Samuel J Kuzma

Samuel J Kuzma

4.5
Rating: 7.8

Licensed for 19 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Portland, OR
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Family, Child Custody

1140 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 500, Portland, OR

About Samuel

Biography

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 19 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 2006

Active

No misconduct found

Location

McKean Smith, LLC

1140 SW 11th Avenue, Suite 500, Portland, OR, 97205

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Samuel J Kuzma's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.5 /5.0

15 Client Reviews

Posted by Gail | April 21, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Best divorce lawyer

Sam is professional, efficient, and has helped me achieve the desired outcome in my divorce case. I respect Sam both as a person with the utmost integrity, and as an attorney with tremendous experience in family law. If I ever need a family law attorney in the future, Sam is the attorney I will use. ...

Posted by Chris | February 6, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Too many clients perhaps?

In my humble opinion, Sam is either not qualified or too busy to take on anything but the most of simple of divorce cases. He would take days or weeks to respond (If he even DID respond) to requests and email. In the roughly 7 months we worked together, he was incapable of providing any useful counse...l or assistance in my case involving multiple businesses but no children. (Luckily.) My advice...if you want timely communication and someone who will listen to what you want, go elsewhere.

Posted by anonymous | September 28, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Sam will work tirelessly to defend you and your kids’ well-being!!

I appreciated Sam J. Kuzma’s highly skilled abilities in navigating Oregon Family Law, in patiently listening to my complex case details, in showing compassion with professionalism, and in prioritizing the imperatives to develop a powerful, truthful, trial action plan! Sam is a kind, humble, powerfu...l, strong leader that you definitely want on your team—he knows Oregon Law and will work hard and smart in the pursuit of justice for you. (He will cross multiple county lines, and learn the nuance differences of the law in your county, to successfully have your back in mediation and trial. Ask Sam as many questions as you need to spur consistent, productive, and clear communication. He will respond to what is most important for defending you and your best interest.)

Posted by MG | September 4, 2024 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

For today & tomorrow

Sam Kuzma did a masterful job navigating the minefield that was my divorce. Since I was the Petitioner, he wrote the Stipulated Judgment. He did a fantastic job of preparing me for what was to happen down the road. I certainly wasn't the best client, but he persevered and did not stint on effort. I h...ighly recommend Sam, especially if you are the Petitioner in a High Conflict Divorce case. 100% recommended

Posted by Annie | March 4, 2023 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Compassionate, reliable and knowledgeable!

Sam is a rockstar and went above and beyond for our family when faced with an unexpected divorce and custody dispute. He helped streamline the process and simplified things, he helped me understand what my rights were and what I could and couldn’t expect out of the process and really supported our ki...ds’ best interest. As a father and husband himself, I appreciated his unique professional and personal perspective because it’s easy to get tunnel vision when we are in crisis. He is honest, responsive, reliable, trustworthy, knowledgeable and genuine. This is the attorney you want by your side, 110%.

See All Client Reviews

Samuel J Kuzma's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Samuel
Nigel L Vanderford headshot
Nigel Vanderford

Unknown lawyer | Oct 21

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer."

Sean C Currie headshot
Sean Currie

Family lawyer | Sep 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Sam Kuzma is an intelligent and passionate lawyer. He has the ability to tackle the most complex and contentious of legal issues with grace and aplomb. He is an effective communicator that cares very deeply for his clients. I believe Sam to be an asset to his clients and the legal community."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Family lawyer | May 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Samuel. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Sarah Tuthill-Kveton headshot
Sarah Tuthill-Kveton

Family lawyer | Aug 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the opportunity to work with Sam on a variety of legal issues. Sam has the ability to conquer complex legal issues and communicate the law in an effective and intelligent manner. Not only is Sam an excellent attorney, he is a outstanding member and contributor to his community."

Matthew T. Phillips headshot
Matthew Phillips

Estate planning lawyer | Mar 03

Relationship: Friend

"As a classmate of Sam's, I know his work ethic to be admirable and his commitment to professionalism and the well-being of his clients to be excpetionally high. I would be pleased for my family members and friends to be his clients, and I would be confident in his counsel to them."

View All Endorsements
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Experience

Rating:  7.8 (Very Good)

Work Experience

2023 - Present

Attorney, McKean Smith, LLC

2018 - 2023

Owner, Kuzma Law, LLC

2012 - 2018

Associate, Gevurtz Menashe Larson Howe, PC

2007 - 2012

Associate Attorney, John H. Tuthill & Associates

2007 - 2007

Associate Attorney, The Law Firm of Gary Carlson and Associates

2005 - 2005

Summer Clerk, Legal Aid Services of Oregon

Associations

2007 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Family Law Section

2006 - Present

Oregon State Bar

Member

2002 - Present

University of Michigan Alumni Association

Member

2008 - 2012

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

2008 - 2010

Oregon State Bar, House of Delegates

Delegate

2007 - 2012

Oregon State Bar, Criminal Law Section

2007 - 2012

Tillamook County Bar Association

Secretary

2007 - 2011

Oregon State Bar, Legal Heritage Interest Group Committee

Member

2006 - 2012

Oregon State Bar, Real Estate and Land Use Section

2006 - 2012

Oregon State Bar, Estate Planning and Administration Section

2006 - 2012

American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division

2006 - 2012

American Bar Association, Family Law Section

2006 - 2012

American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section

2006 - 2012

American Bar Association, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division

2006 - 2011

Oregon State Bar, New Lawyers Division

2004 - 2012

American Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

State v. Maloney

Not Guilty jury verdict on all five counts.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2006

Wake Forest University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2002

University of Michigan

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2009

Tillamook Bequest Awareness Coalition Panel

Planned giving, charitable giving, estate planning

Publications

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
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