Brett E Engel

PRO

Brett E Engel

1.0
Rating: 8.6

Licensed for 30 years

Family Lawyer at Portland, OR
Practice Areas: Family, Child Support, Adoption ... +4 more

520 SW Yamhill St Ste 600, Portland, OR

About Brett

Biography

Having practiced law in Portland for 20 years, Brett Engel is known as an exceptionally skilled litigation attorney. His busy practice focuses on all aspects of family law, including divorce, child cus...

Practice Areas

7

Practice Areas

Adoption 16%

16%
Alimony 16%

16%
Child Custody 16%

16%
Child Support 16%

16%
Family 16%

16%
Marriage and Prenuptials 16%

16%
Other 4%

4%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Awards

Distinguished Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 30 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 1995

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Kell Alterman & Runstein LLP

520 SW Yamhill St Ste 600, Portland, OR, 97204

www.gre-law.com

Brett E Engel's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

1.0 /5.0

12 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (12) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews | Case Results

Posted by Rosebud | March 15, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Taken Aback

I read the review where Mr. Engel instructed the wife to incite violence in the home. I had a similar experience. Brett instructed me to physically provoke my husband (invade his physical space, slap his face, shove him, put my hand on his face, etc.) until it incited him to assault me - better if ...the kids saw it. Then we could get my husband arrested and we would win the custody dispute. He directed me to hide tape/video recorders in the home that would later be edited to expose only my husband's assault. I was unwilling to do such things. Even worse, the plan was actually discovered during the case and hurt our credibility and custody results.

Posted by EllMar | March 06, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Beware

I simply wanted a competent, honest, ethical lawyer. Below are specific disturbing examples of Mr. Engel's representation of me. ---- 1) Mr. Engel miscalculated our financial assets by over 400%. Mr. Engel refused to stop fighting for his wrong financials until the judge threw them out. 2...) Mr. Engel guaranteed me that Oregon law required my ex to pay me spousal support in perpetuity. The judge denied Mr. Engel's demand and ordered that I receive spousal support for 1/2 the # of years we were married - because that was the standard. 3) Mr. Engel instructed me to physically harrass my husband in the home to incite him to hit me in front of the children to try to get him thrown out of the home and strengthen our case. 4) Mr. Engel instructed some of my winitnesses to state factually incorrect things. They were uncomfortable with the dishonesty and backed out.

Posted by anonymous | March 18, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Horrible

Mr.Engel is a waste of money and will only make your case worse! He will try and pinch every last penny he can by over charging, not communicating, and refusing to represent ethically on the matter. Not only did I waste my entire savings with this guy but he resigned before it even mattered. My Ex w...on everything and I was left high and dry! Don’t worse your time, Mr.Engel is about himself and does not represent his clients in good faith. I suggest using someone else absolutely on all matters!

Posted by anonymous | March 18, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Don’t Do It!!

I hired Brett for a divorce matter and not only did he drag the case on for way longer then it needed to but he made sure to have it cost as much as humanly possible. He lost me everything and then proceeded to tell me it’s the way it is. Awful lawyer and does not represent his clients in a decent ma...nner. Skip over Brett, you’ll be very thankful you did!

Posted by anonymous | December 25, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Major Financial Errors

Attorney Engel was retained to represent me during my divorce. We was responsible for working out how we would divide our financial assets. My soon to be ex husband and I had always shared our financial information with each other so it was supposed to be very simple. Mr. Engel however spent hours... of time convincing me based on his significant experience that my husband was hiding assets from me. I was naive and it was an emotional time going through a divorce so I trusted him as an expert and allowed him to draw us into a significant legal discovery including hiring a forensic account to review all money and court time. Mr. Engel charged me over $12,000 for this work he convinced me was necessary. In the end, a shared bank account with $500 was uncovered that my ex to be and me had forgotten. We split the $500; $250 each. Attorney Engel informed me he had made a mistake. I asked him to refund the $12,000 and he responded by telling me he was following my direction and no refund of any sort would happen. He cost me (and my children) $11,750 due to his mistake and took no responsibility. Just as bad, my ex husband never forgave me for what was done to him and we were never able to co-parent with trust again which caused great harm to my children. I fired Mr. Engel.

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Brett E Engel's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Brett
Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Family lawyer | Oct 22

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Lake James H Perriguey headshot
Lake James Perriguey

Family lawyer | Jun 29

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

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Experience

Rating:  8.6 (Excellent)

Honors

2017

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2016

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2015

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2014

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2013

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2012

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2011

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2010

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2009

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2008

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

N/A

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

Work Experience

1900 - Present

Partner, Kell, Alterman & Runstein, L.L.P.

Education

1995

Willamette University

JD

1988

University of Vermont

BA

Avvo Rating

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