claims, including Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) claims, in litigation asserting that a neighboring marijuana grower violated property rights.