Damien S Donnelly-Cole

After a legal education that involved hands-on experience with both the prosecution of major criminal offenses through the United States Attorney’s Office as well as the defense of people accused of crimes, I began my legal career as a public defender in Portland. I began with a heavy trial docket defending misdemeanors such as DUII, Driving While Suspended, Domestic Violence Assault or Harassment, and Prostitution cases. Subsequently, I defended only major felony cases such as Ballot Measure 11 crimes like Vehicular Manslaughter, Attempted Murder, Robbery in the First Degree, sex crimes, and various levels of Assault. The true value of this experience is that I have handled numerous types of criminal cases and was in court nearly everyday making personal connections with judges and prosecutors.  

After some time with a small criminal defense firm that specialized in defending people accused of DUII’s, I founded Stumptown Legal to help people in Oregon navigate the judicial forest. Every job I have had, both before and after I entered the legal field, involved helping those that needed my help. If you’ve been accused of a crime, you need my help, and I am here to help you.

Before becoming a lawyer, I worked out of Washington, D.C., helping landmine survivors in Jordan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Bosnia, gain the access to rehabilitation services they needed. I also worked to improve access to water and wastewater services in Cairo, Egypt, and helped provide the Egyptian public with accurate information about financial investing and financial market operations.

My international journey began when I was born in Dublin, Ireland. I later spent time studying Spanish in Cusco, Peru and Madrid, Spain. My family spent over a decade living in China allowing me the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Asia. 

My education focused on philosophy, history, and law. My upbringing and education highlighted the importance of viewing events with an open mind, contemplating the future, and paying attention to the lessons of the past. Time spent living in, and observing, other cultures has strongly influenced how I communicate and connect with others. I have learned the importance of listening to others with an open mind, the importance of trying to understand who they are and what is important to them. If we decide to work together, I will do my utmost to understand who you are and what is important to you.

In 2006, after a life and jobs that took me throughout the world, I discovered the Pacific Northwest and all the joys of living in this part of the country. I happily made Portland my home after learning about the great food culture and the easy access to camping, hiking, skiing, and the Pacific Coast. It was here that I met my wife, rescued multiple trouble-making dogs from the Humane Society, and experienced the birth of my daughter.