Our attorneys help clients navigate their interactions with government at every stage—from compliance, developing legislation and public policy, lobbying, working with agencies and elected officials, responding to investigations and enforcement actions, and, when necessary, litigating disputes involving government entities.
We understand how laws and public policy are developed, interpreted, enforced, and challenged. That perspective allows us to advise clients at the outset of a legislative or regulatory matter and, when needed, continue representing them through an investigation, administrative proceeding, trial, or appeal. Clients also benefit from our longstanding relationships with policymakers and public officials and from the resources of a full-service Oregon law firm.
Tonkon Torp Public Policy, Government Affairs & Disputes clients include:
- Corporations
- Small businesses
- Trade and professional associations
- Nonprofit and media organizations
- Local governments
- Public institutions, including universities, transit providers, and economic development agencies
- Individuals and organizations involved in significant disputes with public entities
Our Services
We provide integrated policy, advocacy, and legal counsel across the full lifecycle of government decision-making. Whether a client seeks to develop or change public policy, navigate a regulatory process, respond to government scrutiny, or challenge government action, our attorneys draw on experience in government affairs, administrative law, constitutional law, and litigation. Our services include:
- Legislative strategy and drafting, as well as direct lobbying before the Oregon legislature
- Strategic advice and counsel on legislative, regulatory, and political matters
- Administrative and regulatory proceedings, including rulemaking and challenges to agency action
- Advocacy before the City of Portland and other local governments, including by attorneys registered to advocate before the City of Portland
- Government investigations, regulatory enforcement matters, and enforcement defense
- Litigation involving state, local, and federal government entities and agencies
- Constitutional litigation, including challenges to government regulation and other governmental action
- Public records and First Amendment disputes
- Ballot measure and ballot title matters, including drafting, comments, challenges, and appellate proceedings
- Appeals and judicial review of government and administrative decisions
- Stakeholder engagement, organizing, and coalition building
- Strategic communications and messaging
- PAC and political giving strategy, including contribution recommendations and implementation
- Procurement and appropriations
Our work frequently crosses the traditional lines between government affairs and litigation. A matter may begin with the development of legislation, include lobbying by one of Tonkon’s Oregon state-registered lobbyists, continue through agency rulemaking or implementation, and ultimately involve an investigation, enforcement proceeding, or court challenge. In other matters, we are brought in to help clients navigate communications with government at the permitting or administrative stage, or after a dispute with a government agency or public entity has already arisen.
As part of one of Oregon’s most respected law firms, our practice also gives clients immediate access to lawyers with experience across a broad range of substantive areas, including real estate and land use, energy, environmental and natural resources, taxation, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, corporate law, and business litigation. Our team of attorneys includes a former Oregon Legislative Counsel’s Office Senior Attorney, former Oregon House and Senate Judiciary Committee Counsel, a former Oregon Government Ethics Commissioner, and former state and federal policy and campaign staff.
Our goal is to help clients understand and effectively engage with government—whether they are seeking to create or change a law, navigate an administrative process, respond to an investigation, defend against enforcement, or challenge government action in court.
Services + Industries
Department
Bar Admission
Schools
Languages
Case Studies
Tonkon Torp Government Solutions Group Successfully Challenges Campaign Fine in City Council Race
Attorneys in Tonkon Torp’s Government Solutions group were victorious for new City Councilmember Rene Gonzalez in the first judicial examination of Portland’s Small Donor Elections program.
Attorney Maureen McGee Contributes to Enactment of Private Forest Accord
For Government Relations & Solutions attorney Maureen McGee, the close of the busy 2022 Oregon legislative session brought more than one reason to celebrate. Through her work as neutral legislative drafting counsel, Maureen made key contributions to a three-bill package enacting concepts of the Private Forest Accord into Oregon law, a precedent-setting collaboration between the timber industry and environmental groups.
Tonkon Torp Wins Ballot Challenge at Oregon Supreme Court
Tonkon Torp’s Government Solutions Practice Group is celebrating the release of an Oregon Supreme Court opinion in favor of its client, Associated General Contractors.
Representative Matters
Successful Ballot Challenge at Oregon Supreme Court
Represented Associated General Contractors in a ballot challenge for Initiative Petition 41 (IP 41). Following successful modifications requested in a comment letter submitted to the Attorney General (AG) for draft ballot title for IP 41, Tonkon Torp petitioned the Oregon Supreme Court for further refinement. The Court was persuaded by Tonkon Torp’s arguments and referred the ballot title back to the AG’s office, which made the required modifications.
Women’s Health Coverage
Coordinated with legislative champions, health policy stakeholders, and Bayer Women’s Health, in drafting, advocating, and ultimately passing HB 3064 in 2025, requiring coverage for FDA approved treatment for perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause.
Mental Health Crisis Support for Agricultural Workers
Partnered with multiple agricultural clients, Eastern Oregon counties, and Oregon State University Extensions Family and Community Health program leaders to pass SB 955 in 2023, ultimately funding the AgriStress Helpline, a confidential suicide support line tailored to the needs of the agricultural and natural resources sectors.
Property Tax Reform for Heavy Equipment
Led industry coalition to pass HB 4139 in 2018 – repealing property taxes on heavy rental equipment – in partnership with the American Rental Association and its member companies.
Local Short-Term Rental Policy Work
Our team has been engaged in high profile short-term rental (STR) policy disputes from the Oregon Coast, to the Gorge, to Central Oregon. We have developed a deep understanding of the state and local laws and procedures, as well as the political calculations and challenges, which drive the issues and have made them so difficult in recent years. We represent advocacy groups seeking to protect their property rights to operate STRs by using a multi-disciplinary, collaborative approach to first try to influence the public, policymakers, and staff to limit their overreaching restrictions. If that does not fully succeed, we use our extensive experience to litigate land-use and government law issues in state and federal courts, or in front of the Land Use Board of Appeals. We have a track record of targeted, efficient success helping these groups achieve what they ultimately want: long-term preservation of their right to operate an STR, or to sell their property to someone who does.
Services + Industries
Contact us or sign up for emails on all of our news and events.
We encourage you to contact us if you have further questions about our firm or our experience. For your protection, we cannot represent you until we know that doing so will not create a conflict of interest. Accordingly, please do not send us any confidential or secret information about any matter that may involve you until you receive a written statement from us that we represent you (an engagement letter).
If after browsing this web site you are unsure which lawyer you should contact, please call us at 503.221.1440.