John Kaempf defends Oregon churches and Oregon religious schools in civil lawsuits. This includes employment disputes, and tort claims brought by students and church members.

John also specializes in First Amendment free exercise of religion,  free speech, and free association defenses to lawsuits.  He asserts these defenses on behalf of both religious and secular clients.  In 2022, John won a historic First Amendment victory in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for his client, the Christian owner of the Miss USA Pageant.  The pageant was sued in Oregon federal District Court by a transgender contestant. He claimed civil rights violations when he was not allowed to participate in the pageant because it is limited to “natural born females.” John got the case dismissed in the trial court based on the First Amendment rights to free association and to freely exercise religion. He then succeeded in having that ruling affirmed on appeal.  You can read a short article about John’s victory here.

John is one of the most sought after civil defense trial lawyers in Oregon. For example, he won lawsuits filed in Oregon against Jesuit High School, the Foursquare Church, Mount Angel Abbey, the Multnomah Athletic Club, the Miss USA pageant, and Philip Morris.

For 11 consecutive years, has been named one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Civil Litigation Defense.  He has also been honored by “Oregon Super Lawyers” since 2006, every year the award has been given.  It is granted to only the top 5% of attorneys.

Since 2019, he was awarded the highest possible distinction in the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating. It is the peer-rated honor awarded to lawyers with the highest level of legal ability, integrity,  and distinguished professional excellence. It is the highest of three awards issued by Martindale-Hubbell®, and is largely dependent on an attorney’s peer reviews from judges and other attorneys.