Michael Dwyer

Michael Dwyer

also known as Dwyer Mediation & Law

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 48 years

Mediation Lawyer at Portland, OR
Practice Areas: Mediation, Family

215 SW Washington Street, Suite 200, Portland, OR

About Michael

Biography

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

Mediation 90%

I specialize in conflicts involving relationships. These include family law issues such as divorce, custody and parenting, child and spousal support, elder and probate issues. It also includes workplace disputes and the dissolution of family held businesses.

26 years | 2,000 cases

90%
Family 10%

After a long career as a trial lawyer in traditional family law, I now specialize in collaborative law, a non-adversarial, cooperative approach to helping individuals and families through divorce.

37 years | 1,000 cases

10%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 36 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 1989

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Washington for 23 years

State: Washington

Acquired: 2003

Resigned

No misconduct found

Licensed in Hawaii for 43 years

State: Hawaii

Acquired: 1982

Resigned - Voluntary

No misconduct found

Licensed in California for 48 years

State: California

Acquired: 1977

Resigned

No misconduct found

Location

Dwyer Mediation & Law

215 SW Washington Street, Suite 200, Portland, OR, 97204

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Michael Dwyer's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

18 Client Reviews

5 star (18)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by anonymous | November 19, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Expert, professional help through a very challenging time.

I am so thankful to have had Michael help my ex and I navigate our divorce. He was a kind and warming presence during a very difficult time for me. He clearly explained the process of divorce, and helped work through the details that would have otherwise been very difficult to navigate on our own. Mi...chael certainly helped us to avoid what would have certainly been more emotional, expensive, and lengthy. I am sincerely thankful for Michael’s expert help in aiding me through this process gracefully. I would highly recommend his services.

Posted by Meenakshi | December 1, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Compassionate & insightful

Compassionate and insightful are the two words that come to mind when describing our interactions with Michael Dwyer. My ex-husband and I had been trying for months to reach a divorce agreement to no avail. Someone recommended Michael Dwyer. Michael, within an hour or so of talking to us, was able to... recognize what was holding each of us back. He worked with us, separately and together, helping us reach an agreement very speedily; one that worked for both of us. He also went out of his way to make sure that the divorce paperwork was filed before he left on vacation. I highly recommend Michael Dwyer. He will work with you with compassion and insight. He will help you transcend your current anger and bitterness and reach an agreement that you can live with years down the road! FYI – our divorce was finalized in Sep 2019. Thank you, Michael!

Posted by Janie | April 6, 2019 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

Michael Dwyer

Michael Dwyer worked to mediate a coparenting and financial agreement for my ex and I following our separation. He has also worked with us over the years to modify the agreement when needed. For these years, Michael has worked with us with compassion, understanding and fairness. He has helped us thro...ugh difficult conflicts with patience, and deep understanding. working with Micheal helped make a confusing, complex and often heartbreaking process easier to navigate through to a place of more peace and clarity. I am deeply appreciative of his help and guidance!

Posted by Lena | January 3, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Professional and compassionate

I am so happy I hired Michael to help me through the divorce process. He was compassionate, calm, very professional, firm when it was needed, knowledgeable, and he responded to phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner. The whole process was stressful, but Michael’s presence and support made it ve...ry manageable, both logistically and emotionally. I really felt like he had my back and was an unwavering advocate from the beginning to the end.

Posted by anonymous | October 27, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Effective, caring and efficient

Divorce is never easy. But by hiring Michael Dwyer rather than going the traditional divorce route, the pain (emotional and financial) was minimized. Michael took a situation that presented unique challenges and used his calming, caring personality to work through those challenges. I cannot imagine h...ow combative and expensive a traditional process would have been. Bravo, Michael!

See All Client Reviews

Michael Dwyer's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Michael
Priscilla L Seaborg headshot
Priscilla Seaborg

Mediation lawyer | Nov 17

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer."

Patricia Arjun headshot
Patricia Arjun

Family lawyer | Jul 26

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer and mediator. After working with Michael in a few mediations and as an opposing counsel in a family law matter, I can say with confidence that he is a true asset to the family law and mediation communities. He brings a wealth of knowledge to every case and is focused on helping his clients reach durable, non-adversarial resolutions."

Jill E. Brittle headshot
Jill Brittle

Family lawyer | Jul 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I highly endorse Michael Dwyer, as both a mediator and family law practitioner. His thoughtful, solution-oriented style allows clients to craft creative and sustaining resolutions to their family law cases. He is also a pleasure to work with for other lawyers, who appreciate his cooperative and collaborative approach."

Tonya M Alexander headshot
Tonya Alexander

Mediation lawyer | Apr 01

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I highly recommend Michael for both mediation and collaborative method family law matters. He is both experienced and professional, and brings peace to the process for families."

