Risa M Davis

Risa M Davis

also known as Risa Colistro

4.5
Rating: 8.8

Licensed for 15 years

Employment and labor Lawyer Practice Areas: Employment & Labor, Business, Domestic Violence

About Risa

Biography

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Oregon for 15 years

State: Oregon

Acquired: 2010

Active

No misconduct found

Location

No contact information is available for this lawyer

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Risa M Davis's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.5 /5.0

16 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 16 reviews

Posted by Sandy | May 17, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Employment & Labor

Great Employment Attorney for My Business

I am the owner of a business that operates in Oregon, Washington and Northern California. Risa is my go-to attorney for employment law advice. She is great at answering all my legal and human resource questions. I work with Risa on a flat-fee subscription basis, which works well for my company's b...udget - I pay a fee each month for unlimited consultations (which my managers can use as well). The fee also includes Risa's services in developing, updating, and drafting our employee policies and handbook each year, and in two company-wide trainings each year (Risa and I work together to decide which employment law/policy topics to cover with each training). Additionally, I have hired Risa to do investigations into employee complaints (like complaints of harassment by managers). I have also hired her to coach managers who need specific employment-law-related coaching. There are many more employment law issues Risa has helped me with, but it would take forever to describe them all! The bottom line is that Risa is a swiss-army-knife-like employment law attorney. The trainings she has conducted at my company have been excellent and with Risa's policy changes and trainings our employee complaints about manager behavior have dropped by 75% and our ability to retain minority employees has increased significantly. Risa is truly a partner in my company's success. Positives of Working with Risa: + Risa is easy to talk to about even the most embarrassing employment law issues (the ones that start with "I can't believe this manager did this, but..."). + She is strategic - she knows businesses can't do or pay for everything all at once and has helped me figure out what employment issues to address first, second, third, etc for the most bang for my buck. + She will tell you if something isn't worth spending money on - Risa does not do legal work just for the sake of making more money. She has told me when she thought a legal matter I wanted to pursue would ultimately cost me more money that it would gain me and when I didn't follow her advice the first time, she was right! (I have listened ever since.) + Risa works WITH me and never makes me feel stupid for not knowing the law - this is really different than a lot of lawyers I've worked with in the past. + Risa knows her stuff and when she needs time to do research, she tells me and comes back with detailed information and options. Risa also makes great recommendations about books and articles to read to expand my own knowledge. Negatives Working with Risa: + I do not actually think this is a negative, because it is one of the reasons Risa can keep her rates so reasonable and that is very important to me, but Risa is a solo practitioner. What this means is that there isn't a receptionist answering her phone. So, if Risa is in court or in the middle of a meeting, you will need to leave a voice mail. That might bother some people. BUT, Risa will get back to you very quickly. AND, Risa is great about being very upfront about her availability. ALSO, if there is any time she will be unavailable for more than 48-hours, she will get another attorney to help her so that her clients can speak to someone while she is gone. But, I know some people don't like leaving voice messages, and I if that is you, that might be an issue. I highly recommend Risa to any businesses owner for employment law work.

Posted by pm | October 09, 2016 | Hired Attorney

Breath of fresh air...

1. Thank you Risa for being efficient, thorough, and detailed. 2. Thank you Risa for being knowledgeable. 3. Thank you Risa for returning phone calls and emails in a timely and respectful manner. 4. Thank you Risa for speaking to me in a respectful manner AND respecting my intelligence. ... 5. Thank you Risa for NOT talking to me in a belittling, condescending and patronizing manner (common with attorneys). 6. Thank you for not discriminating against me. I am a former law student, and I wholeheartedly recommend Risa. This is my first review online of an attorney. I am a Virgo and very picky, so if you get 5 stars from me, it is definitely a most sincere review and compliment.

Posted by Gordon | June 24, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning

Estate Plan

Risa Davis wrote up all of my estate documents and explained clearly their purposes and uses. She and other members of Davis Law Offices were all very helpful and professional in initiating and providing the documents. I highly recommend them.

