Kendra Matthews

Professional Memberships

Women’s White Collar Defense Association, 2017 – Present

Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1999 – Present

Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners, 2019-2025

Fellows of the American Bar Association, 2014-Present

Oregon Women Lawyers

Publications

K.Matthews, Discovery, Oregon State Bar Criminal Law Manual, 2022

K.Matthews, Criminal Enforcement of Administrative Rules, Permits, and Absence of Permits Supplement, Oregon State Bar Administrative Law Manual Supplement, 2016

K.Matthews, Alibi, OCDLA Major Crimes and Defenses Manual, 2004

K.Matthews and J.Ewing, Preserving Your Record for Post-Trial Litigation, OCDLA Defending Sex Cases Manual, 2018

K.Matthews, Discovery, Oregon State Bar Criminal Law Manual, 2005

K.Matthews, Mail & Wire Fraud, Tenth Survey of White Collar Crime, 32 American Criminal Law Review 481 (1995)

Career

After attending Georgetown University Law and clerking for the Honorable Rex Armstrong of the Oregon Court of Appeals, Kendra joined the firm now known as Boise Matthews.

One focus of her practice is appellate litigation—representing individuals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Oregon Court of Appeals. Kendra has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© for her appellate practice since 2013.

Kendra also regularly represents individuals and entities in criminal investigations and cases in both state and federal court at the trial level. Kendra has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America© for her criminal practice since 2018. In 2019 and 2023, through Best Lawyers, her peers recognized her as Lawyer of the Year for General Practice Criminal Defense in Portland. Kendra’s peers have also awarded her with the AV Preeminent rating for the highest level of professional excellence in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Kendra’s perspective as an appellate attorney uniquely positions her to identify the critical legal issues presented by a client’s situation. She also knows that each client’s situation is unique; she takes the time to understand the situation and treats her clients with compassion.

In each case, Kendra takes a global approach to her client’s situation, looking at the possible short and long-term consequences of any decision, so that the impact of the government’s intrusion into her client’s life is minimized to the greatest extent possible.

Kendra is a regular speaker at continuing legal education conferences. In 2018 and 2020, along with an Assistant United States Attorney, Kendra co-taught a class on White Collar Crime at Lewis & Clark Law School. In 2024 and 2025, she taught a course on Appellate Advocacy at Lewis & Clark.

Education

Awards