Michael Willes

Michael is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Department. He has represented companies in a broad range of business matters, including contract disputes, securities litigation, and class actions. In addition to civil litigation, Michael has assisted clients with regulatory issues and criminal investigations.

Before joining Tonkon Torp, Michael practiced in the Litigation Department at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP for four years. He earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Alexander Hamilton Fellow, and Managing Editor of the Columbia Business Law Review. While a law student, he held an externship with Judge Michael W. Mosman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

Michael worked as an analyst at economics consulting firm Analysis Group, Inc., before attending law school. There he performed financial and statistical analyses in support of expert witnesses, whose reports and testimony were used at trial. While earning his undergraduate degree in economics and Spanish, Michael interned at the U.S. embassy’s economics section in Madrid.

Michael is a native Oregonian, raised in Corvallis. He is thrilled to be back in Portland where he can explore the trails that traverse the city with his family.

Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation
Board Member

Oregon State Bar House of Delegates
Region 5, Delegate

Portland Workforce Alliance
Board Member

Campaign for Equal Justice
Past Member, Associates Committee

Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
Past Member, Board of Directors
Past Co-Chair, CLE Committee

Multnomah Bar Association

"Oregon State Courts: Overview and Rules," Chapter, Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation (2020 Edition), Oregon State Bar

“Banks Sue Over Oregon’s Foreclosure Moratorium,” Ear to the Ground Blog, October 2020

"Stare Decisis at the Oregon Supreme Court," Litigation Journal, Fall 2018

"Waivers – What Am I Waiving?" Fall Board and Educational Conference, NALS of Oregon, September 2016

"Contracts 101 for Startups," February 2016

"A Foil for Fazzolari: Recent Negligence Case Law Weakens Duty Limitations," Oregon Law Review, February 2016

"Caveat Venditor: The Consequences of Bagley v. Mt Bachelor, Inc. for Negligence Releases and Other Contract Provisions," Litigation Journal, Summer 2015

"Recent Case Notes – Forum Non Conveniens," The Verdict, Issue 1, 2015