Oregon State Bar Bulletin — FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013
Bar People
Among Ourselves
Jeanne F. Loftis, practice group leader at Bullivant Houser Bailey, was recently honored by the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel and its national parent, the Defense Research Institute, with the 2012 Appreciation Award, recognizing her for leadership and contributions to the profession. In addition to serving as OADC president in 2011, she has served for more than 10 years as editor of “The Verdict,” its quarterly journal. DRI also honored Loftis with its Exceptional Performance Citation for supporting and improving the standards and education of the defense bar.
Mark Stayer, a shareholder in the Portland office of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, was recently elected to the board of directors of Portland Golf Club. Although Stayer serves as corporate counsel to a number of businesses in the local community, his practice has evolved over the years to include a broad representation of commercial real estate owners and timber investment management organizations.
Adina Matasaru of Dunn Carney won the recent Campaign for Equal Justice “Why I Give” Award. In a brief poignant statement about why she gives to the campaign, Matasaru wrote about her experience living in Romania as a child and how it influenced her to support legal aid for vulnerable citizens.
Smith, Freed & Eberhard raised more $1,800 for the Campaign for Equal Justice as part of a holiday giving program. The firm started a “change war” competition among members of the firm to see who could bring in the most change. In just five days, the firm raised over $1,800.
Román D. Hernández, shareholder in the Portland office of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, was recently appointed to the board of directors of the Portland branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He will serve a three-year term that began Jan. 1.
Eric O. English has been appointed the founding chair of the Settlement Counsel Subcommittee of the ABA Litigation Section, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. The newly formed committee will focus on educating the bar on the effective use of settlement counsel in resolving disputes. English is managing partner of Resolution Strategies and has focused his practice on the role of settlement counsel for the past 10 years, representing regional, national and international clients.
Lainie Block, a contract litigation attorney, has been elected to the board of directors of Girls Inc. of Northwest Oregon. Girls Inc. provides quality after-school programs on science, technology, engineering and math careers, as well as leadership, anti-bullying, community action and economic literacy. Block was also recently named by Willamette Week as an influential voice in education, as a founder of Smart Schools PDX. Block focuses her practice on intellectual property and complex commercial litigation.
Hong Dao, Karen Nashiwa and Trinh Tran were among the graduating class of the inaugural Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Institute held Jan. 12 in Portland. The year-long leadership institute develops leadership skills for leaders in Oregon Asian Pacific Islander community. All three serve as board members of the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, with Nashiwa serving as treasurer.
Stoel Rives partners Adam Kobos and Geoff Tichenor were recently included on the Portland Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list for 2013. This award recognizes Portland business leaders under 40. Kobos is a partner in the firm’s tax group and represents clients in a wide array of federal, state and local tax matters. He has been a columnist for the Journal of Corporate Taxation and currently serves as vice president of the board for the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland. Tichenor is a partner in the environmental compliance practice group, where he helps clients comply with various environmental requirements covering air quality, water quality, hazardous waste management, cleanup, release and spill reporting. He is a regular mentor through the Multnomah Bar Association and Lewis & Clark Law School, past member of the House of Delegates for the OSB, has taught as an adjunct professor of law at Lewis & Clark Law School, and currently serves as board vice chair for Portland Homeless Family Solutions and as a member of the steering committee for the Northwest Environmental Conference.
Richard Rizk of Portland is now coaching Special Olympics in alpine skiing. Rizk was profiled by this publication in January 2011 for his efforts in reviving Cascade Ski Club. The Special Olympics winter competitions will occur on Mount Bachelor March 8-10.
Randy L. Arthur of Dunn Carney has been appointed to the Lake Oswego Planning Commission. The seven-member citizen advisory body reviews long range planning issues, neighborhood planning and amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan, in addition to advising the city council.
Timothy Haslach, a shareholder in the Portland office Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, was recently appointed as co-chair of the policy subcommittee of the ABA Technology Standardization Committee. Haslach is chair of Schwabe’s Technology Trade Association and Industry Initiatives team. He focuses his practice on the formation and development of technology-related trade associations, where he acts as general counsel to some of the largest national and international technology specification bodies, or as special counsel to Fortune 500 companies involved with these entities.
Moves
John Kaempf and Dan Lindahl have formed Lindahl Kaempf. The law firm focuses on defending civil litigation in Oregon and Washington state and federal courts. Kaempf is a trial lawyer who specializes in defending religious schools, churches and other businesses against employment and child abuse claims. He also defends high exposure personal injury and wrongful death cases. Lindahl’s practice concentrates on appeals in state and federal court. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Read more at www.LindahlKaempf.com.