James P O'Connor headshot
James O'Connor

Family lawyer | Mar 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I strongly endorse this lawyer. Michael Dwyer is a peace-maker who provides care and compassion to families in conflict. Whether as a mediator, Collaborative attorney or advising attorney, Michael helps clients resolve their issues in a manner that allows them to preserve and even strengthen their important ongoing relationships. He listens deeply and provides the crucial support and guidance that family members need for true resolution of their conflicts, rather than just the “cold peace” they might accomplish in traditional settlement negotiations. If I had a friend or loved one involved in a family matter, I would without hesitation refer them to the kind and skilled attention of Michael Dwyer."

Collin C McKean headshot
Collin McKean

Mediation lawyer | Mar 31

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse Michael Dwyer as a lawyer and mediator. I hired Michael to mediate a number of my cases because he consistently finds appropriate and equitable resolutions to complicated and seemingly intractable legal issues. Michael is well regarded and recognized by the legal community as being a leader among his peers for alternative dispute resolution in the Northwest."

Annelisa D Smith headshot
Annelisa Smith

Mediation lawyer | Mar 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Michael is the go-to mediator for my family law clients. He is thoughtful, sensitive, thorough, and everyone I have referred to him has positive things to say. Michael is good with everyone and has a creative approach to the mediation process which helps everyone feel heard and acknowledged. Being a good mediator is more art than science, but Michael is both an artist and a scientist."

View All Endorsements
Kim Gordon headshot
Kim Gordon

Mediation lawyer

Michael J Fearl headshot
Michael Fearl

Family lawyer

Laura Rackner headshot
Laura Rackner

Family lawyer

Nicole L Deering headshot
Nicole Deering

Divorce and separation lawyer

Patricia Arjun headshot
Patricia Arjun

Family lawyer

Jill E. Brittle headshot
Jill Brittle

Family lawyer

James P O'Connor headshot
James O'Connor

Mediation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2016

Oregon Super Lawyers - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2016

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2016

Best Lawyer in America -- Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America

2016

Lawyer of the Year 2017 -- Family Mediation Portland, Best Lawyers of America

2015

2015 Lawyer of the Year - Family Mediation Portland, Best Lawyers in America

2015

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2015

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

Best Lawyers in America - Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America

2014

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2013

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2013

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2013

Best Lawyers in America - Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America

2012

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2012

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2012

Best Lawyers in America - Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America

2011

Oregon Super Lawyers - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2011

Best Lawyers in America - Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America

2010

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2010

AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2010

Best Lawyers in America - Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America

2009

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2009

Best Lawyers in America - Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America

2008

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

2007

Oregon Super Lawyer - Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oregon Super Lawyers

Work Experience

2009 - 2015

Mediator-Attorney-Owner, Dwyer Mediation & Law

1997 - 2009

Partner-Attorney, Dwyer & Miller LLP

1995 - 1996

Attorney, Michael Dwyer

1993 - 1994

Attorney, Sorensen-Jolink, Trubo

1989 - 1992

Attorney, Cosgrave Vergeer Kester

1986 - 1989

Attorney, Ault, Dueprey, Jones, Gorman & Danielsen

1981 - 1986

Attorney-Owner, Michael Dwyer, P.C.

1979 - 1981

Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney's Office Los Angeles

1977 - 1979

Associate, Musick Peeler & Garrett

Associations

1989 - Present

Oregon State Bar

1989 - Present

Multnomah Bar Association

Oregon Mediation Association

American Bar Association

Association for Conflict Resolution

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Board of Directors

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals

Oregon Association of Collaborative Professionals

2014 - 2015

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Oregon Chapter)

Board of Directors

2008 - 2009

Multnomah Bar Association

President

Education

1977

Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University

J.D.

1974

University of California - Los Angeles

B.A.

Speaking Engagements

2015

Taught class in Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution Training

2014

Willamette Law School, Center for Dispute Resolution

Negotiation: From the Inside Out

2014

Maitripa College Conflict Resolution

2013

Willamette Law School, Center for Dispute Resolution

Contemporary Conflict Resolution

2013

Oregon Mediation Association

Advanced Mediation: The Places That Scare Us

2013

Multnomah Bar Association

Mindfulness for Lawyers

2012

Oregon Mediation Association

Advanced Mediation Workshop on Apology, Blame and Forgiveness

2011

Zen Center of Oregon

Mindfulness and Stress Reduction for Lawyers

2011

Oregon Mediation Association

Sacred Rivers: Universal Values in Mediation

2011

American Bar Association

Sacred Rivers: Universal Values for Mediation

2009

Multnomah Bar Association

Conflict Resolution in the 21st Century

2008

Multnomah Bar Association

Mindfulness and Stress Reduction for Conflict Professionals

Publications

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution