Andrew DeWeese

Andrew DeWeese is a high stakes business trial lawyer, based in Portland, Oregon, and practicing throughout Oregon, frequently in Jackson and Josephine Counties. DeWeese has litigated hundreds of matters over the course of his distinguished career, with special emphasis on shareholder and partnership disputes and other complex commercial litigation. He has tried both jury and bench trials to verdict and has an enviable record of wins in private arbitration. He is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Florida, as well as federal district courts in both states, and in the United States Supreme Court. DeWeese currently represents clients in both Oregon and Florida.

DeWeese is a founder of the Oregon State Bar Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Section, and as one of the longest-standing and most prominent cannabis lawyers in Oregon, has been quoted in local and national publications such as the Oregonian, Willamette Week, Portland Business Journal, MJBizDaily, Marijuana Moment, and Cannabis Law Report, and DeWeese was recently featured in an episode of NPR’s Planet Money podcast.

DeWeese has been retained as an expert witness in the area of cannabis law and regulation and is widely regarded as an authority on the topic. DeWeese has also presented continuing legal education courses to other lawyers in the area of cannabis law. DeWeese has served as an advisor to the New York Cannabis Growers & Processors Association’s Policy Committee. DeWeese has served on the Judicial Screening Committee of the Multnomah County Bar Association. He is also the founder and current sponsor of OregonCivPro.Com, a website dedicated to making the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure more widely accessible.

DeWeese attended the University of Miami School of Law on an academic scholarship, made the Dean’s List multiple times, and distinguished himself as a Dean’s Scholar for Professor Marc Fajer, assistant-teaching Elements to first-year students. DeWeese began his legal career with the boutique litigation firm of Damian & Valori LLP, and concluded his time in Miami under the mentorship of Richard Alayon and Gary S. Brooks at Alayon & Associates.

In the summer of 2013, instead of joining Alayon as an equity partner, DeWeese and his family moved to Portland, Oregon, and shortly thereafter DeWeese opened his own legal practice. DeWeese was subsequently a partner at Green Light Law Group for three years, leaving in early 2023 to start this firm with his long-time friend and work partner Steph Barnhart joining him as paralegal and operations manager.

In his spare time, DeWeese spends time with his wife and two children, collects and reads rare books, and sails the Columbia River. Prior to entering law school, DeWeese was a professional orchestral violist.

Media

• Planet Money Podcast on Dormant Commerce Clause lawsuit
• MJBizDaily Article about our Dormant Commerce Clause lawsuit against the State of Oregon
• Marijuana Moment Article about DCC lawsuit
• Willamette Week Article about our lawsuit blocking the Vape Ban in 2019
• Cannabis Law Report Article about OSB Section

Socials

• LinkedIn