About Kelly Clark
Mr. Clark is a trial and appellate lawyer who represents individuals, families and businesses against large, powerful institutions, public and private. He is well-recognized for his courtroom skills, for his knowledge of public and constitutional law, and for his ability successfully to litigate or negotiate creative solutions to difficult disputes with large organizations. As of 2008, Mr. Clark has practiced before or against some 85 federal, state and local government agencies. He has brought cases in state and federal court on civil rights, voting rights, religious liberty, free speech and property rights. He has been legal counsel to numerous political campaigns, including legislative, congressional and gubernatorial candidates.
Just in the last few years, Kelly has handled numerous cases of public consequence: from 2004-2007, capping over a dozen years as one of the Northwest’s leading lawyers working on the Catholic priest abuse scandals, representing over forty sexual abuse survivors with claims in the Portland Archdiocese bankruptcy; In 2005 and 2006, challenging the expansion of casinos in Oregon, including the Florence casino and the proposed Columbia Gorge casino; In 2004 and 2005, advocating for the rights of property owners under Oregon’s landmark property rights Ballot Measure 37; And in 2004 challenging Multnomah County’s attempts to issue same sex marriage certificates in violation of state law—a challenge which resulted in a unanimous win before the Oregon Supreme Court.
For nearly fifteen years, Kelly Clark has been one of the West Coast’s leading advocates for victims of child abuse. While in the Legislature in 1989 and 1991, he co-authored Oregon’s child abuse statute of limitations and the ban on child pornography. Since then he has represented over 150 individuals abused as children by trusted adults, including priests, other ministers, coaches, Scout leaders, and teachers. Kelly’s 1999 win in the Oregon Supreme Court gained national attention for its landmark theory of liability for “institutions of trust” whose employees abuse children.
Mr. Clark is active in community and charitable endeavors, is a sometime adjunct Professor of Political Science at
Often asked to teach effective public speaking, Mr. Clark is frequently in demand as a speaker and writer on law and public policy.
