Read detailed information about our lawyers' backgrounds and qualifications by clicking the links above. Then, contact our office to schedule a free and confidential initial consultation.
Our FirmAbout Our Portland, Oregon, Law Firm
Representing Clients throughout Northwest Oregon
Multnomah County · Clackamas County · Washington County
Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen, P.C., opened its doors in 2003. We founded our law firm recognizing the need in Portland for a small law firm providing focused and discreet legal services in criminal defense and personal injury. As the practice of law in these areas became increasingly technical and specialized we realized our clients needed lawyers who focused in these areas.
Our attorneys are defined by the depth of their experience. Our most senior partner, H. Scott Raivio, has more than 30 years of legal practice to his name, and our other three lawyers each has more than a decade of practice to their credit. We have all focused our legal careers on either criminal defense work or personal injury work – and our decades of focused legal practice greatly benefits our clients.
“The Client Chooses the Goals, and the Lawyer Navigates to Reach Those Goals”
We strive to put our clients at ease during difficult times. We do this because we recognize that our clients are a critically important member of their own legal team. Often the mere fact of facing criminal charges can be both emotionally and intellectually devastating on our clients. We strive not to add to their anxieties. We do our best work when our clients contribute to their own case by clearly communicating to us their goals – not just in terms of financial compensation or avoiding a prison sentence – but also in terms of goals that would not be apparent to us without our clients' input – such as protecting a career, providing for a family, or guarding one's privacy.
Only when our clients are comfortable with us can they be truly effective members of their legal team – actively communicating their goals and trusting our assessment of their situation. Our attorneys understand this, as does our professional office staff. We keep an informal office atmosphere, and our office itself is in a converted 1800s home outside downtown Portland. We employ three highly trained and experienced paralegals to assist us in meeting our clients' wishes.
About Costs and Fees
Our law firm is also committed to providing the highest-quality legal representation at reasonable fees. All initial consultations are free. All personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis – this means there are no up-front fees or costs and we accept attorneys' fees only if and when our client receives a settlement or jury award.
In criminal defense cases, we will discuss fees in depth at the initial consultation and we will work with you to find a fee structure that is appropriate given the nature and relative complexity of the case. We can negotiate flat rate fees or hourly-rate fees, depending again on the type of case. Fees to defend drunk driving charges are different from fees to defend a homicide charge – as you can imagine.
In all cases, we make sure our clients always understand exactly what fees and costs they will pay for our services.
To discuss a criminal matter or personal injury case with one of our lawyers, contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential initial meeting. Call toll-free to 1-888-311-2016, or send us an e-mail.
Criminal AppealsThe criminal law attorneys at Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen, P.C., handle criminal appeals as well as criminal trial work. Our criminal appeals lawyers are licensed in all state and federal courts in Oregon.
If you are an attorney or an individual wanting to appeal a criminal conviction, explore Habeas Corpus, or Post Conviction Relief, we encourage you to contact our office to discuss your options for a criminal appeal, or other post conviction remedies.
Successful Trial Lawyers Who Know How to Look for the Legal Arguments That May Be Successful on Appeal
Anyone learning about criminal appeals for the first time will soon find out that a criminal trial is about not only about facts – what the prosecution can prove about who did what to whom - but also about preserving legal rulings in the record in the event of an unlawful, erroneous or defective conviction. Criminal appeals are a different creature entirely. Generally, in a criminal appeal, only questions of law are reviewed: were all proper laws, regulations and procedures followed, and were the criminal defendant's constitutional rights properly protected throughout the entire process? However, if the trial lawyer never raised a particular issue the Court of Appeals may not review it.
As criminal trial lawyers who also work criminal appeals, we have an eagle eye for procedural and constitutional errors that may have occurred at the trial stage and that may open the door for a successful appeal, or other form of post conviction relief.
Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen handles all types of criminal appeals: criminal appeals in state court or federal court; attempts to reverse a plea of guilty; attempts to reduce a sentence; appeals of denied motions to suppress evidence; and habeas corpus petitions.
If you are seeking detailed general information about criminal law, criminal defense or the criminal justice system, we invite you to review the following pages of our Web site: Criminal Defense FAQ and Criminal Law Information Center. If, however, you have questions about a specific case, we urge you to contact our office as soon as possible.
About Costs and Fees at Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen
Our law firm is committed to providing the highest-quality legal representation for reasonable rates. All initial consultations are free. In criminal appeals cases, we will discuss fees in depth at the initial consultation and we will work with you to find a fee structure that is appropriate given the nature and complexity of the case. We can negotiate flat rate fees or hourly-rate fees, depending again on the type of case.
