Kelsey Benedick

Bar Admissions

• Oregon
• Washington

Court Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States District Court, District of Oregon

Education

• Lewis & Clark Law School (J.D., summa cum laude)
  • Lewis & Clark Law Review, Notes & Comments Editor
• University of New Mexico (B.A., Spanish, Minor in Chemistry, summa cum laude)
  • U.S. Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship
  • Phi Betta Kappa

Awards & Recognition

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® – Commercial Litigation (2021-2025)
• Oregon Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Business Litigation (2020-2024)

Representative Experience

• Represented start-up commercial tenant in defending against breach of commercial lease action
• Represented pro bono client in Section 1983 civil rights matter against various Oregon Department of Corrections officials
• Represented global distributor of agricultural commodities in action to enforce foreign arbitration award, advancing novel theories of law related to quasi in rem jurisdiction in the District of Oregon
• Represented client in defending against quiet title and declaratory relief action
• Represented small business owner in quiet title action, to secure title to business property client had purchased approximately 20 years ago without ever receiving a signed deed to the property
• Represented supply chain partner in dispute with buyer after buyer reduced quantity of ordered product, which had unique specifications and could not be easily resold to a third party
• Represented couple who operated small herb farm in claims brought by large herb wholesaler at trial
• Represented corporation in dispute involving trademark infringement, counterfeiting, and cyberpiracy claims
• Represented officers of energy storage company in defamation and dilution claims brought by former employee
• Represented financial institution in dispute involving alleged breach of contract, interference with contractual relations, and violation of Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)
• Represented local nonprofit which intervened in lawsuit to protect rights of transgender students in Oregon

Previous Professional Experience

• Larkins Vacura Kayser LLP, Partner (2024)
  • Associate (2019-2024)
• Lane Powell, Associate (2017-2019)
  • Summer Associate (2016)
• United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Judicial Extern to the Honorable Michael Simon (2016)

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
  • Board Member (2024)
  • Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair (2023-2024)
  • Pro Bono Committee (2019-Present)
  • Imprint Program (2019-Present)
• Multnomah Bar Association (2017-Present)
• Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court (2017-2020)

Community Involvement

• Lawyers for Literacy, Board Member (2023-Present)
• U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society, Board Member (2022-Present)
• Best Buddies Oregon Chapter, Board Member (2019)
• Lewis & Clark Law School, Mentor (2018-Present)

Representative Presentations and Publications

• CLE: Updates and Developments in Transgender Law, OSB Civil Rights Section (2019)
• “Eradicating Revenge Porn: Intimate Images as Personal Identifying Information,” Author, Lewis & Clark Law Review Notes & Comments, Vol. 22 (July 16, 2018)
• “Candy Trademarking 101: What You Need to Know About Distinctiveness,” Co-Author, Confectionary News (December 5, 2017)