Edwin A. Harnden

Ed Harnden is the managing partner at Barran Liebman. In 2009, he was the recipient of the Judge Learned Hand Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award for his civic services throughout the community. He was the 2001 President of the Oregon State Bar, and continues to actively serve on the boards of several community and Bar organizations. He is a past president of the Professional Liability Fund, and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is involved regionally and nationally in developing advanced leadership and management roles for law firms and lawyers. He has maintained a litigation practice since 1972 and has specialized in the handling of employment dispute resolution, arbitration and litigation since 1974. In addition, Ed was elected by his national colleagues as a national fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers for his sustained outstanding performance in the profession. This year, he was also named in The Best Lawyers In America directory and in the Oregon Super Lawyers magazine on the Top 50 Lawyers in Oregon list.

Professional Experience and Affiliations

  • Oregon State Bar - President (2001); Board of Governors; Board of Bar Examiners, Vice-Chair and Special Extended Appointment; Board of Bar Examiners Review Board, Chair; Litigation Journal Editorial Board; Uniform Jury Instructions Committee; Continuing Legal Education Committee; speaker at and author of articles for CLE sessions on employment law and general litigation issues; Leadership Mentor; Award of Merit 2002; The State of Access to Justice in Oregon (Statewide Assessment of Legal Needs), Chair; Oregon Appellate System Review Task Force, Chair; Leadership College Advisory Board
  • American Bar Association - Young Lawyers Section State Membership Chair; Trial By Jury Task Force Leadership Council; Litigation and Labor and Employment Law Sections; National Conference of Bar Presidents
  • American Bar Foundation - Life Fellow
  • Owen M. Panner Inn of Court - Master of the Bench
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • Federal Bar Association - Member
  • Multnomah Bar Association - President (1996-1997); Board of Directors; Treasurer; Judicial Selection Committee; Pro-bono Programs Task Force, Chair; CLE Committee, Chair; Long Range Planning Committee, Chair; Mentor Committee and mentor for new attorneys; speaker at CLE sessions on litigation; Award of Merit for outstanding service to the profession; Professionalism Task Force
  • Multnomah Bar Foundation - Board of Directors; Development Committee Chair
  • Multnomah County Circuit Court Arbitration Panel
  • Multnomah County Commission - Courthouse Replacement Steering Committee
  • Oregon Association of Defense Counsel - Member
  • Oregon Courts Historical Society - President; Board of Directors
  • Oregon Minority Lawyers Association - Member
  • Professional Liability Fund - Board of Directors, Chair
  • U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society - Membership Chair for Oregon and Ninth Circuit
  • Litigation Counsel of America - Fellow

Community Activities

  • American Cancer Society, Camp UKANDU sponsor
  • Association of Oregon Industries - Member
  • Babe Ruth Baseball - Board of Directors, Coach
  • Campaign For Equal Justice - Board of Directors, Chair (2006-present); Campaign Co-Chair (2000-2005); Board of Directors, Member
  • Japan-American Society of Oregon - Board of Directors
  • Lincoln High School Booster Club - Board of Directors, President
  • Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College - Board of Visitors
  • Oregon Access to Justice Endowment Fund - Board of Directors, Chair
  • Oregon Business Association - Member
  • Oregon Historical Society, Member
  • Oregon Law Related Educational Program (Classroom Law Project) - President; Board of Directors; Legal Citizen of The Year Selection Committee, Chair; Schools Liaison; Mock Trial Committee, Chair
  • Portland Business Alliance
  • Portland Schools Foundation “ Ex Officio Board Member; Legal Counsel
  • Uniting to Understand Racism (was Understanding Racism Foundation) - Board Member; Treasurer
  • Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation  Board Member

Honors

  • Recipient of the Judge Learned Hand Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award, presented by the Oregon Area Jewish Committee, 2009
  • Recipient of the Edwin J. Peterson Professionalism Award, presented by the Oregon Bench and Bar Commission on Professionalism, 2007
  • Multnomah Bar Association Award of Merit, 1990
  • Oregon State Bar Award of Merit, 2002
  • Named Top 50 Attorneys in Oregon by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-present
  • Ranked for Labor & Employment Lawyers in Oregon, Chambers & Partners USA, 2004-present
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, 2004-present
  • College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow of the College, Inducted 2003
  • Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College 2000 Honorary Alumnus Award