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About Gretchen Mandekor

Lead Trial Attorney at Mandekor Law Firm

Gretchen Mandekor, or G-Force as her colleagues call her, is the owner and lead trial attorney at Mandekor Law Firm, specializing in personal injury lawsuits and the defense of legal malpractice matters. She has successfully tried dozens of jury trials in both state and federal courts, earning her a stellar reputation in Oregon’s legal community and beyond.

As a defense attorney for nearly two decades, Gretchen worked closely with insurance companies and has a deep understanding for how they operate. Now as a plaintiff’s attorney, she leverages her past experiences to achieve the best possible outcomes for her clients. When Gretchen shows up, insurance companies listen.

In addition to representing clients, Gretchen frequently serves as an arbitrator and mediator in personal injury disputes and speaks on various litigation topics at continuing legal education classes for lawyers. Her peers often seek her expertise, recognizing her as a leading authority in the field.

Gretchen’s accolades include being named a Best Lawyer in America (2024) and a Super Lawyer (2020-24), among many others. She’s a member of the Multnomah Bar Association, the Oregon State Bar Association, the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, and the Oregon Board of Directors of the American Board of Trial Advocates, known as ABOTA, a highly prestigious honor few of her peers have attained.

Gretchen regularly receives referrals of clients from other accomplished attorneys and judges, and has represented their close friends and family members. She is truly a Lawyer's Lawyer, and she in fact serves in this role in her legal malpractice cases.

Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Gretchen is proud of her Canadian roots and is fluent in French. In fact, she’s been known to manage entire cases in French. Despite her international upbringing, she considers herself a third-generation Oregonian due to her strong family connections to Corvallis.

Gretchen earned her undergraduate degree in Latin with First Class Honours from McGill University in Montreal and her law degree with a certificate in International Law from the University of Oregon School of Law. During college breaks, she worked at a grain elevator performing heavy physical labor, which instilled in her an incredible work ethic.

When she’s not working, Gretchen stays inspired by traveling to places like her hometown of Vancouver, BC, New York City and Los Angeles to visit her amazing offspring, the Oregon Coast, France, and Bora Bora, and by pursuing her many passions. She spends most of her time outdoors, walking the neighborhood, bird watching, and tending to her garden. Ever creative, G-Force is often starting or completing a needlepoint, sewing, quilting, or writing project (usually poetry inspired by life experiences). As a former ballerina, Gretchen loves all forms of dance.

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Awards

  • Forbes has selected Gretchen Mandekor as one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers in Portland, Oregon for 2024, standing out as the only woman to earn this honor.

  • Best Lawyers, 2024

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2024

  • U.S. News Best Lawyers, 2020–24

  • Super Lawyer, 2020-24

  • Rising Star, Super Lawyers 2008–13

  • Member of the Oregon Board of Directors of the American Board of Trial Advocates

Education

  • University of Oregon Law School (J.D., 1999)

  • McGill University (B.A. with First Class Honours, 1994)

Publications & Presentations

  • Demonstrator and panel speaker on the topic of Voir Dire at the Oregon State Bar’s Litigation Institute, “2025 Litigation Institute – Trial Skills for Today's Litigators: Revisit, Refresh, and Reboot” March 2025

  • Author of an article entitled, “How to Make Expert Witnesses Interesting” in the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer Magazine, Winter 2025

  • Instructor and Speaker at Plaintiffs' Trial Skills College, Lewis & Clark Advocacy Center, and Oregon State Bar Litigation Section, January 2025

  • Instructor for Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Trial Academy 201, eight-week advanced trial practice seminar for lawyers, 2023

  • Featured speaker on the topic, “Top Trial Dos and Don’ts” at the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Motor Vehicle Section meeting, September 2023

  • Author of an article entitled, “Arbitration vs. Trial” in the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer Magazine, Spring 2023

  • Featured speaker at a Multnomah Bar Association CLE on the topic, “Personal Injury Case Selection”, 2023

  • Speaker at the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association convention in August of 2022 on the topic, “Try a Clean Case with Consistent Themes – Winning the Righteous Battle: How to Beat an Aggressive Defense and Change Your Client’s Life”, 2022

  • Featured speaker at an Oregon Trial Lawyers Association CLE presentation regarding what to do when your case is removed to federal court: “Oh @#$% I Just Got Removed to Federal Court”, The Auto Case, 2021

  • Featured speaker at a Multnomah Bar Association CLE on the topic of “Claims, Pains and Automobiles: Presenting and Resolving UM/UIM Claims”, Multnomah Bar Association, 2021

  • Featured speaker on the topic, “New ‘Make Whole’ Law – SB 421 – ORS 742.544” presented to the Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund Personnel, Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund, 2020

