Michael B. Merchant

Mike Merchant is a trial lawyer and partner at Black Helterline LLP in Portland, Oregon. Mike brings over 35 years of litigation experience to the representation of plaintiffs and defendants in complex civil and commercial disputes at the trial and appellate levels across both states.

Mike has extensive experience representing clients in arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution forums. His deep familiarity with FINRA and AAA proceedings allows him to effectively navigate disputes that require a sophisticated understanding of both arbitral and judicial processes.

Drawing on decades of litigation and arbitration experience, Mike regularly counsels clients on risk‑management strategies. He collaborates with transactional lawyers to provide practical guidance on risk allocation, insurance issues, and liability exposure, helping clients address potential disputes proactively rather than reactively.

• Handles a broad range of high-stakes business related litigation, including contracts, business torts, insurance coverage, securities, employment, construction, real property, and environmental cases.
• Represents clients in arbitration proceedings, including matters before FINRA and the American Arbitration Association (AAA).
• Consults with the firm’s transactional lawyers and their clients on contract, insurance, and liability issues, drawing on his decades of courtroom and dispute resolution experience to help clients avoid or minimize exposure before disputes arise.

• Martindale‑Hubbell® Distinguished Peer Review Rating
• Oregon Super Lawyers®, Business Litigation (10 consecutive years)

• Author, Oregon State Bar Civil Practice and Pleading CLE chapter on settlement and compromise (1994–present); completed full rewrite in 2020
• Author, chapter on insurance policy reformation, Insurance Law in Oregon CLE (2020)
• Serves as an expert witness on attorney‑fee and attorney standard‑of‑care issues
• Frequent speaker to legal, business, and educational audiences
• Former Chair, Multnomah Bar Association Court Liaison Committee
• Former board member of a Portland neighborhood association and the Oregon Sports Authority