Kendra M. Matthews

Partner

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1996

Georgetown University Law Center Appellate Litigation Clinic, 1995 – 1996

American Criminal Law Review,

White Collar Crime Project Senior Editor, 1995

Member, 1994 – 1996

University of Puget Sound, B.A., 1993

NAIA Academic All-American (Volleyball)

Puget Sound Scholar Athlete (Volleyball)

Bar Admissions

Oregon

1996

United States District Court for the District of Oregon

2000

United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

2005

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

2001

United States Supreme Court

2008

Bar Activities

American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon Lawyers’ Committee

2006 – 2022

Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court

2004 – Present

President, 2020 – 2022

Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners

2019 – Present

Chair, 2021 – 2022

Fellows of the American Bar Foundation

2014 – Present

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

1999 – Present

Oregon Women Lawyers

President, 2014 – 2015

Board of Directors / Executive Positions, 2009 – 2015

Women’s White Collar Defense Association

2017 – Present

Co-Chair, Oregon-Idaho Chapter, 2022 – Present

Secretary, Oregon-Idaho Chapter, 2017 – 2022

kendra@boisematthews.com
direct: (503) 416-2067

After attending Georgetown University Law Center, and clerking for the Honorable Rex Armstrong of the Oregon Court of Appeals, Kendra joined the firm—then known as Ransom Blackman LLP—as an associate in 1998. She became a partner in 2005.

One focus of her practice is appellate litigation—representing individuals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Oregon Court of Appeals. Kendra has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© for her appellate practice since 2013.

Kendra also regularly represents individuals and entities in criminal investigations and cases in both state and federal court at the trial level. Kendra has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© for her criminal practice since 2018. In 2019 and 2023, through Best Lawyers, her peers recognized her as Lawyer of the Year for General Practice Criminal Defense in Portland. Kendra’s peers have also awarded her with the AV Preeminent rating for the highest level of professional excellence in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Kendra’s perspective as an appellate attorney uniquely positions her to identify the critical legal issues presented by a client’s situation. She also knows that each client’s situation is unique; she takes the time to understand the situation and treats her clients with compassion.

In each case, Kendra takes a global approach to her client’s situation, looking at the possible short and long-term consequences of any decision, so that the impact of the government’s intrusion into her client’s life is minimized to the greatest extent possible.

Kendra is a regular speaker at continuing legal education conferences. In 2018 and 2020, along with an Assistant United States Attorney, Kendra co-taught a class on White Collar Crime at Lewis & Clark Law School. In 2024, Kendra, along with a deputy public defender, co-taught a course on Appellate Advocacy at Lewis & Clark. 

In 2023, the Oregon State Bar awarded Kendra the OSB President’s Special Award of Appreciation for her years of service to the Oregon legal community.

Author:

Discovery, Oregon State Bar Criminal Law Manual, 2022

Criminal Enforcement of Administrative Rules, Permits, and Absence of Permits Supplement, Oregon State Bar Administrative Law Manual Supplement, 2016

Alibi, OCDLA Major Crimes and Defenses Manual, 2004

Co-Author:

Preserving Your Record for Post-Trial Litigation, OCDLA Defending Sex Cases Manual, 2018

Discovery, Oregon State Bar Criminal Law Manual, 2005

Mail & Wire Fraud, Tenth Survey of White Collar Crime, 32 American Criminal Law Review 481 (1995)

Co-Presenter:

In Your Facebook: Cutting-Edge Subpoena Issues for a New Technological Age, Multnomah Bar Association, February 2013

ACLU of Oregon Cooperating Attorneys Panel, ACLU of Oregon 50th Anniversary CLE, May 2006

Presenter:

Subpoenaing the Victim’s Electronic Devices, OCDLA Conference, September 2018

Nuts & Bolts of Expunctions, Oregon Association for Court Administration, 2016

10 (or 20) Points to Consider in Preparing Your Defense in a ‘White Collar’ Criminal Prosecution, OCDLA Conference, March 2015

An Overview of Criminal Defense, “The Best of CLE” Seminar, The Seminar Group, 2009, 2010, 2012 (Co-presenter 2008)

Frequently Asked Questions About Accomplice Liability in Oregon Cases, OCDLA Summer Conference, June 2008

Ethics for Prosecutors: A discussion of In re Tichenor, Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, December 2005

Historical Overview of Amending the Oregon Constitution, American Association of University Women, October 2004

An Overview of the Patriot Act, ACLU / PSU Class, November 2005

Collateral Consequences of Sex Crime Convictions, OCDLA Winter Conference, December 2004

Outside the Criminal Code: The Ethical Duty to Inform of Collateral Consequences, OCDLA Winter Conference, December 2002

 

Kendra M. Matthews

Partner

kendra@boisematthews.com
direct: (503) 416-2067

After attending Georgetown University Law Center, and clerking for the Honorable Rex Armstrong of the Oregon Court of Appeals, Kendra joined the firm—then known as Ransom Blackman LLP—as an associate in 1998. She became a partner in 2005.

