Portia Kayser

With over 13 years of litigation experience and 18 years of business consulting experience, Portia’s practice focuses on litigation and appeals in the practice areas of Construction, Municipal Liability, Law Enforcement Defense, OSHA Compliance, and General Liability matters. She represents both small and large businesses, including architects, engineers, contractors, and owners in complex construction law cases, involving defense of claims of catastrophic personal injuries occurring at construction sites, construction defect claims on commercial and residential projects, mold infestation, EIFS failure, professional design liability and OSHA administrative matters. Portia also represents city and county governments, and other public entities in a wide range of legal matters, including law enforcement liability, civil rights, municipal liability, open records and meetings, and zoning and land use issues.

Portia earned her Juris Doctor and Certificate of International and Comparative Law, cum laude, from St. Louis University School of Law and has an MBA in International Management and Finance. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of municipal litigation, real estate and infrastructure by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as a Women’s Justice Award recipient. In addition to her practice, Ms. Kayser is an adjunct professor at St. Louis University School of Law. She is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from Construction Safety and Contracting to Appellate Advocacy.  While in law school, she served as judicial intern to the Honorable Judge E. Richard Webber of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Portia is a certified mediator with a passion for helping parties find creative resolutions to their conflicts. She is a strong advocate of alternative dispute resolution and putting the power to resolve cases in the hands of the parties rather than having to accept a decision made by strangers in a court of law.

Prior to joining Harris Dowell Fisher & Young, Portia was the Managing Partner of Practus, LLP’s St. Louis, Missouri office. When she’s not working, Portia enjoys spending time with her 5 kids and 4 dogs. She also loves cooking, baking, and traveling.