Connie Elkins McKelvey

Connie’s practice focuses on the defense of professionals including physicians, medical clinics, dentists and hospitals as well as attorneys and law firms. She has tried to defense verdict numerous professional liability claims. She also assists clients outside the courtroom, including representation before health care licensing boards, professional peer review, regulatory issues, HIPAA compliance, and contract disputes.

Connie is perhaps best known for her representation of licensed health professionals before licensing boards in Oregon and Washington. She is frequently retained to represent healthcare providers in connection with complex legal matters involving allegations of sexual misconduct, boundary violations or potential criminal conduct. In those cases, she often works closely with criminal defense attorneys to secure the best possible outcome for her clients.

Connie has been regularly endorsed as one of the top lawyers nationwide by the most respected peer review organizations in the nation including Martindale-Hubbell, the Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in American Law and Superlawyers. In 2021 her peers recognized her as Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year for Health Care Law and in 2022 they recognized her as Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year for Legal Malpractice Law- Defendants. 

Connie has a special interest in alternative dispute resolution of professional liability claims and is certified by the American Health Lawyers Association as Dispute Resolution Neutral which gives her the opportunity to resolve disputes involving health care providers, including disagreements between hospitals and clinics, disputes between providers, and pre-litigation resolution of claims by patients against health care providers. She is interested in expanding her practice to mediation of all types of claims. During COVID-19 she underwent extensive mediation training through the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine School of Law.

Connie has authored or contributed to numerous health law publications including the Health Professional Licensing & Enforcement Chapter of the Oregon Administrative Law publication and the Medical Staff & Communicable Disease Chapters of the Oregon Health Law Manual. She is also a frequent speaker to professional groups regarding professional liability issues.

When she’s not practicing law, Connie enjoys spending time with her family and friends including her best friend Gracie, a labradoodle.