Our Story & Philosophy
An Oregon law firm on the side of people
Our team of lawyers brings together different backgrounds, shared standards, and one commitment: do difficult work exceptionally well.
Our Story
Shared values from the start
David Sugerman and Nadia Dahab founded Sugerman Dahab around a shared approach to practicing law: take on difficult, high-impact cases, do the hard work, and treat the people involved with care and respect. That standard continues to shape how we choose cases, collaborate with clients and colleagues, and contribute beyond the courtroom.
Today, our small Portland, Oregon law firm brings together different backgrounds and strengths to the way we practice, and we share the same expectations of ourselves: think carefully, speak candidly, follow through, and never lose sight of the people affected by the outcome.
Our Values
The way we practice matters
Justice Through the Law
We are plaintiffs lawyers who believe the civil justice system can be a powerful tool for change. We use it to confront racism, predation, and abuses of power, from corporate misconduct to the right to a fair defense. We stand up for the people harmed and the causes they care about, with the goal of fixing the broken systems that allowed those harms to occur.
Excellence Without Excuse
Our clients' stakes are real, so our standards are high. We bring decades of experience in class actions and appeals to the kind of complex, consequential litigation few firms take on—and we come prepared to see each of these cases through to the end.
Humanity Beyond the Courtroom
We care deeply about the people we represent and the causes we take on, and it’s evident in how we answer the phone, do the work, and engage with our clients and partners. We're generous with our time and respectful of yours, and will never leave our clients guessing.
Our Experience
A record built on hard cases
$400 Million+
The experience behind Sugerman Dahab includes the landmark ARCO debit-card-fee class action, which resulted in a trial court judgment exceeding $400 million that was fully affirmed on appeal. The eventual settlement delivered payments to more than 1.7 million consumers and generated significant funding for legal aid and consumer advocacy in Oregon.
State and Federal Courts
Our team’s experience spans state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the Oregon Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
40 Years
More than 40 years of experience with consumer protection, civil rights, and criminal defense cases anchors the work of our Oregon law firm. Across the team, our lawyers have handled everything from individual claims to class actions, at trial and on appeal.
Our Commitment
Justice doesn’t begin or end with one case
Our team gives its time, legal skill, and resources to organizations working to make the justice system more accessible and equitable. Through pro bono advocacy, amicus work, teaching, organizational leadership, and community support, we help advance consumer advocacy, legal aid, immigrant and refugee justice, and other public-interest causes.
This work is not separate from our practice. It reflects why we became lawyers and the kind of firm we continue working to build.
Our Team
Meet the Sugerman Dahab team
David Sugerman
Attorney + Co-Founder
David represents consumers and communities in complex, high-stakes litigation. As a co-founder of Sugerman Dahab, he brings strategic depth, persistence, and a longstanding commitment to work that creates meaningful change.
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David Sugerman has over 40 years’ experience representing people in the civil justice system. David has served as lead counsel and trial counsel on major cases involving harms from corporate predation, toxic chemicals, employment discrimination, civil rights, and personal injury. Among his most significant victories, David served as lead counsel in Scharfstein v. BP West Products, LLC, a $400 million victory for consumers who were overcharged at Oregon gas stations.David regularly teaches, trains, and mentors lawyers on issues relating to class action procedure and practice and trial. David’s professional recognition includes receiving the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association’s Distinguished Trial Lawyer award and the National Consumer Law Center’s Vern Countryman Award. David is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. David is consistently recognized through commercial vetting services like Best Lawyers, SuperLawyers, and Benchmark Litigation.
Beyond his casework, David served as the President of the Board of Public Justice beginning in 2026. David’s active pro bono work includes legislative advocacy on state and federal issues affecting consumers, veterans, and the civil justice system.
Nadia Dahab
Attorney + Co-Founder
Nadia brings incisive legal writing, strategic thinking, and courtroom resolve to complex cases. As a co-founder of Sugerman Dahab, she helps shape the firm’s collaborative approach and its commitment to public-interest advocacy.
