Press Releases
Wilson Elser Adds Six-Attorney Team to Growing Portland, Oregon, Office
September 4, 2025
Peder Rigsby leads a multidisciplinary team of accomplished attorneys in defense of businesses, entities, and individuals facing complex casualty, commercial litigation, and discrimination claims in state and federal courts in the Pacific Northwest. He performs national counsel work for large clients based in the area, providing innovative and timely strategic counsel to help them make better-informed decisions, resolve complex legal challenges and achieve specific business goals. Peder draws on Wilson Elser’s deep resources and national footprint to handle high-value, multijurisdictional, and complex cases.
Peder makes a deliberate effort to understand his clients’ businesses and develops a strategy to address their goals cost-effectively. Peder is often called upon for his ability to successfully handle first-party insurance defense cases. He has built a strong practice defending clients in litigation involving wrongful death and catastrophic injury, professional malpractice, discrimination issues, products liability, and multi-party construction defects.
Before becoming an attorney, Peder worked for more than a decade with Costco in various management roles. While engaging with attorneys on litigating workers’ compensation claims, he was inspired to pursue a career in law. His time in the private sector instilled the importance of the client service experience and shaped his client-centric approach. Peder’s later roles as a judicial extern for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen Markman and law clerk to Hon. Christopher Yates and Hon. Kathleen Feeney, 17th Circuit Court of Kent County provided him with a sound foundation and a broad range of legal experience.
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Peder Rigsby leads a multidisciplinary team of accomplished attorneys in defense of businesses, entities, and individuals facing complex casualty, commercial litigation, and discrimination claims in state and federal courts in the Pacific Northwest. He performs national counsel work for large clients based in the area, providing innovative and timely strategic counsel to help them make better-informed decisions, resolve complex legal challenges and achieve specific business goals. Peder draws on Wilson Elser’s deep resources and national footprint to handle high-value, multijurisdictional, and complex cases.
Peder makes a deliberate effort to understand his clients’ businesses and develops a strategy to address their goals cost-effectively. Peder is often called upon for his ability to successfully handle first-party insurance defense cases. He has built a strong practice defending clients in litigation involving wrongful death and catastrophic injury, professional malpractice, discrimination issues, products liability, and multi-party construction defects.
Before becoming an attorney, Peder worked for more than a decade with Costco in various management roles. While engaging with attorneys on litigating workers’ compensation claims, he was inspired to pursue a career in law. His time in the private sector instilled the importance of the client service experience and shaped his client-centric approach. Peder’s later roles as a judicial extern for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Stephen Markman and law clerk to Hon. Christopher Yates and Hon. Kathleen Feeney, 17th Circuit Court of Kent County provided him with a sound foundation and a broad range of legal experience.
Peder Rigsby (Partner-Portland, OR), Dan Mooney (Partner-Seattle, WA) and John Carley (Of Counsel-Portland, OR) secured a highly favorable jury award on behalf of their client, a large resource recovery company. The trial was held in King County, WA, a notoriously difficult venue for defendants recently included on the “Judicial Hellhole Top 10” list. This was an admitted liability case that was vigorously contested.
The client’s garbage truck driver backed into the plaintiff’s vehicle, causing it minor damage. Plaintiff was standing in the truck bed and either jumped or fell out. Plaintiff claimed numerous catastrophic injuries, including multiple surgeries and a concussion diagnosed nearly five years after the accident. The alleged economic damages were $1.2 million. During jury selection, Plaintiff’s counsel anchored at $30 million. In closing, Plaintiff asked for $11.8 million. The defense strategy focused on causation and the plaintiff’s credibility, which included presenting numerous experts, a private investigator, and hours of video surveillance showing the plaintiff engaging in activities that he claimed he could not perform. Following a three-week trial, the jury returned a verdict of $500,000 or $100,000 less than our last offer.
Peder A. Rigsby, Daniel C. Mooney and John Carley