Joshua L. Ross
Portland
601 SW Second Avenue Suite #1900
Portland, OR 97204
Josh fuels his passion for finding the winning argument with intellect, empathy, and conviction. At his core, Josh believes in his clients’ cause, and does not shy away from conflict or complicated legal matters.
Josh represents clients in a wide variety of civil matters, including trust and estate litigation, shareholder disputes, consumer and securities fraud actions, class actions, breach of professional and fiduciary duty, and property and contract disputes.
In his trust and estate litigation practice, Josh represents trustees, personal representatives, beneficiaries, and interested parties in litigation. Josh handles claims of misconduct by trustees or personal representatives, mismanagement of assets by fiduciaries, matters concerning capacity to amend estate plans, will contests, and undue influence by interested parties.
After law school, Josh served as the “elbow clerk” to Hon. Rick Haselton, former Chief Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals. Before joining Keller Rohrback, Josh practiced at a different Portland law firm where he was a partner and served a term as co-Managing Partner. Josh serves as an arbitrator for Multnomah County Circuit Court and with Arbitration Service of Portland.
Community service is a fundamental component of Josh’s work and life. From 2013 to 2016, Josh served on the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors and served a four-year term on the State Professional Responsibility Board between 2020 and 2023. Josh also volunteered with Legal Aid’s Domestic Violence Project.
Josh was born and raised in Texas. Before law school, Josh lived abroad for many years, served in the military, attended culinary school, and worked as the assistant chef of a Moroccan restaurant, where he met his wife. He loves downhill skiing with his two kids and taking walks up Mt. Tabor.
Honors & Awards
Best Lawyers in America®, Portland, Oregon, 2025 (Recognized since 2016):
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
Selected to Super Lawyers list in Super Lawyers - Oregon, 2013-2024
Benchmark Litigation, 2018-2025
Top 50: Oregon Super Lawyers: 2015-2016, 2020-2023
Oregon State Bar, President’s Public Service Award, 2022
Selected to Rising Stars list in Super Lawyers - Oregon, 2010-2012
Daily Journal of Commerce, Up & Coming Lawyers, 2010
Multnomah Bar Association, YLS Award of Merit, 2010
Lewis & Clark First Year Mentor Program, Outstanding Partner Award, 2009
Multnomah Bar Association, Haglund Award, 2008
Multnomah Bar Association, Pro Bono Honor Roll
Professional & Civic Involvement
Oregon State Bar:
• State Professional Responsibility Board, Board Member, 2020-2023
• House of Delegates, Region 5, 2009-2012; 2018-2023
• New Lawyer Mentoring Program, Volunteer Mentor, 2017-present
• Board of Governors, 2013-2016
• Consumer Law Section Executive Committee, Member, 2009-2012; Treasurer, 2011-2012
• Oregon State Bar Leadership College, 2010, Fellow
• OSB/OJD Task Force on Oregon eCourt Implementation, Member, 2008-2009
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Oregon Women Lawyers, Member
Brian Grant Foundation - Board Member, 2017-2021
Multnomah Bar Association:
• Professionalism Award Screening Committee, 2018
• Equality Committee, 2010-2013
• OSB Convocation on Equality, Chair, Recognition Sub-Committee, 2011
• Futures Committee, 2008-2010
• Young Lawyers Section Service to the Public Committee, 2006-2008
• Imprint Program, Co-Chair, 2007-2008
Legal Aid Domestic Violence Project - Volunteer Attorney, 2007-2022
Classroom Law Project - Volunteer Judge, Former Volunteer Coach
Creative Science School-Former Girls Basketball Coach
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Portland - Former "Big Brother"
Congregation Havurah Shalom-Former Steering Committee Member and Corporate Secretary
Practice Emphasis
Education
University of Texas at Austin B.A., with Honors Middle Eastern Studies/Hebrew
Hebrew University, Jerusalem year abroad program, 1993-1994
Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark CollegeJ.D., cum laude, 2003
Bar and Court Admissions
2003, Oregon
2008, Washington
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
