Pilar French is a diligent yet tenacious advocate for her clients, representing clients in complex commercial litigation and counseling them on crisis management and emergency remedies. During her 25-year law practice, Pilar has litigated high-stakes matters for a variety of clients including software providers, retailers, manufacturers, accountants, product distributors, and financial institutions.
In addition to having significant experience in defending against government enforcement actions, Pilar has extensive experience in matters involving the financial and banking industry and has received annual recognition for her work by The Best Lawyers in America since 2013. She was named “Portland Lawyer of the Year” for banking and finance litigation by Best Lawyers in 2022 and is also recognized in Chambers USA and Super Lawyers Magazine.
Services
- Litigation
- Consumer Financial Services
- Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Class Action Litigation
- Mediation and Arbitration
- Product Liability and Mass Tort
- Environment and Natural Resources
- Government Affairs and Public Policy
- White Collar Defense and Investigations
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- State Attorneys General
- Banking and Financial Services
- Manufacturing and Consumer Products
Experience
Representative Matters
Multi-National Government Enforcement Litigation
Defended multi-national pharmaceutical and health care product distributor in government-led consumer protection and public nuisance actions in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. Pilar has defended manufacturers, servicers, and financial institutions in similar high-stakes litigation pursued by government plaintiffs.
Banking Litigation
Representing banks in class action and single plaintiff trials in federal and state consumer law litigation concerning credit cards, deposit accounts, ACH, and/or loans.
Real Estate Litigation
Representing developers, and commercial lessees and lessors, in complex litigation.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Southeast Legal Clinic
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Foundation, Board Member, 2023-present
American Inn of Court, Indianapolis Chapter, 1995-1996; Portland Chapter, 1999-2005, 2017-2020
Recognition & Accomplishments
The Best Lawyers in America, “Portland Lawyer of the Year,” Banking and Finance Litigation, 2022
Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, 2022-2024
The Best Lawyers in America, Banking and Finance Litigation, 2013-2025
Thomson Reuters, "Oregon Super Lawyer," Civil Litigation: Defense, 2022-2024
Legal Lean Sigma and Project Management Yellow Belt Certification
Speaking Engagements
“How to Get Hired,” MBA Fellows Mentoring, July 2023
“Daubert, Frye and 104 Hearings,” October 2022
“How to Get Hired,” MBA Fellows Mentoring, July 12, 2022
Board Memberships & Community Service
Oregon League of Minority Voters, 2018-2019
Artichoke Community Music, 2015-2016
Rock N' Roll Camp for Girls, 2007
COVID-19 Medical Habeas, 2020-2021
Portland Business Alliance, Leadership Portland, Participant, Class of 2005
Credentials
Education
Indiana University, Robert H. McKinney School of Law (J.D. 1996)
Northwestern University (B.A., with honors, 1992)
Languages
Admissions
Oregon
Washington
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
U.D. District Court for the Western District of Washington
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit