Kara Cogswell Kidder

Law Practice

Kara is an associate with SBH Legal. She represents self-insured and state fund employers in Washington workers’ compensation cases. Kara also represents employers in claims involving employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation, medical leave and sick time laws, disability accommodation, and wage and hour disputes.

Before joining the firm, Kara worked for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries as an administrative prosecutor, handling civil rights and wage and hour cases. Prior to that, she practiced with another defense firm specializing in Washington workers’ compensation litigation.

An Oregon native, Kara grew up mostly in the Willamette Valley and on the coast. Her undergraduate degree is in journalism. Prior to law school, she worked as a writer and copy editor for newspapers, including The Oregonian. Although she stayed close to home for college and law school, she traveled to Europe to study international law. She also studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa Richardson School of Law. Kara lives with her family in Southwest Portland. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her young son.