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How NAEGELI Deposition & Trial Has Played a Longstanding Role in Legal Reporting for 45 Years

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Walk into a high-stakes deposition in Seattle, a medical malpractice trial in Denver, or an aviation case being argued in federal court, and NAEGELI court reporters are frequently involved in legal proceedings across a range of jurisdictions. While the firm may be best known within legal and litigation circles, it has built a sustained presence in that space. For over four decades, attorneys across the country have been calling the same 800 number when they need someone to capture the record, interpret a witness, or wheel a cart of evidence displays into a courtroom.

NAEGELI Deposition & Trial runs its entire operation out of a single corporate headquarters on SW 5th Avenue in Portland, Oregon. From there, founder and CEO Marsha J. Naegeli has built a company that deploys court reporters and videographers on demand, and on short notice, nationwide.

Here is what makes the setup unusual: Many larger court reporting outfits run on a franchise model. Regional offices operate independently, and if you have used enough of them, you already know the output quality can differ significantly based on which city you booked in. NAEGELI does not do it that way. Work routes back to the Portland office for review regardless of where the deposition actually took place, and the client does not see anything finished until it clears that internal check. It is a more consistent and reliable way of doing things, which many litigators may view as more important than marginally faster turnaround times. According to the firm, you can ask for help at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday or 2 a.m. on a Sunday, and someone will pick up the phone.

NAEGELI’s Top-Down Management Structure

Marsha Naegeli is the public face of the firm, but there is strong leadership throughout the executive level. Richard D. Teraci heads innovation and development. Consuelo M. Grumich, JD, serves as Senior Executive Vice President. Juliette L. Kivo is a Vice President, and Daniel Kirdey runs litigation as VP of Litigation. Client relations sits with Erin M. Martuscelli. Julie F. Shinn oversees firm administration. Sarah M. Coleman is Chief of Staff. Geraldine A. DeAngelis holds the Chief Strategy Officer role, and Beauregard G. Moody is the firm’s corporate attorney.

That is a large C-suite for what people sometimes assume is a small reporting firm, which is all by design. NAEGELI has been around long enough to need actual infrastructure.

A Full Suite of Litigation Support

Most of the work is verbatim court reporting. If you need someone to create the official record at a deposition, trial, or evidentiary hearing, NAEGELI’s reporters handle it. However, the firm tends to get hired for cases where the stakes run high and the technical content is dense. Aviation litigation. Medical litigation. Complex multi-party matters where a single misheard term about an aircraft system or a surgical procedure can shift the record in ways that matter months later.

Beyond the core reporting work, the service lineup covers a pretty full stack. Remote depositions have been a major part of the business since 2020. NAEGELI runs the platform, does the technical checks with counsel and witnesses ahead of time, and deals with whatever odd logistical issue pops up the morning of. For in-person video work, the firm sends videography crews out to capture testimony that later gets played back in court. Interpreter services cover a broader range of languages than just Spanish and Mandarin, which matters more than people expect once a case touches employment disputes or anything immigration-adjacent.

Transcription handles the job of turning audio and video exhibits into a clean written record. Think a recorded voicemail entered as evidence, or body-cam footage that an attorney needs a verbatim script of. There is document copying and scanning for firms that still move in bulk paper, which, if you have spent any time around litigation, you know is most of them. Trial support puts actual trial technicians in the courtroom to run presentation tech during proceedings. That is a different skill set from just rolling in a projector, and it shows. And for attorneys who do not have time to wade through a 400-page deposition, NAEGELI produces transcript summaries.

The Advantage of Having a Dedicated Case Manager

Every client gets assigned one person. You do not call a reception line. You are not bounced between scheduling, production, and billing like you are trying to reach a cable company. The case manager owns the relationship. That setup sounds like a minor internal detail until you have tried to schedule a deposition where opposing counsel is in one city, the witness is in another, an interpreter is dialing in from a third, and a videographer has to be on site by 9 a.m. Somebody has to keep the plates spinning, or things fall apart quickly.

Security is handled the way it has to be for confidential litigation, with case materials moving through a documented chain-of-custody process. It is not especially flashy, but it is a standard many legal professionals look for in litigation support services when sensitive records are involved.

Factors Behind the Firm’s Longevity

NAEGELI operates on the belief that even the smallest case is important. While many service businesses say something similar, NAEGELI’s 45-year history in litigation support is part of that reputation. A firm does not stay in the court reporting business that long without delivering transcripts on time, and one does not build a national operation out of Portland without a reputation developed through work in courts across the country.

For lawyers, the appeal is practical. One firm, one point of contact, every service they are likely to need on a case, available around the clock. For NAEGELI, that consistency is the product.

NAEGELI Deposition & Trial 111 SW 5th Ave, Suite 2020, Portland, OR 97204.

The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice. Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. We disclaim any liability for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, the information presented.

Members of the editorial and news staff of newsobserver.com were not involved with the creation of this content. All contributor content is reviewed by newsobserver.com staff.

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Malana VanTyler
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Malana VanTyler is a highly skilled freelance writer with 7-plus years of experience. She crafts engaging, SEO-optimized content that drives business growth for B2C and B2B companies.
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