Carla J. Grabarek

Carla J. Grabarek is Senior Counsel at Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP in Portland. Her practice includes personal injury, liquor liability, premises liability, construction, transportation, commercial litigation, general liability, and employment litigation. Her work also includes Construction Services & Litigation, Environmental Law & Toxic Torts, Personal Injury & Property Damage Liability, and Product Liability. She has represented plaintiffs and defendants, giving her direct experience evaluating litigation strategy from different sides of a dispute.

Carla graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School and earned an undergraduate degree in Biology from Gonzaga University, along with a Secondary Education certification. She is admitted to the Oregon State Bar, Washington State Bar, and the US District Court for the District of Oregon. Her education and admissions support a litigation practice involving technical evidence, injury and property claims, construction disputes, transportation matters, and other civil cases in state and federal forums.

Carla previously worked for a nationwide insurance defense firm, where she handled matters for clients ranging from large technology companies to local sole proprietorships. She later performed plaintiff-side work for two smaller firms before joining Cosgrave Vergeer Kester. Her current work spans construction, product liability, environmental and toxic torts, personal injury, property damage, transportation, and commercial disputes. That mixed background gives her insight into the priorities and strategies used by opposing parties in civil litigation.

Carla J. Grabarek serves on ALFA International steering committees for the Construction Practice Group and Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice Group and acts as a Women’s Initiative Liaison. Her recognition includes Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for Construction Law and Oregon Rising Stars. Her combination of plaintiff-side and defense experience supports a litigation practice involving construction, injury, environmental and toxic tort, product liability, transportation, and commercial disputes.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Cosgrave Vergeer Kester
• Member, Oregon State Bar
• Member, Washington State Bar Association
• Member, Multnomah Bar Association
• Executive Board Member, Cedar Hills Kindergarten & Preschool
• Steering Committee and Women’s Initiative Liaison, ALFA International Construction Practice Group
• Steering Committee and Women’s Initiative Liaison, ALFA International Product Liability & Complex Torts Practice Group

Licensed State

• Oregon
• Washington

Awards & Badges