Helaina Chinn
PARTNER
(408) 540-4223
Helaina “Laney” Chinn originally hails from the Bay Area and is happy to call Oregon home. Those closest to Laney noted the telltale signs that she was a litigator-in-the-making from a young age, pointing to her performing arts background and competitive spirit, but Laney describes her choice to become a lawyer as a simple one—she enjoys solving problems and helping clients. Outside of the office, you’ll find her supporting Portland’s performing arts, exploring local hiking trails, and enjoying Oregon’s vibrant culinary scene with family and friends.
Admitted to Practice
Oregon
California
Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
Education
J.D. with Business and Corporate Law Concentration, University of San Diego School of Law, 2013
B.S. (Anthropology), University of California, Los Angeles, 2008
Practice & Experience
Laney practices general civil litigation in Oregon state and federal courts. Her practice centers primarily on employment litigation, defending employers against administrative complaints filed with BOLI and the EEOC, and providing general employment advice and counsel, as well as litigating personal injury, wrongful death, professional negligence, and dram shop cases. She represents individuals, businesses, and insurers with a strategic and results-driven approach to achieve positive outcomes.
For over a decade, Laney has acquired a broad base of legal experience working in both small and large law firms, the public sector, and nonprofits. Prior to joining CSW, she practiced class action and labor and employment law in California with an employment litigation firm. She also managed a diverse caseload as a staff attorney at a nonprofit law firm. Upon moving to Oregon, Laney clerked at the Clackamas County Circuit Court for Presiding Judge Kathie F. Steele. Most recently, she practiced general civil litigation at a well-respected Portland firm with an emphasis on labor and employment, personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and dram shop matters.
Laney has been named by Super Lawyers as a 2022 and 2023 Oregon Rising Star for “employment litigation: defense” based on peer recognition and professional achievement through a rigorous, multi-step selection process involving independent research, nominations, and peer evaluations.
Professional & Community Activities
Defense Research Institute
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
Oregon Women Lawyers
Small Business Legal Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School
Laney has been actively involved in the greater legal community, through state and federal professional organizations, since 2014.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC) and has enjoyed serving in various leadership roles for OADC, including as a publication liaison for two years and as the Chair of the New Lawyers Affinity Group in 2021 and 2022. She was honored to receive OADC’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her work as Chair of the New Lawyers Group.
Laney is also an active member of the Defense Research Institute, where she currently serves on the Employment and Labor Law Committee’s planning group for its annual seminar.
Laney recently graduated from the 2022 Ladder Down program hosted by the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), where she was selected as one of 24 total participants from applicants around the country and has served as the only attendee from the state of Oregon.
