Class Notes: 2000s

Includes news received from January 9 through July 1, 2014.

Includes news received from January 9 through July 1, 2014.

Newhouse NewhouseMichael Newhouse ’00 joined Buchalter Nemer’s litigation practice group in Los Angeles. A significant part of Newhouse’s work focuses on representing developers, landlords, tenants, property managers, and financial institutions in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate litigation and transactions. Among his clients are companies and individuals in the apparel, technology, financial, multimedia and post-production, interior design, and jewelry industries, as well as insurers, licensors, and accredited investors.

Damore DamoreShelly Damore ’02 joined Jordan Ramis’ litigation practice group. She focuses on employment and discrimination matters, personal injury, commercial general liability, and business disputes. Damore has tried numerous cases in both Washington and Oregon state courts, as well as in the U.S. District Court in Portland and the Western District of Washington federal courts. A six-time winner of the Oregon Super Lawyers Rising Star award, she was a fellow to the Oregon State Bar Leadership College in 2010. Damore also served as a planning commission member for the City of Camas, Washington, from 2007 to 2011.

Irvine IrvinePeter Irvine ’02 has a small-town general practice in Northampton, Massachusetts—but with a twist. In addition to handling real estate, criminal defense, small business advising, and other typical matters, Irvine also practices entertainment law, acts as a music manager, and tours with his own band. Playing percussion and singing with Tim Eriksen and the Trio de Pumpkintown has taken him to Singapore and various parts of the United States, including Portland’s Alberta Rose Theatre. The group is recording an album for release in 2015.

Kobak KobakSara Kobak ’02 was named shareholder at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt. Kobak specializes in appellate litigation and has significant experience before the Oregon Court of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She also has assisted with briefing before the U.S. Supreme Court at both the certiorari and merits stages. Kobak is a volunteer attorney with the Ninth Circuit Pro Bono Program and has served on the Associates Committee for the Campaign for Equal Justice. Most recently, she has been serving as pro bono counsel in a death-penalty post-conviction proceeding.

Kevin Clonts ’03 became a shareholder in Rizzo Mattingly Bosworth. His practice focuses on complex litigation matters, including construction defect and insurance coverage disputes. Clonts also represents business entities in litigation involving business dissolutions, contract disputes, intellectual property disputes, and target defendants in complex products liability and construction defect matters.

Bronson James ’03, a Portland criminal defense attorney, wrote one of the briefs relied on by the U.S. Supreme Court in the cases of Riley v. California and United States v. Wurie. In the ruling that police usually must obtain search warrants before searching suspects’ cellphones, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. adopted some of the data and analogies James included in his friend-of-the-court brief. James wrote the brief on behalf of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Brennan Center for Justice.

McVicker McVickerSuzanne McVicker ’03 joined the estate planning department of Karnopp Petersen. While attending Lewis & Clark, McVicker clerked at the in-house council department of a large Portland real estate investment company and advised low-income taxpayers at the law school’s Legal Clinic. Prior to joining Karnopp Petersen, she spent six years with Shaftel Law Offices in Anchorage, Alaska, advising trustees and personal representatives of medium to large estates. In addition to wills, trust, estates, probate, and estate and gift tax preparation, McVicker’s practice encompasses business and charitable tax planning and implementation.

Ostrye OstryeKaren Ostrye ’03 was appointed by Governor Kitzhaber to fill the vacancy on the Circuit Court for the Seventh Judicial District created by the retirement of Judge Paul Crowley. The district encompasses Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler Counties. Ostrye’s community involvement has included serving as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge and on various boards, including those of the Hood River County School District, Court Appointed Special Advocates, and Mid-Columbia County Bar Association. Her volunteer work earned her recognition as Mentor of the Year in 2012 from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Columbia Gorge.

Julie Penry ’04 was named assistant general counsel at Oregon State University in Corvallis.

St. Lawrence St. LawrenceAbigail St. Lawrence ’04 opened St. Lawrence Law Office in downtown Helena, Montana. Specializing in water rights, natural resources, administrative law, and government relations, the firm provides responsive legal solutions for agriculture, development, business, and individuals. St. Lawrence is a frequent lecturer at CLE courses, chairs the Justice Initiatives Committee of the State Bar of Montana, and serves on the PPL Community Foundation board.