  • Featured speaker at the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Trial Academy 101 on the topic of “Arbitration and Mediation”, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2020

  • Featured speaker at the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention on the topic, “Litigation – Dos and Don’ts for Plaintiff Attorneys”, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2020

  • Featured speaker on the topic, “How to Prepare for & Present a Powerful Closing Argument” at the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Trial Academy 201, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2020

  • Author of a subchapter on closing argument entitled “Closing Argument: Capitalize on Soundbites” in the trial practice manual, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association Automobile Litigation Deskbook, 2020

  • Presented an Oregon State Bar CLE on the topic, “How to Prepare for and Present a Powerful Closing Argument”, Oregon State Bar CLE, 2019

  • Featured speaker at an Oregon Trial Lawyers Association CLE on the topic, “An Insider’s Perspective: What I Learned Defending Auto Cases for Eighteen Years”, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, 2019

  • Featured in the American Bar Association Commission on Women in Profession’s book, The Road to Independence: 101 Women’s Journeys to Starting Their Own Law Firms, American Bar Association, 2011

Memberships

  • Subcommittee Member, Case Resolution of General Civil Litigation, Oregon Judicial Department, part of the Chief Justice’s Advisory Committee on Civil Justice

  • Multnomah County Bar Association

  • Oregon State Bar Association

  • Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

  • American Board of Trial Advocates

Oregon Personal
Injury Lawyer
Practice Areas:

  • "Gretchen Mandekor is without a doubt the best personal injury attorney in Oregon. Her experience in the field is very extensive, particularly with circumstances of mediation and in-court trial cases. It was easy for me to quickly put 100% trust in her and to know without a doubt that my legal matters were in incredible hands. Mandekor Law Firm is the best of the best."

    Todd Czarnecki

  • "Gretchen Mandekor, a renowned attorney at Mandekor Law Firm, displayed exemplary leadership in achieving our $11.4 Million trial victory against Mt. Hood Ski Bowl. Her involvement was vital to our triumph. Observing Gretchen's trial performance was akin to witnessing a masterclass."

    Mackenzie Totten

  • "After my car accident in 2021, I was unsure how to proceed. [Gretchen] has been there for me to help navigate the courts and insurance companies. Her knowledge and connections in the legal world of the Pacific Northwest is beyond compare. During all my doctors, surgeries and physical therapy appointments I never had to worry. Gretchen and her team handled all the paperwork to make that process stress free. All I had to do was work on my recovery."

    April Martin

  • "I set out to write this professional review, but I have to stop myself from writing a love letter. [Gretchen] helped me after my back-to-back car accidents, ensuring the outcomes that protected me. She brought efficiency and quality to every interaction. I can tell that she loves her work from her genuine care about others. In meetings for the cases, we talked about so much more than just business. She went above and beyond."

    Viktoriya Voloshina

  • "Professional. Integrity with expertise. Honest, kind and above all Gretchen Mandekor has a heart of gold. Thank you for what you did for me. 100% best lawyer in town!"

    Clay Gavidia

  • "I'm so glad the universe brought Gretchen into my life! Immediately after meeting her, I knew that she would represent me with care and compassion while working hard to get me the best possible outcome. I always felt heard and she ensured that I could get my questions answered. I highly recommend Gretchen Mandekor as counsel should you ever find yourself in need of an outstanding and tenacious personal injury attorney who treats you as a whole person."

    Anna Mangiantini

  • "Gretchen Mandekor is a brilliant, powerful and compassionate attorney who achieves justice and accountability for her clients. If you have an opportunity to work with Gretchen or to learn from her, take it!"

    Hermine Hayes-Klein

  • "Gretchen Mandekor was very knowledgeable about the law, plus her years of trial experience. She gave me so much confidence to see my case through to the end."

    Sue Wirick

  • "I have had the honor and pleasure of working with Gretchen Mandekor as both co-counsel and opposing counsel. She provides her clients with first-rate representation and advocacy and has the rare ability to deliver a powerful argument to a jury while making it appear effortless. I have also asked her to serve as both arbitrator and mediator on cases of mine and have found her to be highly effective in both roles."

    Eric Meyer

  • "Gretchen's one of the best attorneys in Oregon. I've worked with and against her for twenty years. She's friendly, smart, and gets great results for her clients. It also helps that she has years of experience on both sides of cases, extensive trial experience, and decades as a mediator. This has helped her to understand all sides of a case, which also helps her clients."

    Bryan Dawson

  • "I can't properly express how much I appreciate Gretchen Mandekor and her incredibly friendly paralegal, Angel Krois. They were not only effective, but made me feel cared for and calm throughout the process. I highly recommend Mandekor Law Firm!"

    Cee Gee

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