Attorneys

Dennis did his undergraduate studies at the University of Chicago and Portland State University. He received his law degree from Northwestern Law School of Lewis and Clark College in 1968. After a stint in the Multnomah County District Attorney's office, he began his private practice with a predecessor firm, and for over 40 years has been actively litigating claims under both the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act and Oregon workers' compensation laws. Dennis is a periodic speaker and consultant regarding workers' compensation related issues.

Kim graduated from Princeton University in 1972 and received his law degree from the University of Oregon Law School in 1975. He became a member of the Oregon State Bar the same year. Kim joined the same predecessor firm as Dennis in 1977. Kim's practice is concentrated on workers' compensation defense. In addition, since 1992 his practice has included advising employers with regard to various problems common to both labor law and workers' compensation, including return-to-work and rehiring issues. This includes advising employers on the Americans with Disabilities Act. He previously authored an Americans with Disabilities Act "Guide for Employers," and he currently is a speaker on related topics. You can contact Kim at kimmaccoll@vavrosky.com.

Steve graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1986 and graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1992. He became a member of the Washington State Bar in 1992 and the Oregon State Bar in 1993. Steve joined the firm in 1997. He advises and represents self-insured employers in Washington workers' compensation matters and represents employers and carriers with claims filed under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. Steve is the author of a Washington workers' compensation newsletter distributed to employers and third-party claims administrators. You can contact Steve at slpfeifer@vavrosky.com.

Tom graduated cum laude from the University of Portland in 1983 and received his law degree from Northwestern Law School of Lewis and Clark College in 1987. He became a member of the Oregon State Bar in 1988. Tom started his career representing claimants and plaintiffs in workers' compensation claims and civil litigation. Tom joined the firm in 1995 and began his current practice of representing insurers and self-insured employers in workers' compensation matters. Tom also handles referrals from the Oregon State Bar regarding the unlawful practice of law and disciplinary matters. You can contact Tom at tpbusch@vavrosky.com.

David graduated from the University of Portland in 1978 and Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in 1986. He became a member of the Oregon State Bar the same year and the Washington State Bar in 1987. Like Tom, David started his career as a claimant and plaintiff attorney. He then worked as an in-house defense attorney for a major insurance company. From 1995 through June 1996, he was an Administrative Law Judge for the Oregon Workers' Compensation Board, Hearings Division. He joined the firm in 1996. Since that time, David has concentrated primarily on workers' compensation matters in Oregon and Washington, as well as litigating Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act claims. You can contact David at dljohnstone@vavrosky.com.

Dan graduated from the University of Oregon in 1987. He received his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1994. He became a member of the Oregon State Bar the same year and the Idaho State Bar in 1995. Dan joined the firm in August of 2003. Dan's prior experience includes working for the Oregon Workers' Compensation Board as a staff attorney and doing claimant's work in central Oregon. You can contact Dan at djsato@vavrosky.com.

Ehren graduated from Lewis and Clark College in 2000 and from the Willamette University College of Law in 2004, where he was the Articles Editor for the Willamette Law Review from 2003-2004. Ehren became a member of the Oregon State Bar in 2004. Ehren joined the firm in July of 2005, after working as a contract attorney in the areas of civil litigation and employment law. You can contact Ehren at ejrhea@vavrosky.com.

Susan graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1997 and from California Western School of Law in 1999, where she was the Lead Articles Editor for the California Western International Law Journal. Susan became a member of the Arizona State Bar in 2000 when she began her practice of law in indigent defense at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. In 2004, Susan opened up her own private practice of criminal defense until she became a member of the Oregon State Bar in 2008. Susan then joined the firm in September 2008 and began her practice of representing Oregon insurers and self-insured employers in workers’ compensation matters. You can contact Susan at smaga@vavrosky.com.

Justin graduated from Harvard University in 2002 and received his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2007, where he focused his studies on administrative law and its application to various state agencies. He became a member of the Oregon State Bar in 2008. Justin’s prior experiences include practicing with an environmental law firm. Since joining the firm in 2008, Justin has focused his practice on representing insurers and self-insured employers in Oregon workers’ compensation matters. You can contact Justin at jdenham@vavrosky.com.