Posted by Joy | September 01, 2015

Compassionate

Risa was great. I was scared and nervous but she made me feel calm. She was empathic and was able to explain law to me in laymen's words. She even allowed me more time to explain my concerns. I felt safe talking to her and trusted her expertise.

Posted by anonymous | July 16, 2015 | Employment & Labor

Worth the Wait

I used Risa to settle an employment dispute with a former employer. It took a long time and some litigation, but ultimately it was worth the wait to get the settlement I'm getting. I can't provide too much information because of the terms of the settlement agreement, but I can say that Risa was gre...at to work with each step of the way. And we've been working together on this case for almost 3 years now! I know that people want fast results - and sometimes that is possible - but in my case it was important to go slow, consider all the options, and push, push, push for a good settlement. And that is what I got! I am very please with the legal services Risa provided and would recommend her to anyone with an employment law issue.

See All Client Reviews

Risa M Davis's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Risa
Jacey L Liu headshot
Jacey Liu

Civil rights lawyer | May 14

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Risa is a brilliant, knowledgeable, and tireless advocate. I have seen her in the courtroom, which is to say that I have seen her in her element. From what I have seen of Risa's talents and abilities, I would recommend her to anyone who is looking for an attorney who confronts challenges with zeal and enthusiasm."

Elizabeth Annaliese Arwood headshot
Elizabeth Arwood

Unknown lawyer | May 19

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Ms. Davis. She is very intelligent and a hard worker."

Ryan Anfuso headshot
Ryan Anfuso

Employment and labor lawyer | Oct 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Risa is a great attorney who works hard for her clients."

View All Endorsements
Mary Sofia headshot
Mary Sofia

Criminal defense lawyer

Brandy D Pirtle-Guiney headshot
Brandy Pirtle-Guiney

Employment and labor lawyer

Peter B Castleberry headshot
Peter Castleberry

Criminal defense lawyer

Ryan Anfuso headshot
Ryan Anfuso

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.8 (Excellent)

Honors

2011

Pro Bono Challenge Award, Solo Practitioner, Oregon State Bar, New Lawyers Division

2010

Pro Bono Honors Award, Lewis and Clark Law School

2010

Moot Court - Mock Trial Honor Board, Lewis and Clark Law School

2009

Community Service Honors Award, Lewis and Clark Law School

2009

Pro Bono Honors Award, Lewis and Clark Law School

2009

Moot Court - Mock Trial First Place Team, Lewis and Clark Law School

2009

Moot Court - Mock Trial Best Oral Advocate, Lewis and Clark Law School

2008

Pro Bono Challenge Award, Law Student, Oregon State Bar, New Lawyers Division

2008

Public Interest Fellowship, Lewis and Clark Law School

2008

Community Service Honors Award, Lewis and Clark Law School

2008

Pro Bono Honors Award, Lewis and Clark Law School

Work Experience

2016 - Present

Attorney, Risa Davis, Attorney at Law, LLC

2017 - 2017

Contract Attorney, Rathbone Barton Olsen PC

2011 - 2016

Managing Attorney, Davis Law Offices LLC

2011 - 2011

Senior Civil Rights Investigator, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries

2010 - 2011

Attorney, Oregon Crime Victims Law Center

2008 - 2010

Certified Law Clerk, Washington County District Attorney's Office

Associations

2015 - Present

Oregon State Bar, Disability Law Section

Executive Committee Member

2012 - Present

National Stroke Association

Member

2012 - Present

National Aphasia Association

Member

2010 - Present

Oregon Womens Lawyers

Member

2012 - 2012

Oregon State Bar, Local Professional Responsibility Committee

Member

2011 - 2016

Multnomah County Bar Association

Member

2010 - 2013

Multnomah County Legal Aid Domestic Violence Project

Volunteer Attorney

2006 - 2014

Store to Door

Volunteer

Education

2010

Lewis & Clark Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

2006

Portland State University, College of Urban and Public Affairs

BA - Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude

N/A

Brandeis University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2016

Labor and Employment Law Boot Camp

Oregon and Federal Disability Laws

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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