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Overview
As Co-Chair of Tonkon Torp’s Litigation Department, Anna has a wide-ranging commercial litigation practice including disputes between business owners, consumer protection matters, 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.
In addition to her litigation practice, Anna is an active member of the community. She currently serves on the boards of directors of Oregon Humanities and Emerge Oregon. She sits on the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Litigation Section. And in 2019, Anna was appointed by Governor Kate Brown as a Commissioner on the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Anna also regularly handles pro bono matters on behalf of clients in need.
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.
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.
In addition to her litigation practice, Anna is an active member of the community. She currently serves on the boards of directors of Oregon Humanities and Emerge Oregon. She sits on the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar Litigation Section. And in 2019, Anna was appointed by Governor Kate Brown as a Commissioner on the Oregon Government Ethics Commission. Anna also regularly handles pro bono matters on behalf of clients in need.
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.
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.
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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.
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Featured Work
The Ramos Project
In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down non-unanimous jury convictions in criminal cases in Ramos v. Louisiana. A shameful carryover from the Jim Crow era, Louisiana and Oregon were the last two states that allowed non-unanimous criminal convictions when as many as two jurors believed a defendant was innocent. Overnight, more than 260 cases in Oregon became eligible to seek post-conviction relief for unconstitutional non-unanimous convictions. Housed in the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) at Lewis & Clark Law School, the Ramos Project is a statewide pro-bono initiative providing legal assistance to those seeking redress.
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.
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Community Involvement & Activities
Oregon Government Ethics Commission
Commissioner
Emerge Oregon
Board Member
Oregon Humanities
Board Member
Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services of Oregon
Pro Bono Volunteer
Oregon State Bar Litigation Section
Executve Committee Member
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
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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
Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court
International Society of Barristers
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Oregon Women Lawyers
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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
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
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Recent News
2.26.2021
Anna Sortun Joins Oregon Humanities Board of Directors
Tonkon Torp litigation partner Anna Sortun has been elected to the Board of Directors of Oregon Humanities. Oregon Humanities was established in 1971 and works to connect Oregonians to ideas that change lives and transform communities through…
2.18.2021
Anna Sortun Demystifies Depositions for MBA Young Lawyers Section
Tonkon Torp Partner Anna Sortun was a featured panelist at the February 11 Introduction to Depositions CLE offered by the Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section.
12.3.2020
Anna Sortun Appointed to Executive Committee of OSB Litigation Section
Tonkon Torp litigation Partner Anna Sortun has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Litigation Section. Her term begins January 1, 2021.
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.
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Publications & Presentations
“Depositions,” Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, February 2021
"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