Anna Sortun

Overview Representative Work Activities & Membership Awards & Recognition News & Publications

Overview

As Co-Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, Anna has a wide-ranging commercial litigation practice including consumer protection matters, disputes between business owners, and complex tort cases. In her 15 years of practice, Anna has tried more than a dozen jury trials to verdict in state and federal court and has resolved dozens more short of trial, through motions practice or settlement. Anna also regularly counsels clients facing closely-held business disputes prior to litigation.

Anna focuses on her client's business objectives when developing and executing litigation strategies. She particularly enjoys getting to know her clients and their companies as she helps them resolve disputes.

In addition to her litigation practice, in 2019 Anna was appointed by Governor Kate Brown as a Commissioner on the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC). The nine-member OGEC meets every six weeks, and is charged with enforcing government ethics laws.

In 2020, Anna was inducted as a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers, an honor society that maintains a worldwide membership of less than 750 trial lawyers deemed by their peers and judges to be “outstanding in the field of advocacy.” The Portland Business Journal named Anna as one of its 2017 Forty Under 40 award recipients, recognizing influential business and community leaders in the greater Portland area who are under 40 years old. Anna has been listed by Super Lawyers in business litigation since 2013.

In 2007, Anna taught first-year torts as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Oregon. Prior to joining the firm, Anna was a law clerk for The Honorable Alfred T. Goodwin, on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Get To Know

An avid traveler, Anna loves to spend time in foreign places and immerse herself in the culture. Studying Chinese in college gave her the opportunity to spend her junior year in China. Later, when she and her husband took a year away from work for travel, China was again on the itinerary along with India and other exotic locales. They sampled street food wherever they went, including wild fare in Asia's night markets. Now they take advantage of Portland’s food cart scene to introduce their two small children to the adventures of dining – though Anna admits her 4-year-old currently eats nothing but PBJs.

Featured Representative Matters

Consumer Protection

Representing multiple national companies in consumer protection matters, including claims under the Oregon Unfair Trade Practices Act and Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act claims.

Lead Trial Counsel

Serving as lead trial counsel in more than a dozen state and federal trials.

Environmental Contamination

Obtaining a defense verdict as trial counsel for a large public company following a seven-week jury trial relating to insurance coverage for liability for environmental contamination at three superfund sites, including the Portland Harbor, and over 1,200 asbestos claims.

Breach of Contract

Prevailing in a jury trial involving breach of contract and statutory claims brought on behalf of a financial company, securing a multi-million dollar judgment for her client.

Fair Credit Billing Act Appeal

Prevailing in an appeal before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals involving Fair Credit Billing Act and Unlawful Debt Collection Practices Act claims.

Criminal Fraud

Securing a large judgment on behalf of a group of investors in a fraud and breach of fiduciary duties case, leading to eventual federal criminal charges against the defendant.

Food and Beverage Fraud

Successfully defending a food-and-beverage business in a jury trial involving breach of contract and fraud claims, resulting in an award of attorney fees to her client.

Featured Work

Tonkon Torp Guides Pacific Foods through Oregon’s Largest Acquisition of 2017

Tonkon Torp led Oregon's largest M&A transaction in 2017, the $700 million acquisition of Tualatin-based Pacific Foods of Oregon LLC by Campbell Investment Company. Pacific Foods is an iconic, nationally distributed organic food brand founded in 1987.

Tonkon Torp Wins Complicated Civil Trial for Con-way

In arguably one of the biggest and most complicated civil trials in Portland, Tonkon Torp secured a complete jury trial victory for Con-way, a $5.5 billion American multinational freight transportation company. Find details and more featured cases here.

