Mr. Phelan was born in Butte, Montana and eventually settled in Portland at a young age. He attended Central Catholic High School in Portland and then attended the University of Oregon. He thereafter graduated from the University of Puget Sound Law School and settled in the Portland-Vancouver area after Law School. He originally worked for a small Vancouver law firm for 5 years before opening up a successful solo practice in 1986. He has recently added an associate, Christina Phelan who's primary practice and focus is juvenile and criminal law. Mr. Phelan has handled virtually every type of criminal and personal injury case over the last three decades and is highly respected by peers, former clients, judges and even adversaries for his skilled and effective representation of his clients. He has handled, and tried to a jury, many high profile cases over the years. He has lectured and taught at seminars for other attorneys and has appeared in courts in throughout Oregon and Washington. Mr. Phelan has been a mentor to and advised other lawyers throughout his career. He is well respected by his peers and is the one that other lawyers come to for advice about how to handle their difficult cases. His legal reputation is such that he has represented other attorneys and even police officers facing legal troubles.