Ricoy RicoyPeter Ricoy ’05 was named shareholder at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt. Ricoy focuses his legal practice in health care law, data security and privacy, insurance regulation, and general corporate and business transactions. He works with health plans, physicians, group practices, hospitals, insurers, and employers. He advises clients on a variety of matters, including issues related to health care reform under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Stark and Anti-Kickback Statutes, Medicare, Medicaid, reimbursement, HIPAA, COBRA, and ERISA health plan matters. He previously served as associate general counsel for Cambia Health Solutions, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

 Stafford StaffordKimberlee A. Stafford ’05 was appointed to a two-year term on the Multnomah County Advisory Committee on Sustainability and Innovation. A member of Tonkon Torp’s real estate and land use, energy, and natural resources practice groups, she is also the coeditor of a new reference book on environmental law regulation.

Gillian Bunker ’06 was named shareholder at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt. Bunker’s practice focuses on the preparation, prosecution, and commercialization of U.S. and foreign utility and design patents. Assisting start-ups, established companies, universities, and other research institutions, she provides advice ranging from patent procurement and protection to due diligence analyses, technology transfer, licensing, and strategic planning and counseling. She handles a variety of technologies, including mechanical devices, medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and chemistry.

Dozono DozonoElisa Dozono ’06 was one of 10 Japanese Americans chosen for the 2014 Japanese American Leadership Delegation, which traveled to Japan to engage with leaders in the business, government, academic, nonprofit, and cultural sectors. Dozono focuses her practice on business litigation and government relations.

Ken Mitchell-Phillips ’06 announced the opening of the Law Offices of Ken Mitchell-Phillips, a Pacific Northwest law firm with Oregon offices in Portland, Clackamas, Lake Oswego, and Gresham, and a Washington office in Vancouver. The firm focuses on business transactional, real estate, corporate finance, civil litigation, and estate planning needs.

Smith SmithJosh Smith ’06 joined the Sierra Club’s San Francisco office as a staff attorney. Smith will continue to devote his practice to environmental and natural resources litigation, with a focus on clean energy, electricity regulation, and water and air pollution. He most recently worked for several years as an environmental litigator with Earthjustice in Florida.

Peter Janci ’07 became a partner at O’Donnell, Clark & Crew. Janci has been with the firm since 2007. His practice focuses on representing plaintiffs in child sexual abuse, malpractice, wrongful death, and business tort cases.

Patterson PattersonWill Patterson ’08 joined Folawn Alterman & Richardson as an associate. His practice includes complex civil litigation, business law, and estate planning, as well as general transactional work, such as contract drafting and review.

Nidhi Thakar ’08 joined the Center for American Progress as deputy director for public lands. Thakar previously worked at Perkins Coie representing power marketers, independent power producers, electric and gas utilities, hydroelectric licensees, and onshore and offshore oil and gas companies. She has experience in the permitting of renewable energy projects and has advised clients on the National Environmental Policy Act, wildlife protection laws, and hydraulic fracturing and greenhouse gas reporting rules.

Volm VolmTyler Volm ’08 joined Barran Liebman as an associate. Volm represents employers and management in employment law litigation and provides advice on a full range of employment law matters. He is a director on the board of the Multnomah Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section, a volunteer attorney with the Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic, and a member of the law school’s Recent Graduate Council.

Washington WashingtonMolly Washington ’08 joined Ball Janik’s litigation and construction practice groups. Her practice focuses on construction defect.

Bishop BishopNoah Bishop ’09 started Bishop Bankruptcy Law in Clackamas, Oregon. Bishop brings over five years of chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy experience to his practice. Having spent the past three years working with a family and bankruptcy practice in Gresham, he is aware of the issues facing east county residents.

Fagan FaganShemia Fagan ’09, an associate at Ater Wynne, was included by the Portland Business Journal in its 2014 “Forty Under 40.” The recognition honors young influential business leaders who have excelled in their fields and are dedicated to their community. Fagan works on business dispute resolution ranging from intellectual property infringement to employment defense.

Vanessa Lee Gebbie ’09 earned designation as a U.S. Certified Information Privacy Professional. She is member of the information privacy and security practice group at Opus Events Agency.