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Sorted by: Portfolio Categories: Attorneys

Christopher Heywood

Recognized as a gifted trial lawyer, Chris Heywood aggressively and creatively defends the rights of his clients’ regardless of the charges brought against them. He is a shareholder at Hoffman Law who handles serious criminal cases throughout the state of Oregon. He has taken dozens of cases to trial, including serious felonies and Ballot Measure […]

Recognized as a gifted trial lawyer, Chris Heywood aggressively and creatively defends the rights of his clients’ regardless of the charges brought against them. He is a shareholder at Hoffman Law who handles serious criminal cases throughout the state of Oregon. He has taken dozens of cases to trial, including serious felonies and Ballot Measure 11 offenses.

Prior to joining the firm, Chris worked as prosecutor for five years where he handled all manner of cases including sexual abuse, felony domestic violence, and homicide.

Since leaving the prosecutor’s office, Chris has developed a reputation for formidable advocacy while representing a variety of clients across the state. Chris has represented individuals from all walks of life including local business owners, police officers, sports executives and elected officials.

Handling some of the firm’s most serious cases, Chris has been recognized by National Trial Lawyers as being in the top “40 Under 40” for criminal defense as well as being selected as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers.

Chris is licensed to practice in Oregon state and federal courts. In addition to traditional criminal defense in state and federal court, Chris handles pre-indictment investigations, Title IX cases arising in academic settings, and professional licensing investigations. Chris is a member of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Multnomah Bar Association, and the Gus J. Solomon American Inn of Court.

Justin Rusk

Justin T Rusk is a shareholder at Hoffman Law and a criminal defense attorney with a decade and a half’s experience in the legal profession. He is committed to providing exceptional legal representation to individuals and companies facing serious accusations and involved in complex legal matters. Justin brings his unique experience and insight as a […]

Justin T Rusk is a shareholder at Hoffman Law and a criminal defense attorney with a decade and a half’s experience in the legal profession. He is committed to providing exceptional legal representation to individuals and companies facing serious accusations and involved in complex legal matters. Justin brings his unique experience and insight as a former federal career clerk having managed complex multi-year criminal and civil cases to his handling of criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings in state and federal court, and before government agencies and professional licensing bodies.

Prior to joining Hoffman Law, Justin was a federal clerk in both Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. Justin represents individuals and companies in a broad range of white-collar criminal and regulatory matters, including serious federal crimes, securities fraud, False Claims Act violations, environmental investigations, and professional licensing matters.

Beginning in 2021, Justin was nominated for Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the area of Criminal Defense, and in 2023 was nominated for the National Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 in Criminal Defense. Justin is licensed to practice in state and federal courts in Nevada, Oregon and Washington as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the National and Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Associations, the Federal Bar Association, and the Multnomah Bar Association, and the Gus J. Solomon American Inn of Court.

In the past, Justin served as a member of the MBA Judicial Screening Committee and the Oregon State Bar’s Fee Dispute Arbitration Panel.

Janet Hoffman

Janet Hoffman is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney based in Portland, Oregon. The mission and culture of Hoffman Law is a direct reflection of her commitment to defend and protect her clients, to be their ally and advocate, and to fight on their behalf in every instance. As founder of the firm, Ms. Hoffman […]

Janet Hoffman is a highly experienced criminal defense attorney based in Portland, Oregon. The mission and culture of Hoffman Law is a direct reflection of her commitment to defend and protect her clients, to be their ally and advocate, and to fight on their behalf in every instance. As founder of the firm, Ms. Hoffman is both colleague and mentor to the shareholders and handpicked, highly skilled associates of the firm.

Ms. Hoffman has dedicated her career to providing the highest quality defense to all her clients while striving to raise the standard of practice through creative and zealous advocacy. Her mark in trade is to advance innovative legal defenses and to promote aggressive motion practice. Ms. Hoffman has established significant legal precedent in both state and federal courts, involving a wide range of criminal issues such as white-collar and corporate crimes, fraud, environmental crimes, violent crimes, corruption and sex crimes. She also is a leader in the profession through her ongoing teaching and publishing.

In the more than 40 years Janet Hoffman has practiced criminal defense, she has obtained the highest professional ratings. She is a member of the International Society of Barristers and was awarded an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell (the top rating in skill and ethics) by her peers. Janet is also a member of the Portland Business Journal’s BizWomen Coalition, a membership group of C-level executives and business owners.

Ms. Hoffman has been listed in Super Lawyers since 2007 and has been frequently included as one of Oregon’s top 50 lawyers and top 25 women lawyers in Oregon. She also has been among the Best Lawyers in America every year since 2001 and has been selected by her peers as Portland’s “Lawyer of the Year” via Best Lawyers multiple times since 2013.

“Being a Super Lawyer means having the ability to listen carefully to the client and articulate information they would otherwise be unable to present on their own behalf,” Ms. Hoffman said. “It means mastering the rules of evidence and being able to argue for your client’s best interests in ways that are new, innovative and successful. It also means not losing sight of the fact that because of our bar licenses, we have a monopoly on this system. That monopoly requires us to maintain the highest integrity and compassion for the people we serve.”

Ms. Hoffman is a frequent speaker and instructor on topics related to voir dire, jury selection, use of demonstrative evidence, cross-examination, trial techniques, expert witness testimony, presentation of defense theories and the Oregon Evidence Code. She has taught trial practice skills in multiple states.

She began her career as a public defender and is a member of the Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court and an editor of the Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal. In the past, Ms. Hoffman served on the editorial board of the Oregon State Bar litigation journal, as a member of the Board of Governors of the Oregon State Bar, and on the Board of the Multnomah Bar Association. She also served on the Uniform Trial Court Rules Committee and the ACLU Lawyers’ Committee (Northern District).

She received her BA from the University of Redlands in 1973 and her JD from Boston College Law School in 1977. She worked as a public defender until 1981, when she entered private practice.

In her spare time, Ms. Hoffman also serves on the board of Literary Arts.