Professionals
503.553.3223 
503.226.0259 
Cynthia Fraser focuses her practice in the area of real estate and property tax litigation. She represents individuals, governments and corporate clients in a broad range of litigation using dispute resolution where appropriate. Ms. Fraser has been recognized by her peers as a Best Lawyer’s in America in Alternative Dispute Resolution 2008-2012, selected as a Super Lawyer in 2011 in Eminent Domain and has received an AV/5 point peer rating by Martindale Hubble.
Ms. Fraser has extensive trial experience as a former senior assistant attorney general in the trial division of the Oregon Department of Justice where she specialized in condemnation and transportation related litigation taking several cases to a jury. She later created and managed the first Alternative Dispute Resolution program for the Oregon Department of Transportation, mediating more than 100 access, policy and eminent domain acquisition disputes.
Since joining Garvey Schubert Barer, Ms. Fraser continues to represent local governments in land use and municipal litigation and has broadened her practice to include the representation of property owners in land use disputes and condemnation litigation. She has also expanded her practice to include litigation of property tax appeals specializing in industrial property valuation disputes and centrally accessed properties. She has co-counseled property taxes appeals for corporations in California, Tennessee and Oregon.
She is past chair of the Oregon State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and is a frequent lecturer in the use of ADR in resolving disputes. She has been appointed to the Multnomah County Circuit Court Arbitration Commission and acts as an arbitrator in Multnomah County. She is the co-editor of the American Bar Association’s publication Eminent Domain, A Handbook of Condemnation Law.
Professional Activities
- Member, Oregon State Bar Fee Arbitration Task Force, 2010
- Member, Multnomah County Circuit Court Arbitration Commission, 2008-present
- Board of Directors, Oregon Women Lawyers, 2008-2010; Education Outreach Committee, 2001-2003; Judicial Workgroup, 2009-present;
- Executive Board, Oregon State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, 2002-2010; Chair, 2007
- Oregon Law Commission Eminent Domain Legislative Work Group, 2002-present
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Executive Board, University of Oregon School of Law, 1999-2010
- Governor's Steering Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1997-1998
Community Activities
- Pacific Festival Ballet Advisory Board, 2009
- President, Alumni Board of Directors, University of Oregon School of Law, 1999-2002
- Chairperson, University of Oregon Frohnmayer Award for Public Service, 2002 and 2004
- Grievance Coordinator, Oregon County Fair, 2004-2009
- Childpeace Montessori School Advisory Board, 2001-2003
- Twenty-First Century Task Force for Redesigning Legal Education, 2000-2001
- Chairperson, Honoring Oregon Judiciary, 2001
Publications
- "Eminent Domain, A Handbook of Condemnation Law," Co-editor, ABA Section of State and Local Government Law, August 2011.
- "Form 1099 Reporting: Two Burdensome Rules Repealed, But Some Traps Remain," Garvey Schubert Barer Legal Update, May 2011.
- "Washington's First Tax Amnesty Program," Garvey Schubert Barer Legal Update, January 2011.