One focus of her practice is appellate litigation—representing individuals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Oregon Court of Appeals. Kendra has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© for her appellate practice since 2013.

Kendra also regularly represents individuals and entities in criminal investigations and cases in both state and federal court at the trial level. Kendra has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© for her criminal practice since 2018. In 2019 and 2023, through Best Lawyers, her peers recognized her as Lawyer of the Year for General Practice Criminal Defense in Portland. Kendra’s peers have also awarded her with the AV Preeminent rating for the highest level of professional excellence in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Kendra’s perspective as an appellate attorney uniquely positions her to identify the critical legal issues presented by a client’s situation. She also knows that each client’s situation is unique; she takes the time to understand the situation and treats her clients with compassion.

In each case, Kendra takes a global approach to her client’s situation, looking at the possible short and long-term consequences of any decision, so that the impact of the government’s intrusion into her client’s life is minimized to the greatest extent possible.

Kendra is a regular speaker at continuing legal education conferences. In 2018 and 2020, along with an Assistant United States Attorney, Kendra co-taught a class on White Collar Crime at Lewis & Clark Law School. In 2024, Kendra, along with a deputy public defender, co-taught a course on Appellate Advocacy at Lewis & Clark. 

In 2023, the Oregon State Bar awarded Kendra the OSB President’s Special Award of Appreciation for her years of service to the Oregon legal community.

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1996

Georgetown University Law Center Appellate Litigation Clinic, 1995 – 1996

American Criminal Law Review,

White Collar Crime Project Senior Editor, 1995

Member, 1994 – 1996

University of Puget Sound, B.A., 1993

NAIA Academic All-American (Volleyball)

Puget Sound Scholar Athlete (Volleyball)

Bar Admissions

Oregon

1996

United States District Court for the District of Oregon

2000

United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

2005

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

2001

United States Supreme Court

2008

Bar Activities

American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon Lawyers’ Committee

2006 – Present

Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court

2004 – Present

President, 2020 – 2022

Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners

2019 – Present

 Chair, 2021 – 2022

Fellows of the American Bar Foundation

2014 – Present

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

1999 – Present

Oregon Women Lawyers

President, 2014 – 2015

Board of Directors / Executive Positions, 2009 – 2015

Women’s White Collar Defense Association

2017 – Present

Co-Chair, Oregon-Idaho Chapter, 2022 – Present

Secretary, Oregon-Idaho Chapter, 2017 – 2022

 

Publications & Representations

Author:

Discovery, Oregon State Bar Criminal Law Manual, 2022

Criminal Enforcement of Administrative Rules, Permits, and Absence of Permits Supplement, Oregon State Bar Administrative Law Manual Supplement, 2016

Alibi, OCDLA Major Crimes and Defenses Manual, 2004

Co-Author:

Preserving Your Record for Post-Trial Litigation, OCDLA Defending Sex Cases Manual, 2018

Discovery, Oregon State Bar Criminal Law Manual, 2005

Mail & Wire Fraud, Tenth Survey of White Collar Crime, 32 American Criminal Law Review 481 (1995)

Co-Presenter:

In Your Facebook: Cutting-Edge Subponea Issues for a New Technological Age, Multnomah Bar Association, February 2013

ACLU of Oregon Cooperating Attorneys Panel, ACLU of Oregon 50th Anniversary CLE, May 2006

Presenter:

Subpoenaing the Victim’s Electronic Devices, OCDLA Conference, September 2018

Nuts & Bolts of Expunctions, Oregon Association for Court Administration, 2016

10 (or 20) Points to Consider in Preparing Your Defense in a ‘White Collar’ Criminal Prosecution, OCDLA Conference, March 2015

An Overview of Criminal Defense, “The Best of CLE” Seminar, The Seminar Group, 2009, 2010, 2012 (Co-presenter 2008)

Frequently Asked Questions About Accomplice Liability in Oregon Cases, OCDLA Summer Conference, June 2008

Ethics for Prosecutors: A discussion of In re Tichenor, Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, December 2005

Historical Overview of Amending the Oregon Constitution, American Association of University Women, October 2004

An Overview of the Patriot Act, ACLU / PSU Class, November 2005

Collateral Consequences of Sex Crime Convictions, OCDLA Winter Conference, December 2004

Outside the Criminal Code: The Ethical Duty to Inform of Collateral Consequences, OCDLA Winter Conference, December 2002