Andrew Altschul

Andrew Altschul mediates and arbitrates employment, ERISA and other civil litigation disputes. Andrew has over 25 years’ experience representing both employers and employees in all aspects of employment disputes, including ERISA claims.  He practiced labor and employment law at two of the country’s largest law firms before opening his own employment law boutique in 2004 and helping to found Buchanan Angeli Altschul & Sullivan LLP in 2008.  He stopped litigating in 2020 (even before the pandemic) to make ADR his primary focus.  He is an approved arbitrator and mediator for the American Arbitration Association, NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation) and Arbitration Service of Portland.

Andrew beleives that most parties in most cases benefit from finding a negotiated solution and loves helping facilitate that process. Andrew views his primary role as helping each side better understand (not agree) with the other side's perspective.  He can be evaluative in that role, and enjoys getting into the legal weeds with lawyers, but mediation is not a place to resolve facts or disputes in the law. He also think both parties benefit from focusing more on damages than liability.  It is easier to find a shared view of risk and exposure and that often opens up the path to resolution.

Andrew is recognized in Best Lawyers of America, including being named 2021 Lawyer of the Year for Litigation-ERISA in Portland, Oregon, Oregon Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA (Oregon Mediators: Band 1). Andrew served as the Chair of the Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners, and as Co-Chair for the American Bar Association Labor & Employment Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee. 

In addition to his ADR practice, Andrew provides day-to-day employment and collective bargaining counseling for a handful of non-profit organizations, serves as settlement counsel for both employees and employers, and remains the managing partner at Buchanan Angeli Altschul and Sullivan.  He is an active member of the Oregon, Washington and California bars. 

• University of Michigan Law School J.D., cum laude, 1995
• Grinnell College B.A., 1992

• AAA, Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New Arbitrators, 2019     
• ABA, Advanced Mediation and Advocacy Skills Institute, 2017
• Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution, STAR Mediation Training, 2007
• Center for Mediation in Law, Mediation Intensive Training, 2006

• American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator & Mediator, 2019-Present
• Arbitrator Service of Portland, Arbitrator & Mediator, 2020-Present
• NAM (National Arbitration Mediation), Arbitrator & Mediator, 2019-Present
• Oregon Board of Bar Examiners, 2005-2008, Chair 2007-2008
• American Bar Association Labor & Employment Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee Co-Chair, 2009-12, 2015-2018
• American Bar Association, L&E Section Leadership Development Program, Class of 2011
• ABA, LEL Section National Program Committee, Vice Chair, 2012-13

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