Current SBLC Sponsors

The SBLC relies on the generosity of our sponsors. They are divided here into three giving levels (Community Leadership Partners, Community Supporting Partners, and Enterprise Associates), followed by a list of other donors.

Community Leadership Partners ($10,000 per year or more)

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust

The Trust's mission is to enrich the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest by providing grants to organizations that seek to strengthen the region's educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Although the major funding interests are education and scientific research, grants are also given to a wide variety of organizations, including those that serve the arts, public affairs, health and medicine, human services, and people with disabilities.

City of Portland

Mayor Sam Adams and the City Commissioners enthusiastically supported the Small Legal Business Clinic as an important resource for Portland's small business community. The City of Portland has been a huge supported of the SBLC and our mission since 2006.

Portland Development Commission

Bruce Warner and the Portland Development Commission staff worked hard to ensure the SBLC had an accessible "home" in the heart of downtown Portland on the edge of Chinatown, right on the bus line. Providing the SBLC low rent space with access to additional conference rooms gives us the ability to maximize our resources to serve a greater number of clients..

Stoel Rives, LLP

Stoel Rives has a one hundred year tradition of being a leader in Portland's legal community. Providing the SBLC with major funding, as well as furniture and pro bono legal assistance, has enabled us to thrive.

Schwabe Williamson &

Wyatt

The second largest law firm in Oregon, Schwabe played a leadership role in helping to establish the SBLC. As are all our major sponsors, Schwabe lawyers are committed to pro bono and are enthusiastic supporters of the SBLC pro bono project.

Perkins Coie

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm offering a full spectrum of legal services. With nearly 700 lawyers in 15 offices across the United States and in China, the firm serves great companies ranging in size from start-ups to FORTUNE 100. Many of the firm's clients are leaders in traditional industries and emerging technology markets.

KeyBank Foundation

As a financial institution, we have the fiscal expertise to help communities and individuals prosper. As a corporate neighbor, we have the dedication and concern to help them achieve their goals and to become economically self-sufficient in the process.

Enhancing economic self-sufficiency involves two main thrusts – workforce development and financial education. The Key Foundation now focuses its grant dollars to worthwhile projects in these two areas. To a lesser degree, we support organizations that enhance diversity in Key communities.

Community Supporting Partners ($5,000-$9,999 per year)

Bank of the West

Bank of the West was the first sponsor on the road to making the SBLC dream a reality. A major funding partner from the "business" world, Bank of the West continues to support the SBLC in myriad ways.

Tonkon Torp, LLP

One of the largest firms in the Northwest, Tonkon Torp saw the vision of the SBLC. The firm was the first to invest in the SBLC, and took the lead in encouraging other major Portland firms to join them.

Portland Business

Alliance

Portland's Chamber of Commerce was an enthusiastic supporter from the beginning, its leadership recognizing the need for affordable business legal transactional services for Portland's most fragile businesses.

John and Susan Bates

Mr. Bates has been Chairman and CEO of Bates Private Capital and Bates Private Capital Advisors from 1988 to 2005. Presently he is the CEO of Oswego Partners, Inc, a financial holding company. Mr. Bates was a senior officer of a major New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) firm. He has served as a litigation consultant and expert witness to most major NYSE brokerage firms, and the Enforcement Division of the NYSE. Mr. Bates served as Associate Professor of Finance at Lewis & Clark College from 1975- 1981, and Adjunct Professor of Finance from 1985-1986. Mr. Bates graduated from Oregon State University in 1956 with a B.S. in Finance. He received his M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Oregon in 1967. Mr. Bates and his wife, Susan, reside in Portland.

Enterprise Associates ($1,000 - $4,999 per year)

Miller Nash, LLP

A large multi-service law firm to business, Miller Nash stepped up to the plate to support the SBLC both with financial and pro bono contributions.

Judith and Kirk Johansen

Individual Sponsors

David Ellis

Maggie Finnerty

Become an SBLC Sponsor