Tonkon Torp has elected Inga Deckert and Jeffrey Woodcox to partnership, effective Jan. 1. Deckert has been a member of the firm’s government relations and public policy practice group since 2007. She represents clients before the Oregon Legislature and executive branch agencies. Deckert served seven years as director of legislative and public affairs for the Oregon treasurer’s office. Woodcox is a business attorney who advises clients on acquiring and disposing of businesses and assets, securities compliance and raising capital through private placements of equity and debt. He is a member of the firm’s corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions practice groups.
Timothy J. Resch has been appointed the new managing partner for Samuels Yoelin Kantor. Resch, who joined the firm in 1996, is a civil litigator with domestic and international expertise. He assumed his new responsibilities effective Jan. 1, when the term for current managing partner, Alan M. Spinrad, concluded. Spinrad has served as managing partner since January 2009. Spinrad will return to working full-time with his clients. Resch’s practice emphasizes employment law advice and litigation, primarily for small businesses and medical professionals. Resch also spent nearly five years with the Office of the Prosecutor at the United Nation’s International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, where he helped the legal team prepare for trial in the Radovan Karadzic case. Prior to the Karadzic case, he conducted in-court direct examinations in international war crimes trials, and traveled extensively throughout the former Yugoslavia investigating serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Collier Law, a Salem trust and estate law firm, welcomes new associate Stephanie M. Palmblad. She graduated from Willamette University College of Law in 2012, where she served as executive editor for Willamette Law Review and as vice president of the moot court board. Her practice will focus on litigating trust and probate matters, managing wrongful death probates for personal injury attorneys and handing guardianship/conservatorship matters. She can be reached at Stephanie@Collier-Law.com or at (503) 485-7224.
Buckley Law has hired Craig F. Robinson as a litigation associate. Robinson’s practice emphasizes the areas of general civil and commercial litigation. In addition to Oregon, he is a member of the Washington and Nevada state bars. He received his law degree from Boston University School of Law.
Kahy & Kahn is pleased to announce the location of new offices, effective Jan. 2, in the Loyalty Building, 317 S.W. Alder St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; phone: (503) 227-4488 fax: (503) 227-0753; website: www.kahnattorneys.com. The firm brings together more than 75 years of combined legal experience to its representation of individuals with claims for injury, death and destruction caused by the negligence of others.
Christine Costantino has joined Samuels Yoelin Kantor as a partner, expanding the firm’s areas of expertise with her emphasis on family law. Costantino’s practice focuses on legal issues involving families and family-owned businesses, including: dissolution of marriage and registered domestic partnerships; prenuptial and domestic partner agreements; contested custody, child and spousal support; grandparents’ rights; and other family-related legal matters. She also specializes in contested guardianships and conservatorships, as well as trust litigation.
Stoll Berne has named Joshua Ross as a shareholder. Licensed in Oregon and Washington, Ross represents individuals and businesses in a broad range of commercial disputes, including unlawful trade practices, fraud, securities, class actions and contract disputes. He is a long-time volunteer with Legal Aid’s Domestic Violence Project, a recipient of the MBA’s Haglund Pro Bono Award and the Young Lawyers Section Award of Merit. He was also recently elected to the OSB Board of Governors.
Elizabeth “Libby” Khuri has joined the Law Office of Eden Rose Brown as an associate attorney. Her practice will focus on estate and legacy planning. Khuri earned her law degree from Regent University School of Law in 2007. Her experience includes positions in the insurance and financial industries, bank trust services and as an estate planning and probate attorney in Eugene. Khuri also serves as the managing attorney for Oregon Probates, where her practice focuses on guardianships, conservatorships, probate and trust administration.
Dunn Carneyhas named Timothy B. Hering and Jeffrey S. Perry as partners at the firm, effective Jan. 1. Hering is a litigator whose practice focuses on real estate, business transactions and financial services. He handles a wide array of real estate matters ranging from boundary line disputes to complex, multi-million dollar contract actions, and he has extensive experience in commercial leasing.Perrypractices tax and corporate law. With an advanced law degree in taxation and more than 15 years of experience, he works closely with his clients to provide knowledgeable and practical solutions to their business and tax objectives. He also serves as general counsel for closely held businesses in a variety of industries.
Hal Scoggins has been elected president of the Portland firm Farleigh Wada Witt, effective Jan. 1. Prior to his election, Scoggins served on the executive committee and will continue to serve on the 2013 executive committee with Brad Stanford, Kim McGair and Michelle Bertolino. He has been with the firm since 1991 and assumes the role of president from Mark Wada. Scoggins continues to focus his practice on financial services.
