Robert Koch

Bob chairs the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. He represents individuals, companies, and government entities in state and federal appellate courts. Throughout his career, Bob has successfully handled appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court, Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and federal courts of appeals across the country, including the Ninth Circuit.

Each client has a story to tell. Bob works closely with clients to tell their story in a way that is clear, concise, and compelling. He also advises trial teams on winning strategies and arguments, either to avoid the need for an appeal or to lay the groundwork for one.

Before joining Tonkon Torp, Bob served for ten years in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. He served for five years as a Senior Attorney in the Division’s Appellate Section, where he briefed and argued civil and criminal appeals, as well as drafted memoranda for Department leadership on high-profile legal matters. For example, Bob wrote a first draft of the Department’s amicus brief advocating for nationwide marriage equality in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Obergefell v. Hodges, and developed the legal analysis behind the Department’s challenge to North Carolina’s H.B. 2 bathroom bill.
 
Bob also served for five years as an Honors Attorney in the Division’s Special Litigation Section. There, he led litigation teams vindicating the rights of individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities. He also negotiated settlement agreements with the states of Oregon, Georgia, and Texas to improve their community-based mental health services.

In addition, Bob served on a detail to the Office of White House Counsel under President Barack Obama. In that role, he vetted candidates for Executive and Judicial Branch nominations and drafted memoranda to the President.
 
Following his graduation from law school, Bob clerked for Judge Susan P. Graber of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in Portland. Bob graduated from the University of Michigan Law School magna cum laude and Order of the Coif. At Michigan, he served as Editor in Chief of the Michigan Journal of Law Reform and finished third in the Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition.
 

Oregon State Bar – Constitutional Law Section
Executive Committee, Chair-Elect (2021-Present)
Executive Committee, Member-at-Large (2020-Present)
CLE Subcommittee, Chair (2021-Present)

Oregon State Bar – Appellate Practice Section
Executive Committee, Member-at-Large (2020-Present)

Oregon State Bar – Procedure & Practice Committee
Member (2019-Present)

Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative – District of Oregon
At-Large Representative (2020-Present)
District Co-Chair (2019-2020)

Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society
Membership Director (2019-Present)

Classroom Law Project
We the People Coach, Franklin High School (2018-Present)

Owen M. Panner American Inn of Court
Barrister Member (2018-Present)

Camp Kesem – Oregon Chapter
Advisory Board Member (2018-Present)

U.S. Department of Justice – DOJ Pride
Vice President (2017)
Secretary (2015-2016)

Capital Tennis Association
President (2013-2014)
Social Chair (2010-2012)

American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
LGBT Bar Association of Oregon
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar, Appellate and Constitutional Law Sections
Oregon Women Lawyers
 

"U.S. Supreme Court Review/Preview with Professor Pamela Karlan," OSB Constitutional Law Section, November 2020

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

“Appellate Considerations for Trial Counsel,” Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation (2020 ed.)

Panelist, “Sharpening Your Skills Through Pro Bono Practice,” Multnomah Bar Association, June 2020