Attorney
Steven B. Ungar
Steve Ungar has spent four decades stepping in when everything is on the line: high-stakes investigations, prosecutions, and crises that demand a steady hand and a strategic mind.
When the government comes calling, with a grand jury subpoena, a front-page investigation, or a career-threatening charge, Steve Ungar is the lawyer people call first. For nearly four decades he has defended individuals and companies in white collar criminal matters: RICO, tax evasion, securities fraud, and regulatory offenses, in state and federal court.
His practice runs wider than the courtroom. He advises Native American tribes on sovereignty and gaming regulation, guides high-profile clients through media-driven crises, and, when it serves the client, resolves matters so quietly they never make the news. Seven years as Chairman of the Oregon Lottery Commission, appointed by two governors, and years as general counsel to a public gaming and software company mean he knows how regulators think from the inside.
Steve was recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers in America for White Collar Criminal Defense, marking his 20th consecutive year of recognition. Clients hire him for a simpler reason: when everything is on the line, Steve picks up the phone.
Professional and Community Activities
- Chairman, Oregon Lottery Commission (2005–2012)
- Member and Chair, Governor’s Judicial Appointment Screening Committee (2002–2010)
- President and Litigation Coordinator, American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) of Montana (1984–1994)
- Special Counsel, Video Lottery Technologies, Inc. (1989–1991)
- Member, National Board of Directors of Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) (2001–2008)
- Stanford Jazz Workshop, instruction and performance (drums) (1978–Present)
Honors and Awards
- Peer Review Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell, having received a peer review rating of 5.0 out of 5.0.
- Ungar Law Office, Best Law Firms in the U.S., including the 2026 edition
- Recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, White Collar Criminal Defense, marking his 20th consecutive year of recognition
- Named as an “Oregon Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers magazine, Criminal Defense: White Collar, including the 2026 edition
- Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce “Leadership in Law” Award Finalist (2012)
- American Civil Liberties Union (Montana), Special Commendation for 10 years’ service as President (1994)
A Portland practice with a strong sense of place.
Steve Ungar leads the firm from the historic Otis Elevator Building in Portland’s Pearl District. His office is personal, direct, and designed for serious conversations about matters that often arrive without warning.