Attorney John Kaempf

(971) 246-8733

Kaempf Law Firm, PC
2021 S.W. Main Street
Suite 64
Portland, OR 97205

Bio Extras

John Kaempf

John Kaempf is a seasoned trial and appellate lawyer with 34 years of experience representing churches and religious schools in Oregon’s state and federal trial and appellate courts. His practice focuses on defending lawsuits against churches and religious schools, and asserting constitutional defenses (including the First Amendment) to claims against individuals and corporations. He has particular expertise in First Amendment free exercise of religion and free speech defenses. He provides religious entities and individuals with sophisticated constitutional protections against various claims.  He litigates these legal issues in Oregon’s state and federal trial and appellate courts.

John also defends child sex abuse lawsuits filed against religious entities, other corporations, and individuals.

In 2019, John was honored as one of “America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators.” He has also been selected as one of the “Best Lawyers in America.” His law firm has been honored by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Pacific Northwest’s “Best Law Firms.”

Through pretrial motions, John won lawsuits filed against Jesuit High School, Mt. Angel Abbey, the Franciscan Friars, and the Foursquare Church Therefore, he is on the short list of Oregon civil defense trial attorneys for high exposure “bet the church” cases.

John is a Cum Laude 1992 graduate of Lewis and Clark Law School. He is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest. He is recognized by his peers as one of The “Best Lawyers in America,” and one of “America’s Top 100 Attorneys.” He has been honored as a Super Lawyer” every year the award has been given. In addition, he has an AV Peer Review Rating with Martindale-Hubbell, an award that recognizes the highest level of skill and integrity.

Before opening his specialty firm in 2008, John worked for 16 years at one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest civil defense law firms, where he was an equity partner.  Therefore, John combines big firm experience with the responsiveness of a small firm.

Professional Recognition

  • Named one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in Civil Litigation Defense from 2011-present
  • Named one of the “Best Lawyers in The Portland Area” since 2026, the first year the award was given.
  • Kaempf Law Firm, PC has been honored as one of “the Best Law Firms in Oregon” by U.S. News & World Report since 2014.
  • John has been selected to “Oregon Super Lawyers” from 2006-present, every year the award has been given. It is granted to only the top 5% of attorneys.
  • Since 2019, John has been 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 and distinguished professional excellence. It is the highest of three awards issued by Martindale-Hubbell®. It is largely dependent on an attorney’s peer reviews from judges and other attorneys.
  • Given the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by “America’s Top 100 Attorneys” in 2018
  • Since 2019, John has been honored as one of “America’s Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators” for Oregon.
  • Since 2024, John has been named to “Benchmark US Top 100 Trial Lawyers.”

Representative Cases

Defending Churches and Religious Schools

In 2013, John successfully defended a religious high school in a lawsuit where the plaintiffs, a former student and his parents, sued for readmission to the school and sought money damages after the school expelled the student for misconduct. The trial court granted John’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case, holding that it was (1) barred by the First Amendment’s Free Exercise of Religion clause; (2) the school’s student handbook granted it the sole discretion to decide disciplinary issues that could not be challenged in court; and (3) the claimed damages were speculative and thus not recoverable.

In 2002, John won a case for a Christian school filed against it by a religion teacher it fired for admittedly having premarital sex in violation of its religious doctrine. The teacher sought instatement to her job and money damages. The court dismissed the case before trial because, as John argued, the Free Exercise of Religion clause of the First Amendment prohibits secular courts from second-guessing faith-based employment decisions.

Professional Activities & Memberships

  • Oregon Association of Defense Counsel (OADC); Practice Tips Editor, OADC Magazine (2002-2008)
  • Oregon State Bar Association, Litigation Section. Multnomah Bar Association.
  • Oregon State Bar Board of Governors, Uniform Civil Jury Instructions Committee (2004-2005)
  • Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners, Summer 2000
  • In 2001, in order to help defendants facing possible liability for punitive damages in Oregon, John drafted and helped enact an amendment to Oregon Revised Statutes 31.725, which addresses claims for punitive damages. John’s amendment states that when a party moves to amend their pleading to assert a claim for punitive damages, “the court shall deny” the motion “if the party opposing the motion establishes that the timing of the motion to amend prejudices the party’s ability to defend against the claim for punitive damages.” John’s amendment further states that “if the court grants the motion, the court may continue the action to allow such discovery as the defendant may require to defend against the claim for punitive damages.”