Andrew J. Myers has joined Thomas C. Peachey P.C., as an associate in its offices located in The Dalles. Myers has worked with the U.S. attorney’s office and the Columbia County district attorney, and has provided criminal defense representation for the past several years. His practice will focus on litigation and land use law. He may be reached at (541) 296-6375 or amyers@thedalles-law.com.
Alex P. Sutton has been named a shareholder of Gevurtz, Menashe, Larson & Howe. Sutton has been with the firm as an associate attorney since 2004.His practice focuses on a broad range of family law issues, including divorce, custody and parenting time, domestic violence, military divorce, third party rights and same-sex marriage issues.
Gleaves Swearingen has named Michael T. Faulconer a partner in the firm. Faulconer was admitted to the California bar in 2002 and the Oregon bar in 2007. He has 10 years of experience representing clients in business and real estate transactions of all types and sizes.
Dorothy S. Cofield has moved Cofield Law Office to Creekside 5, located on the west side of Highway 217, across from Washington Square Mall. The firm’s new address is 8705 S.W. Nimbus Ave., Suite 380, Portland, OR 97008. The fax number has changed to (503) 228-5950; the telephone number and email address remain the same. Cofield will continue to focus her practice on all aspects of land use law including rural and urban development permits such as determining legal lot status, property line adjustments, separating combined lots, tree cutting permits, building permit issues, Measure 49 development, partitions and subdivisions.
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt recently added Jennifer Woodhouse as a tax associate in its Portland office. Previously she was a staff attorney with Legal Aid Services of Oregon in the organization’s statewide tax clinic. Woodhouse focuses her practice in the area of state and federal tax controversies and estate planning. She has experience representing clients at all levels of the examination process and in state and federal tax court matters.
Harrang Long Gary Rudnick has named John T. Witherspoon as a shareholder. Witherspoon was previously an associate with the firm and before that was an associate with Lukins & Annis in Spokane, Wash. As a member of the firm’s closely held business team, he focuses on the practicalities of adding value to the client’s bottom line.
Portland business litigation firm Markowitz, Herbold, Glade & Mehlhaf, celebrating its 30th year in business, kicked off its anniversary year by announcing the promotions of three attorneys to shareholder. Chad Colton is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex business cases such as shareholder and partnership disputes, claims involving corporate fraud and fiduciary obligations, bet-the-company litigation and contract disputes. Dallas DeLuca represents businesses and executives in the resolution of commercial disputes before federal and state courts and arbitration panels. He brings international experience and a practical business perspective to his civil litigation practice. In 2009, DeLuca was honored by the Multnomah Bar Association as its first Rookie of the Year. Joseph Franco is an experienced trial lawyer who has successfully tried multimillion dollar cases and handled all aspects of discovery, motion and appellate practice. Although he currently focuses on complex civil litigation, Franco has significant experience in the areas of legal malpractice and insurance coverage disputes.
Timothy J. Fransen has joined Cosgrave Vergeer Kester in the firm’s financial services practice group. His work continues to focus on representing consumer financial services providers in litigation, primarily defending claims for wrongful foreclosure and violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act, Oregon mortgage lender law and Oregon Unlawful Trade Practices Act.
The Portland office K&L Gates has added Tae Rhee as a partner in the corporate practice. Most recently, Rhee served as executive vice president and general counsel with 20/20 Communications, Inc., in Dallas, Texas. With a background that includes experience in private legal practice and as chief in-house counsel for both public and private high-growth companies in technology, manufacturing and direct sales, Rhee focuses his practice on matters involving corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital related transactions and international joint ventures.
Richard Allan has joined Marten Law as a partner in the firm’s Portland office. Allan, formerly a partner with Ball Janik, has more than 20 years of experience representing utilities, developers and other Northwest businesses with their environmental, land use and natural resource issues. Allan is a frequent writer and speaker on environmental issues. Reach him at rallan@martenlaw.com or (503) 241-2643.
Kathryn F. Gapinski has joined Aaby Family Law as an associate attorney. Her practice focuses on probate and estate planning, including estate planning for same sex couples. Gapinski earned her J.D. at the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Eric DeWeese has joined the Law Office of Robert G. Dolton in Clackamas. He will manage the firm’s trial practice, handle commercial real estate and leasing transactions, and assist clients with estate planning and trust administration. Prior to this move, DeWeese did insurance defense and coverage work for a local boutique firm. He is a 2009 graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School and a retired PGA golf professional. He represents and advises personal injury clients before, during and after litigation.