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Nadia is a trial and appellate advocate representing individuals in consumer, civil rights, and class action litigation. She brings careful legal analysis, persuasive writing, and a strategic view of how a case may develop from its earliest stages through trial and appeal.Before co-founding Sugerman Dahab, Nadia served as a senior litigation attorney at the Portland nonprofit Innovation Law Lab. There, she co-led and served as class counsel in several complex cases challenging presidential and federal-agency actions aimed at restricting the rights of immigrants and refugees. She continues to devote much of her pro bono work to advancing immigrant and refugee justice.
Nadia began her legal career at the Portland law firm Stoll Berne, where she developed many of her litigation skills. She graduated from the University of Oregon and served as a law clerk for Justice Rives Kistler of the Oregon Supreme Court and Judges Mary H. Murguia and Susan P. Graber of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
On weekends, you’re likely to find Nadia running the trails of Forest Park or cycling Oregon’s scenic backroads.
Jessica Snyder
Attorney
Jessica is a thoughtful, tenacious advocate who brings clarity to complicated legal questions and genuine care to the people she represents. Her work reflects a deep commitment to fairness, liberty, and a justice system that lives up to its promises.
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Jessica is a trial and appellate litigator with more than a decade of experience representing people in civil and criminal matters. She develops litigation strategy and navigates complex legal questions in state and federal courts.Before joining Sugerman Dahab, Jessica served as an assistant federal public defender at the Oregon Federal Public Defender’s Office. She represented clients at trial, on appeal, and in post-conviction proceedings, including compassionate-release matters. Jessica also developed a habeas corpus practice representing people challenging unlawful imprisonment.
Jessica earned her law degree from Stanford Law School, where she won the Stanford Kirkwood Moot Court Competition and served as co-editor-in-chief of the Stanford Law & Policy Review. After graduating, she returned home to Portland and clerked for Judge Michael H. Simon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. She began her advocacy career as a state-level public defender with Metropolitan Public Defender, representing clients in Washington and Multnomah Counties.
Outside the office, Jessica enjoys boxing, running, and reading fiction. On weekends, she can often be found hiking, biking, or playing soccer with her husband and their two very active boys.
jessica@sugermandahab.com
Katie Welsh
Litigation Paralegal
Katie helps keep complex cases organized and moving with care, responsiveness, and close attention to detail. Her steady support helps our attorneys remain focused on the people and legal questions at the center of each case.
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Katie helps keep complex cases organized and moving with care, responsiveness, and close attention to detail. Her steady support helps our attorneys remain focused on the people and legal questions at the center of each case.Katie provides paralegal support across a broad range of cases and assists throughout every phase of litigation, from discovery and investigation to motion practice and trial preparation. She grew up in Corvallis, Oregon, and graduated from Chico State University.
A lifelong sports fan and dedicated dog lover, outside the office you can find her cheering on the Thorns, Beavs, or FC Barcelona, and exploring local brewery patios with her labradoodle, Boots.
Lesley Painter
Office Manager
Se habla español.
Lesley brings warmth, organization, and a can-do spirit to the day-to-day life of Sugerman Dahab. She helps create an environment where clients feel welcomed, colleagues feel supported, and important details never get lost.
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Drawing on years of experience in office management, executive support, and project coordination, Lesley helps keep the firm’s operations running smoothly. She turns challenges into clear next steps, helps teams work together, and makes it easier for the legal team to remain focused on its work.Outside the office, Lesley can often be found hiking one of the Pacific Northwest’s forested trails, trying a new recipe, or painting. She also enjoys traveling with her husband and two adult children and getting to know new places through their local cuisine.
lesley@sugermandahab.com
What to Expect
Reaching out doesn’t have
to feel complicated
1.
Tell Us What Happened
Share what happened, who was involved, and what kind of help you’re looking for. Start with what you know—we can ask questions if we need more information.
2.
We’ll Review the Information
Our team will consider whether your situation falls within our areas of practice and we’ll be candid about whether Sugerman Dahab may be the right firm to help.
3.
Deciding What Comes Next
If the matter is a fit, we’ll explain the next step. Consultations are always free and confidential. If we’re not the right firm and know another resource that may help, we’ll point you in that direction.