Dallas-based law firm Simon Greenstone Panatier, P.C., will represent Multnomah County, Oregon, in climate litigation against fossil fuel companies under a contingency fee agreement starting at 33%, according to a May 2023 contract obtained through a public records request.
According to its website, Simon Greenstone Panatier is a national trial law firm with offices in Dallas, Los Angeles, Houston, and New York. Founded in 2006, it focuses on catastrophic injury, toxic torts, products liability, and complex litigation. The firm has recovered billions for clients nationwide in precedent-setting verdicts and settlements.
The contract obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) shows the firm will earn 33% of recoveries up to $100 million, 26% on the portion between $100 million and $200 million, and 19% on any amount over $200 million. The agreement confirms that all legal fees are contingent on a successful outcome and are calculated before litigation costs are deducted from the County’s share.
According to a July 2025 Washington Legal Foundation white paper by former Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson warns that hiring private contingency law firms for large-scale public-impact litigation raises oversight and conflict-of-interest concerns. Peterson argues that state attorneys general should lead these cases to ensure accountability, avoid politicized lawyering, and keep the public interest—not private profit—as the guiding priority.
The agreement contains a built-in sliding scale for the base contingency rate if other governments join similar litigation with the same counsel. The base fee is reduced by 1% for each of Portland, Washington County, and Clackamas County—potentially lowering it to 30%—and drops to 25% if the State of Oregon participates. This ensures Multnomah County benefits from shared legal efforts.
Under the agreement terms, Multnomah County owes no attorney fees or costs unless funds are recovered from the defendants. Simon Greenstone Panatier will advance all litigation expenses, including expert witnesses, discovery, and travel. The firm will only be reimbursed from the County’s portion of any settlement or judgment after attorney fees are deducted.