Jordan Ramis announces the expansion and relocation of its Vancouver office, now located across the street from its former location (moving from building 1498 to 1499). The new address is 1499 S.E. Tech Center Place, Suite 380, Vancouver, WA 98683. The phone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses remain the same. The firm also announces the recent addition of employment and business attorney Amy Robinson.
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt recently added Lauren Rogers to its Portland office as an associate in the firm’s business group. Rogers previously practiced with Kell, Alterman & Runstein. She focuses her practice in the areas of business formation, corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions and general tax planning. Rogers has experience with entity formation and succession and the tax aspects of business transactions.
Benjamin Schwartzman has joined a new Idaho firm, Andersen & Banducci. The Boise-based firm specializes in complex, high-stakes litigation and represents both defendants and plaintiffs. The firm conducts litigation involving agribusiness, partnership disputes, bad faith insurance and banking claims, intellectual property matters, class actions, product and professional liability claims, securities fraud, multidistrict litigation, federal and state antitrust violations, injury and multiparty tort claims, labor and employment issues, and conflicts in the engineering and construction, financial, healthcare and technology industries. The practice will be located 101 S. Capitol Blvd. Suite 1600, Boise, ID 83702. The firm’s phone number is (208) 342-4411.
Marcus Eyth, an attorney in the real estate practice at Davis Wright Tremaine, has been promoted to partner. Eyth advises and represents project owners, designers, contractors and construction managers on all aspects of private and public construction and supply contracting. His practice includes drafting and negotiating construction and design contracts and assisting clients on day-to-day project issues and dispute resolution, including mediation, domestic and international arbitration (including ICC) and litigation.
Miller Nash has added Tyler Anderson as counsel in its Portland office business practice team. Anderson brings a range of experience to his new position, from providing representation in a variety of business transactions to advising on product marketing and labeling regulations. He was previously an associate with Stoel Rives, where he contributed to the corporate, securities and finance practice group. He also built up expertise in the practice areas of food, beverage and hospitality. A graduate of Stanford Law School, Anderson served as a legal extern to Nike in Beaverton and was the business and finance articles editor of the Stanford Journal of Law.
Mario D. Conte and Pablo J. Valentine have become partners with the Eugene firm of Hershner Hunter. Conte has been with the firm since 2007, specializing in commercial and employment litigation. He helps businesses and individuals resolve disputes before federal and state courts and arbitration panels. Valentine has been with the firm since 2007, specializing in business and real estate transactions and business organizations. He helps people navigate business risks so that they can enjoy the rewards of owning a business.
Stoel Rives has opened a satellite office in Washington, D.C. Managing partner Bob Van Brocklin described the move: “Our presence there allows us to provide on-the-ground access to Congress, federal administrators and U.S. departments, agencies and bureaus for businesses that are federally regulated or have an interest in a federal policy matter, including those in energy, transportation, foreign trade, telecommunications, food and alcohol manufacturing and distribution, sports apparel and footwear, aviation, timber, health care, technology and general manufacturing, among others.” The new office is located at 1020 19th St. N.W., Suite 375, Washington, DC 20036. See www.stoel.com/washingtondc for more information.
Stephen F. Cook, Bullivant Houser Bailey’s business practice group leader and a senior shareholder at the firm, will add the role of deputy director and general counsel for Columbia Land Trust to his work as an attorney. He brings many years of conservation and environmental commitments to the Vancouver, Wash.-based trust as he continues work for clients at Bullivant. Cook joined the firm in 1989 and focused his practice on business and corporate law and intellectual property.
Todd French has joined Dascenzo Intellectual Property Law as an intellectual property attorney. Having substantial experience as a scientist and a business executive, his practice focuses on patent and trademark procurement, as well as client counseling. French received his law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School and his Ph.D. in physics from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Matthew D. Colley has joined Smith Freed & Eberhard as an associate attorney. He represents insurers and their insureds in complex litigation suits pertaining to commercial claims and personal injury claims. He can be reached at mcolley@smithfreed.com.
Scott MacLaren has joined Smith Freed & Eberhard as an associate attorney. His practice focuses primarily on the investigation and litigation of Special Investigation Unit (SIU) claims and first party property damage claims, including arson, fraud and coverage claims. He can be reached at smaclaren@smithfreed.com.
Tasha Lyn Cosimo has joined Smith Freed & Eberhard as an associate attorney. She focuses her litigation practice on automotive and commercial liability claims, including the defense of premise liability and personal injury claims. She can be reached at tcosimo@smithfreed.com.
In Memoriam
In Memoriam will return next month.