Hillary Taylor is an accomplished appellate lawyer with an acclaimed record of success in high stakes litigation.  She is the leader of the firm’s appellate practice with nearly twenty years of experience and the Managing Shareholder of Keating Jones Hughes, PC.

Hillary’s practice focuses on professional liability defense in state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington. In trial and appellate courts, she represents professionals, including physicians and hospitals, in defense of malpractice litigation.  She brings strategic vision and exceptional advocacy skills to complex matters as a trusted advisor to her clients.  In appellate courts, she provides comprehensive legal strategies to either preserve trial victories or challenge adverse judgments. In trial courts, Hillary frequently partners with trial counsel in all stages of litigation to develop legal theories, strategize on dispositive motions and jury instructions, and serves as monitoring counsel to preserve issues for appeal. She enjoys collaborating with trial teams while adding perspective and value to the team.  Hillary also has a robust amicus curiae practice, taking on issues of first impression or great significance to industry leaders and helping courts understand and appreciate the effect of their decisions beyond the courtroom.

Leadership Positions and Professional Organizations

• DRI’s Appellate Advocacy Committee, Chair
  • Program Chair, AAC Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, Nov 2024
  • Program Vice Chair, AAC Seminar, San Diego, CA, Nov 2022
  • Publications Chair, The Voice, 2021-22
• Oregon Association of Defense Counsel
  • Member, Amicus Committee, 2023-present
• Appellate Section, Oregon State Bar,
  • Member, Executive Committee 2019-2024
• Health Law Section, Oregon State Bar
  • Prior member CLE Planning Committee
  • Prior member, Executive Committee
• Oregon Women Lawyers
  • Prior member, Transformation Committee
• Multnomah Bar Association
  • Member, Court Liaison Committee, 2017-2020
  • Member, Judicial Screening Committee, 2020-2023
• American Bar Association

Publications

• Co-author, OSB Bar Books, Tort Law in Oregon, 2024 Ed., Ch. 15 “Vicarious Liability”
• Appellate Advocacy: Mental Preparation: Before, During, and After a Pandemic, DRI The Voice, July 2021
• Improving Oral Advocacy through Mental Preparation, DRI The Voice, April 2020
• Author, OSB Bar Books, Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation, 2020 Ed., Ch 42 “Mandamus”
• Reconsidering Medical Expense Write-offs Under White v. Jubitz, OADC The Verdict, 2016
• Co-author, Seeking Best Practices Among Intermediate Courts of Appeal: A Nascent Journey, The Journal of Appellate Practice and Process, Vol. 9, No. 1, Spring 2007

CLE Presentations

• Martineau I & II CLE, OADC Webinar, April 2, 2025
• Understanding Recent Rulings in Discovery Matters, 2024 PLF Defense Panel Conference, August 2024
• OADC Defense Practice Academy – co-presenter, June 2024
• Recent Developments in Oregon Law: Appellate Update, OSB Health Law Section Annual CLE, October 2023
• Navigating the Politics of Appeal, panelist, DRI AAC Seminar, Nov 2022
• Appellate Update, OSB Health Law Section, Annual CLE, October 2022
• HIPAA – How it Impacts You and Your Patients, NW Regional Medical Assistant Conference, May 2022
• HIPAA and ROIs – Explaining the Interactions, Rights and Obligations of CACs OCAS Legal Summit, April 2022
• Oregon Appellate Case Update, OADC Annual Convention, July 2021
• Avoiding Malpractice Claims When Filing and Serving a Complaint, co-presenter, OSB Professional Liability Fund, May 2021
• Oregon Appellate Case Update, OADC Annual Convention, July 2020
• Recent Developments in Oregon Law: Appellate Update, OSB Health Law Section Annual CLE, October 2020
• The Remedy Clause post-Busch, OADC Fall Seminar, October 2020
• ORS 41.675 –Oregon’s “Peer Review” Privilege, OSHRM, November 2017
• Status of ORS 31.710 – Limit on Noneconomic Damages, OADC Fall Seminar, November 2017

Bar/Court Admissions

• Oregon State Bar
• Washington State Bar
• US District Court for the District of Oregon
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Supreme Court of the United States

Judicial Clerkship

• Timothy J. Sercombe, Oregon Court of Appeals, 2008-2009

Keating Jones Hughes, P.C.

Keating Jones Hughes, P.C. is respected as a leader among Oregon defense firms. With a focus on litigation, defending medical, healthcare and other professionals, our lawyers bring exceptional trial experience to the courtroom. Hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers throughout Oregon and southwest Washington rely on us to solve their litigation needs and take even the toughest cases to trial. Our signatures communicate excellent legal work and results for our clients.

Our appellate department takes on the most complex issues with the ability to synthesize the law, the facts, and the trial court record into cogent and winning arguments.  Our appeals team has a wealth of experience in state and federal appellate courts.  Together they have handled hundreds of appeals.  With successful results, they have helped shape Oregon law and statutory and constitutional analysis, particularly in cases involving claims of professional negligence and hospital and medical liability.