About Lisa
Lisa Amato is a mediator and dispute resolution consultant based in Portland, Oregon. She has been practicing law for over 30 years, specializing in civil litigation and business disputes. She earned her Juris Doctor from Willamette University College of Law in 1991. She is admitted to practice in Oregon and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals — She also held membership in the Washington State Bar Association from 1993 to 2016. She is a member of the Oregon State Bar, with.
She offers free consultations and is located at 520 SW Yamhill, Suite 1015, Portland, OR 97204 — She can be reached at (503) 789-3262. In her early career, she worked as a trial attorney, handling cases in state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington. She represented both plaintiffs and defendants in various civil litigation matters — Her practice areas included employment law, business disputes, and real property issues. She also served as a partner at Wyse Kadish LLP, where she continued to represent employers and management in employment litigation and provided counsel on employment-related matters. Transitioning to mediation in 2009, she founded Amato Mediation, focusing on resolving disputes through alternative dispute resolution methods.
She mediates many disputes, including employment and civil rights, business transactions, breach of contract, and real property rights. She is a Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. She is also a lecturer on mediation and negotiation and serves as an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law. She has been recognized for her contributions to the field, being selected to Super Lawyers from 2020 to 2025. She is also a member of the Oregon Mediation Association and has held leadership positions on the Oregon State Bar's Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and Labor & Employment Section.
She is actively involved in other professional legal organizations. In addition to her professional work, she serves as the President of the Columbia Land Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving and stewarding land in the Columbia River region. She joined the board of directors in 2017 and has been involved with the organization since 2015. She is fluent in English and conversational Spanish. She is committed to providing thoughtful, flexible paths forward tailored to each individual's needs and goals, integrating strong legal acumen with training in trauma-informed methods and somatic awareness.
