Aukjen (pronounced “owk-yen”) Ingraham is an experienced litigator and trial lawyer with more than 16 years of experience in administrative, state, federal, and appellate courts. Her focus is on railroad and transportation law, with a particular emphasis on catastrophic injury. She also advises on disaster preparedness, incident response and crisis management.

Aukjen is particularly experienced in handling complex litigation, most recently in a construction contract dispute spanning five years. Above all, she is a problem solver, working with clients to attain the best results in difficult situations.

A pioneer in rapid response

When accidents and other significant events occur, clients often call on Aukjen for real-time, on-scene counsel. In response to this need, in 2015 Aukjen founded Schwabe’s Rapid Response Team, a group of lawyers dedicated to responding immediately to an incident. Whether it’s the investigation of an accident, a first-time situation or an environmental issue, Aukjen and Schwabe’s response team are available to assist.

Experience

• Successfully resolved a $500,000 contract dispute in the environmental services industry.
• Obtained dismissal of a $25 million personal injury and products liability lawsuit against a small, family-owned business.
• Successfully defended over 25 wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases as both first and second chair, including traumatic brain injury claims.

Representative cases

• Dine Citizens et al  v. Bureau of Indian Affairs, 9^th Circuit, July 29, 2019; affirming district court dismissal of case pursuant to FRCP 19 and based on tribal sovereign immunity (argued)
• Figueroa v. BNSF, 351 Or 142 (2017); ordering circuit court to dismiss case against BNSF Railway Company based on lack of general personal jurisdiction.
• SAIF v. Hoffman, 193 Or App 750 (2004) upholding insurer responsibility for hearing loss claim in workers compensation case

Pro Bono Work

• Aukjen regularly volunteers to represent clients in Schwabe’s East Multnomah County Legal Clinic, successfully resolving matters for low-income clients.  

• Aukjen also acts as pro bono trial counsel in other matters both within Oregon and nationally, including in partnership with the Capital Post Conviction Project of Louisiana. 

Memberships

• NARTC Member, Environmental Committee (2012 - present)
• Multnomah Bar Association, Member (2003 - present)

Awards

• Oregon Rising Stars List (2011-2012, 2014-2016)
• Myron Ells Prize for History, Whitman College (1998)

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

Moderator, Schwabe Maritime Safety Summit 
Portland, Oregon, May 2017

Speaker, Joint Liability, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
Phoenix, Arizona, March 2017

Speaker, Apartments vs. Condos
AIA Portland, Portland, Oregon, November 2016

Speaker, Construction Contracts
Halfmoon Education, Portland, Oregon, October 2016

Speaker, Damages, National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
Sun Valley, Idaho, February 2016

Speaker, “Marijuana Legalization, Drug Testing and Maritime Employer Liability,”
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, Portland, Oregon, January 2016

Speaker, “Discovery—Beyond the Basics"
Oregon Paralegal Association Annual Meeting, Seaside, Oregon, October 2014

Publications

Community Activities

• Friends of the Children Scholarship Committee (2011-2018)
• Portland State University, Advisory Board to the School of Urban & Public Affairs (2008-2011)

Services