Lauren Barnhart grew up in Tacoma, Washington with her mom, three brothers and a village of aunts and uncles. Lauren learned at an early age that hard work and creative solutions can allow you to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Lauren realized early on that she would need to find her own way to pay for college, so by her senior year, she had secured a full-ride music scholarship to a four-year university, and performed in Carnegie Hall as the principal bassoonist in the Tacoma Youth Symphony.

Lauren entered law school with lofty ambitions of bringing international war criminals to justice, but soon realized that she felt the greatest reward serving individuals within her own community. Practicing family law allows Lauren the opportunity to help families navigate through what is arguably the most difficult time of their lives. Practicing estate planning allows Lauren to help families plan for their future. When Lauren meets a client for the first time, she wants them to know above all else that their case matters to her, and that she can get them through to the other side.

Lauren practices law with integrity and compassion and believes that when dealing with families, the best outcomes are not measured by winners and losers, rather equitable solutions and child-focused results. While Lauren does maintain a successful and active litigation practice, she will first try and explore all opportunities for settlement to avoid litigation. Coming from a modest background, Lauren truly appreciates the price tag, and her goal is always to reach the most equitable outcome, as expeditiously and efficiently as possible.

Lauren moved from Washington to Oregon in 2007 and has been living in Portland since shortly after graduating cum laude from Willamette University College of Law in 2012. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and spoiled border collie (Dolly Parton), watching movies, camping, wine tasting, playing modern and classic euro board games, and singing karaoke. Lauren’s favorite thing about Portland is the proximity to so many types of activities. She loves that you can access the desert, the mountains, the coast or the river all with only an hour or two drive. Then when you get back, you can take advantage of Portland’s diverse food scene, vast array of breweries and urban wineries, eco-conscious transportation, self-sufficient neighborhoods, and a lively alternative music scene.