Andrew McLain

Principal Attorney

With more than 15 years of experience in the law, Andy feels at home in court and in high-pressure negotiations. There are some cases that can only be resolved by a judge, after a trial, and others that only seem like they must end in court! “I talk about ‘what a judge would do,’ not because every case should go to trial, but because everybody needs to know what is likely to happen if they cannot get to settlement.” This is the key to Andy’s settlement approach.

Andy was born, raised, and educated in the Portland area. He graduated from Tigard High School and studied English Literature at Reed College. After earning his degree, Andy worked for a decade in technology– first as a network technician, then as a software developer. Andy left the computer industry and attended law school at Lewis & Clark’s Northwestern School of Law. Clerkships at the Federal Public Defender and a private defense firm in Portland led to a post-graduation position at a firm providing public defense services and child welfare representation in Washington County. “My mentors told me to learn to be a trial attorney by practicing criminal law. They didn’t talk about child welfare advocacy! Between the two types of practice, I learned how to plan my strategy, but improvise when things didn’t work out the way I expected.” In 2012, he moved his practice to Portland and founded McLain Legal.

Andy is married and has two grown daughters. In the autumn every year Andy forages for chanterelle mushrooms, and in winter, he often performs in the chorus for the Christmas Revels, a local arts organization. He is active in local Reed College Alumni activities.