Atty. Brett E. Engel

Atty. Brett E. Engel

Having practiced law in Portland for 20 years, Brett Engel is known as an exceptionally skilled litigation attorney. His busy practice focuses on all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, parenting time, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements and domestic partnership cases.

Portland Portland 31 Years Experience 31 year
Call (971) 497-0344

Profile Summary

About Brett E. Engel at a glance

Brett E. Engel is a Partner based in Portland, Oregon, practicing at Kell, Alterman & Runstein, L.L.P.. They have 31+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1995. Their practice focuses on divorce, child custody, family law, business, and real estate. Admitted to practice in Oregon (1995). Educated at Willamette University (J.D., 1995) and University of Vermont (B.A., 1988). Recognitions include BV Distinguished. Active member of Clackamas County, Multnomah County and Washington County Bar Associations Oregon State Bar Oregon Academy of Family Law Practitioners. Serves clients in Portland, OR and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Having practiced law in Portland for 20 years, Brett Engel is known as an exceptionally skilled litigation attorney
  • His busy practice focuses on all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, parenting time, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements and domestic partnership cases
  • He has handled and tried cases throughout the State of Oregon.A family law issue can present the most challenging time of a person's life
  • Brett's many years of experience help him understand the myriad issues that can affect his clients when dealing with challenging family issues
  • One of Brett's strengths is that he takes the time to fully understand his client's needs and desired outcomes and then aggressively pursues those aims.Options always exist for a client experiencing family transition
  • Brett listens to his clients, and explains all options
  • Some of those options involve peaceful negotiation and resolution, but sometimes a fair result can only be achieved with the court's help
  • As a trusted advisor to his clients, Brett discusses and explains the costs and benefits of various options at every step of the process
  • His goal is for his client to make good decisions (with his help) based on his or her needs and available resources
  • Brett's satisfaction comes with providing cost-efficient services that allow his clients to regain self-confidence and control over their own lives.Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Brett graduated with his B.A. from the University of Vermont in 1988 and with his J.D. from Willamette University in 1995
  • He began his law career as a civil litigator in private practice, and transitioned to his family law practice in 1998.When not at work, Brett spends his time reading books about history, fly-fishing (when time allows), and travelling in his motor home with his family
  • In fact, he ties his own fishing flies

Practice Areas Explained

Brett E. Engel's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Brett E. Engel handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Divorce

A divorce attorney guides you through property division, spousal support, custody, and the final decree — contested or uncontested.

Brett E. Engel is one of 45,063 divorce attorneys indexed nationally. Browse divorce attorneys in Oregon →

Child Custody & Visitation

Brett E. Engel is one of 27,615 child custody attorneys indexed nationally. Browse child custody attorneys in Oregon →

Family Law

Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.

Brett E. Engel is one of 167,063 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in Oregon →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Brett E. Engel is one of 452,854 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Oregon →

Real Estate Law

Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.

Brett E. Engel is one of 286,061 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Oregon →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Oregon

Practicing law in Oregon. Legal matters in Oregon are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Portland are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Oregon state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Oregon brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Oregon courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Oregon attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Portland or all attorneys in Oregon.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Brett E. Engel

Where is Brett E. Engel's law office located?
Brett E. Engel's law practice is located in Portland, Oregon. The firm is Kell, Alterman & Runstein, L.L.P.. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Brett E. Engel handle?
Brett E. Engel focuses on divorce, child custody, family law, business, real estate. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Oregon.
How long has Brett E. Engel practiced law?
Brett E. Engel has 31+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1995.
Where did Brett E. Engel go to law school?
Brett E. Engel earned their education at (J.D., 1995); (B.A., 1988).
How can I contact Brett E. Engel for a consultation?
You can contact Brett E. Engel directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Brett E. Engel received?
Brett E. Engel's notable recognition includes: BV Distinguished.

Education

J.D.
Willamette University
- 1995
B.A.
University of Vermont
- 1988

Awards

BV Distinguished

Bar Admissions

Oregon
Admitted: 1995

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