From her early days as a public defender representing parents and children in child abuse and neglect cases, Annelisa Smith established herself as an aggressive, passionate advocate for her clients. A co-owner and partner at McKean Smith, Annelisa transitioned to a focus on litigating complex family law and divorce cases in 2011.
“Family court is the last place you want to be,” she says, “but some family conflict needs to be resolved by the court so that everyone can move forward.”
Annelisa’s approach to litigation is comprehensive, from strategy to the examination of expert and lay witnesses, but that does not mean that she seeks a trial as the sole outcome of her work. “Family court is the last place you want to be,” she says, “but some family conflict needs to be resolved by the court so that everyone can move forward.” At a difficult time in their lives, Annelisa strives to create a tailor-made case plan for her clients, with an eye towards an amicable resolution.
With deep roots in the area—she was born and raised in Portland, attended Oregon State University and serves on the board of several nonprofits—Annelisa is a strong believer in supporting her fellow Pacific Northwesterners. “Every lawyer has a duty to give back to the community,” she says. She also volunteers her time to improve the quality of legal representation in the State of Oregon.
Read Annelisa’s article in the Summer Edition of the Oregon Trial Lawyer Family Law Magazine OTLA Trial Lawyer Summer 2024 (associationpublications.com)
In October 2024, Annelisa took part in Mosten Gurthrie’s 40 hour Mediation Course. The mediation training is a comprehensive course that equips legal professionals with practical skills to mediate family disputes and divorce cases effectively. The training focuses on conflict resolution techniques, communication strategies, and legal principles to facilitate fair and amicable agreements.