Community Involvement & Activities

Oregon Government Ethics Commission
Commissioner

Emerge Oregon
Board Member

Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Pro Bono Volunteer

Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal
Editorial Board

Photolucida
Advisory Board Member

OSB Committee on Federal Practice & Procedure
Past Chair of the Pro Bono Subcommittee
Member

Business for Culture and the Arts
Art of Leadership Program 2011

Northwest Dance Project
Past Board Member

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association
Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court
International Society of Barristers
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Oregon Women Lawyers

Awards & Recognition

International Society of Barristers

Fellow, 2020-Present

Super Lawyers

2017-2020, Oregon Super Lawyer – Business Litigation
2013-2016, Oregon Rising Star – Business Litigation

Portland Business Journal

2017, Forty Under 40

Daily Journal of Commerce

2012, "Up & Coming Lawyer" Portland, Oregon

Multnomah Bar Association

2007, Pro Bono Award of Merit

Recent News

7.7.2020

26 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2020 Super Lawyers Lists

Twenty-six Tonkon Torp attorneys in nine practice areas have been included in the 2020 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists. Tonkon Torp partner and bankruptcy authority Albert N. Kennedy has been once again recognized on the Top 50 list of…

4.30.2020

Anna Sortun and Ryan Bledsoe Admitted to International Society of Barristers

Tonkon Torp litigation partners Anna Sortun and Ryan Bledsoe have been admitted as Fellows to the International Society of Barristers. The organization is an honor society that maintains a worldwide membership of less than 750 trial lawyers deemed by…

4.8.2020

Tonkon Torp Attorneys Host Webinar to Provide COVID-19 Tools to Businesses

Tonkon Torp hosted a webinar for 600 registered participants to discuss the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act…

12.13.2019

Anna Sortun Confirmed to Oregon Government Ethics Commission

On November 20, the Oregon State Senate approved Governor Kate Brown’s appointment of Tonkon Torp partner Anna Sortun to serve as a Commissioner on the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC).

12.4.2019

Tonkon Torp Hosts Forum on Courage for Women Business Leaders

Tonkon Torp co-hosted “Start with Courage,” an event for women entrepreneurs, with KeyBank and Geffen Mesher. The annual event, which was emceed by Tonkon Torp Partner Anna Sortun, was attended by over 150 women who hold founder and leadership…

7.16.2019

31 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2019 Super Lawyers Lists

Thirty-one Tonkon Torp attorneys in nine practice areas have been included in the 2019 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.

5.23.2019

Tonkon Torp Colleagues Together Through the Long Haul

Anna Sortun, Kimberlee Stafford, and James Hein have shared many journeys since starting their law careers together at Tonkon Torp as first-year attorneys in a class of three.

4.18.2019

Anna Sortun Shares Experience with Closely Held Business Disputes at OSB CLE

Tonkon Torp partner Anna Sortun spoke at the OSB Business Litigation Section CLE on March 20. Anna joined a panel that explored disputes among owners of closely held businesses, which often means navigating litigation between family members or former…

1.22.2019

Tonkon Torp Announces New Practice Group Leaders

Tonkon Torp has appointed two partners to department and practice group chair positions. Anna Sortun is Co-Chair of the Litigation Department and Jeff Woodcox is Chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group.

8.21.2018

Anna Sortun Joins Editorial Board of OSB Litigation Journal

Tonkon Torp partner Anna Sortun has joined the Editorial Board of the Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal. The Journal, which is published three times a year, focuses on litigation issues unique to Oregon. In this role, Anna will help guide the…

Publications & Presentations

"Appellate Considerations for Trial Counsel," Litigation Journal, Fall 2020

Moderator, “Tools to Survive the COVID-19 Economy: CARES Act SBA Loans, Employment Laws, and Corporate Issues,“ April 2020

"Closely Held Business Disputes from the Practitioner's Perspective," OSB Business Litigation Section, March 2019

"Best Practices in Crafting and Defending Buy-Sell Provisions," OSB Business Law Section, June 2018

"An Underused Defense Tool?: Special Motions to Strike," Litigation Journal, 2011

Co-Author, "Relevant Background Evidence," in Swallowing Rule: Applying FRE 404 in Discrimination Cases, Litigation Journal, 2006

"Rebutting the Parental Presumption in Oregon," 82 OR. L. Rev. 1191, 2003