In all cases, we make sure our clients always understand exactly what fees and costs they will pay for our services.
To discuss a criminal appeal with one of our lawyers, contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential initial meeting. Call toll-free to 1-888-311-2016, or send us an e-mail.
Drug CrimesPortland, Oregon: Defense of Drug Charges
Facing criminal drug charges is a serious business. Penalties and long-term negative consequences can be severe. Drug charges such as delivery or distribution are often prosecuted in federal court and may carry mandatory prison sentences. Even a first-time conviction for simple possession may carry serious penalties – not to mention the long-term negative consequences of carrying a conviction for drug charges on your criminal record.
Experienced Northwest Oregon Drug Charges Defense Lawyers
At Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen, P.C., our attorneys have over 70 years of combined experience defending criminal defendants against all types of drug charges.
We have successfully handled misdemeanor possession charges, medical marijuana cases and complex drug distribution cases involving associated charges of money laundering, wire fraud and conspiracy.
Aggressive and Discreet Criminal Defense Attorneys
Our law firm was founded with the specific purpose of providing high-quality and discreet criminal defense services to residents of Portland and surrounding communities in Northwest Oregon.
With our extensive criminal defense experience comes the ability to aggressively pursue the best possible outcome for each client we defend. We challenge police search and seizure procedures, make sure our clients' constitutional rights are protected throughout the entire process, and work every angle to minimize the negative consequences of an arrest on drug charges.
We also understand the importance of privacy and discretion. For most of our clients, their interaction with the criminal justice system is one of the most difficult times in their lives – and our lawyers and professional staff do everything in our power to make our clients comfortable and at ease. We make sure that our clients understand every step of the process – what comes next and the importance of each action we undertake on their behalf.
General information about criminal law, criminal defense or the criminal justice system is available on the following pages of our Web site: Criminal Defense FAQ and Criminal Law Information Center. If, however, you have questions about a specific case, we urge you to contact our office as soon as possible.
About Costs and Fees at Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen
Our law firm is committed to providing the highest-quality legal representation for reasonable rates. All initial consultations are free. In drug charges cases, we will discuss fees in depth at the initial consultation and we will work with you to find a fee structure that is appropriate given the nature and complexity of the case. We can negotiate flat rate fees or hourly-rate fees, depending again on the type of case.
In all cases, we make sure our clients always understand exactly what fees and costs they will pay for our services.
To discuss how we can work with you to defend against drug crimes charges, contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential initial meeting. Call toll-free to 1-888-311-2016, or send us an e-mail
White Collar CrimesPortland, Oregon: Defense of White Collar Crimes
If at all possible, do not wait until an arrest to seek legal advice if you believe you are under investigation by the police for a white collar crime such as embezzlement, credit card fraud, or any other kind of financial crime.
Your right to a criminal defense attorney begins before an arrest – and your lawyer will be better-positioned to protect your rights and your freedom if you seek legal advice at the first sign of investigation.
Experienced Criminal Defense Attorneys for White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes, also known as financial crimes, are different than other types of criminal charges in many ways. They are often preceded by a lengthy investigation. The investigation – and the process of building a defense – is paper-intensive and often requires consultation with forensic accountants. People accused of white collar crimes may never have encountered the criminal justice system before, and may require extensive legal counseling and guidance as they move through the system. They may also require an attorney who understands the importance of discretion, who will work as hard to protect the client's privacy and professional reputation as to protect the client's rights and freedoms.
At Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen, P.C., we founded our law firm with the specific intention of providing high-quality, highly focused and discreet criminal defense services – for reasonable fees – to residents of Portland and the surrounding Northwest Oregon communities.
Our lawyers bring to the table a combined 70 years of criminal defense experience in both state and federal criminal courts – almost all of it in Oregon. We know criminal defense law, and we know the Oregon criminal justice system.
We have successfully defended our clients against a wide range of white collar crimes, including charges of identity theft, mortgage fraud, credit card fraud and computer crimes.
General information about criminal law, criminal defense or the criminal justice system is available on the following pages of our Web site: Criminal Defense FAQ and Criminal Law Information Center. If, however, you have questions about a specific case, we urge you to contact our office as soon as possible.
Contact Raivio, Kohlmetz & Steen for a Free and Confidential Initial Consultation
All initial consultations are free. We will discuss fees in depth at the initial consultation and we will work with you to find a fee structure that is appropriate given the nature and complexity of the case against you. We can negotiate flat rate fees or hourly-rate fees, depending again on the type of case.
In all cases, we make sure our clients always understand exactly what fees and costs they will pay for our services.
Contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential initial meeting. Call toll-free to 1-888-311-2016, or send us an e-mail.