Rachel C. Lee

Rachel Lee helps her clients with a variety of business litigation, with a specific focus on appellate matters. When advocating for her clients on appeal, Rachel draws on her previous experience serving as a judicial clerk for Judge Susan P. Graber of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Whether at the appellate or trial court level, clients in industries as diverse as healthcare, construction, manufacturing, utilities, and online services have come to rely on Rachel’s assistance in navigating complex civil litigation.

Education

Stanford Law School, J.D., 2009; Order of the Coif and Pro Bono Distinction; Senior Notes Editor, Stanford Law Review; Stanford Supreme Court Litigation Clinic, 2007-2008; Hilmer Oehlman, Jr. Award, 2006

University of Utah, Doctoral student, Biology Department, 1994-1997

Admissions

Oregon

Washington

U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Supreme Court of the United States

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

• Representing protestors injured by federal law enforcement officers in appeal of trial court’s denial of qualified immunity.
• Assisting computer chip manufacturer against appeal of judgment dismissing plaintiffs’ consumer protection claims.
• Defense of tribal health consortium in corporate governance dispute appeal.
• Successfully defended health care services provider against multiple appeals by terminated employee.
• Successfully obtained decision overturning denial of qualified immunity to public official in due process claim brought by terminated employee.
• Assistance with food processor’s appeals in antitrust actions.
• Successfully obtained affirmance of dismissal of False Claims Act suit against construction contractors.
• Assisted in successfully obtaining affirmance of summary judgment against breach of contract claim.
• Assisted transportation district with briefing to defeat petition for rehearing in appeal involving standby letter of credit.

United States Supreme Court

• Assistance with merits briefing and oral argument preparation on behalf of injured residents in County of Los Angeles v. Mendez, a United States Supreme Court case involving § 1983 claims for sheriff’s deputies’ unlawful entry into home and shooting of residents.
• Assistance with petition to United States Supreme Court for certiorari in case involving declaration of state ownership of riverbed currently held by private owners.
• Assistance with petition to United States Supreme Court for certiorari in case involving procedural due process rights of hotel development company.

Oregon Court of Appeals

• Defending favorable jury trial verdict against multiple appeals in suit against members of closely held company for oppression, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, unjust enrichment, and breach of contract.
• Challenging validity of fuel regulations on behalf of coalition of businesses and associations.
• Assisted in successfully obtaining affirmance of bench trial verdict against claims by Oregon Attorney General that consumer product manufacturer violated the Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act.
• Assisted in successfully obtaining affirmance of dismissal of putative class action that claimed that health insurance non-profit violated its articles of incorporation by allegedly accumulating excess profits.
• Assisted with challenge to validity of transportation fuel regulations on behalf of industry organization.

Oregon Supreme Court

• Defending favorable Oregon Court of Appeals decision in Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act appeal involving claims by Oregon Attorney General against consumer product manufacturer.
• Assisted in successfully obtaining Oregon Supreme Court decision rejecting challenge to electricity rates.
• Assistance with petition to Oregon Supreme Court on behalf of telecommunications company in challenge to city amendments to right-of-way fee.
• Prepared amicus brief in Unlawful Trade Practices Act case involving alleged data security breach.

Trial Courts

• Member of the litigation team that successfully defended computer chip manufacturer against consolidated class actions in MDL asserting consumer protection claims.
• Defending subscription service provider against Unlawful Trade Practices Act claims.
• Member of trial team that successfully defended consumer product manufacturer in Unlawful Trade Practices Act bench trial.
• Member of the litigation team that defended pharmaceutical distributor against tort claims by state government.
• Defense of timber company against antitrust suit.
• Successfully defended music publisher against antitrust suit.
• Successfully defended food processor against multiple antitrust suits.
• Successfully defended physicians and clinic against suit by former employee alleging violations of False Claims Act and retaliation.
• Successfully defended impact investment fund manager against state False Claims Act investigation involving tax credit program.
• Member of the litigation team that represented online travel companies in tax disputes with local and state governments.
• Member of litigation team that obtained dismissal of § 1983 claim by union against municipal corporation and its directors.

• Stoel Rives LLP Andrew Guy Pro Bono Award, Recipient, 2018, 2021
• Oregon State Bar Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017

Professional

• Oregon State Bar, Executive Committee of Constitutional Law Section, former Member; former Chair and Treasurer
• Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society, former Board Member

Civic

• Sabin Community Association, former Board Secretary and Chair of the Land Use & Transportation Committee
• Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, former Board Member
• Grant High School Mock Trial Program, former Coach