Attorney Intel is pleased to announce The Top 25 Attorneys of Oregon for 2023. Nicknamed the “Beaver State”, Oregon is known for its diverse landscape and many outdoor recreational opportunities. However, underneath this lush landscape is a state driven by many industries, including technology, tourism and entertainment, manufacturing, resources and power, and healthcare. This year’s awardees provide legal counsel for clients across these industries as well as helming some of the most recognizable law firms in the US.
Among this year’s awardees is Justin Gonzales, Partner at Perkins Coie, whose focus on tech, energy, manufacturing and music clients earned him a spot on Portland Business Journal's 2022 Forty Under 40. Awardee Adam Kobos, Partner at Troutman Pepper, is a nationally recognized attorney whose practice encompasses a wide array of tax matters for energy industry clients. Kristin Asai, Partner at Holland & Knight, who's a leader in the community and a strong advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of her life.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 25 Attorneys of Oregon for 2023.
William Holmes
Partner, K&L Gates
William Holmes is a Partner in the Portland office of K&L Gates. He focuses his practice in the area of energy and infrastructure projects and transactions with an emphasis on wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric power, geothermal, biomass, natural gas, carbon offsets, and energy storage. His experience extends into corporate transactions, water law, and real estate law. Holmes also advises clients in negotiating major power purchase agreements, acquisition and sale of energy projects, EPC agreements, O&M agreements, fuel supply, and energy project development agreements.
Prior to joining K&L Gates, he was a partner in the Portland office of Stoel Rives LLP. Holmes received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School and a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas.
Kristin Asai
Partner, Holland & Knight
Kristin Asai is a Partner at Holland & Knight. Asai is a leader in the community and a strong advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Within Holland & Knight, she is the chair of the Portland office's Diversity Committee and serves on the nationwide Diversity Council. She is well-versed in all stages of commercial litigation. She also has significant experience handling election challenges and government litigation in Oregon and Washington.
Previously, Asai was a law clerk for the Honorable Ancer L. Haggerty at the US District Court for the District of Oregon. Asai earned her JD from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor's degree in fine arts specializing in modern dance from the University of Utah.
Lisa Shevlin
Partner, Lewis Brisbois
Lisa Shevlin is a Partner in the Portland office of Lewis Brisbois and a member of the firm’s healthcare, general liability, and labor and employment practices. As an experienced civil litigator, Shevlin regularly handles cases ranging from board complaints to sexual misconduct claims and professional malpractice matters. Shevlin also has experience counseling clients, preparing employee handbooks, and investigating claims.
Prior to joining Lewis Brisbois, Shevlin worked at Harrang Long Gary Rudnick, where her practice focused on medical malpractice and general liability defense. She has also worked as a plaintiff’s attorney and as in-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance. Shevlin graduated from Penn State University with a master's degree and JD and from Portland State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
Justin Gonzales
Partner, Perkins Coie
Justin Gonzales is a Partner at Perkins Coie. His practice focuses on mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, investments, joint ventures, corporate governance, and other corporate matters for public and private clients. His experience includes representing strategic buyers, private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and companies pursuing sell-side deals in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. In recent years, he has helped lead M&A transactions for clients such as Microsoft Corporation, Clearway Energy, and AdvisorEngine.
He was previously an Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and a Research Assistant at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. In 2022, he was listed in Portland Business Journal's Forty Under 40. He also had a pro bono practice and community involvement, advising clients such as Ecotrust and small businesses in the Portland area on corporate issues. Gonzales graduated from Stanford Law School with a JD and Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.
Marcus Reed
General Counsel, Anheuser-Busch
Marcus Reed is the General Counsel of Anheuser-Busch. Anheuser-Busch is home to several of America’s most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA, and Stella Artois.
Reed began his legal career as an Attorney at Michael Wise & Associates. He then moved to Cosgrove Vergeer Kester LLP and Miller Nash Graham & Dunn before eventually rising to Instructor of Business of Craft Brewing at Portland University. He then moved to Craft Brew Alliance, where he was General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for almost eight years, which was his most recent position prior to joining Anheuser-Busch. Reed graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law with a JD and The Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in English.
Gregory Blonde
Partner, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe
Gregory Blonde is a Partner at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe public finance department. Blonde serves as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, bank counsel, borrower's counsel, and underwriter’s counsel on a wide variety of tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions. He primarily focuses on health care/senior living finance, airport transactions, and traditional municipal bond work for cities, counties, and special districts.
Since 2011, Blonde has also provided pro bono legal services to Iraqi refugees through the International Refugee Assistance Project. He’s a past member of the Board of Directors of Youth, Rights & Justice, a nonprofit law firm that serves underprivileged children (primarily foster children) in the Portland area. Before Orrick, Blonde was an Associate at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, serving as counsel on a variety of public finance bond matters. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles Law School with a JD, and Northern Arizona University with a bachelor's degree.
Jennifer Gould
Attorney, Morgan & Morgan PA
Jennifer Gould is the Attorney of Morgan and Morgan PA. Gould first got her start in 2006 as a Law Clerk at the US Court of Appeals. From there, she went on to Morrison and Foerster, specializing in consumer class action, securities, and commercial litigation, advising and assisting international and domestic clients. Before eventually rising to Associate at Garvey Schubert Barer, where she specialized in trusts, estate planning, and litigation in Oregon and California. Gould graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles Law School with a JD and Fresno Pacific University with an undergraduate degree in English.
Megan Croce
General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Banfield Pet Hospital
Megan Croce is the General Counsel and Senior Vice President of Banfield Pet Hospital. She’s responsible for overseeing all of Banfield Pet Hospital’s legal affairs, including the legal, workers' compensation, regional risk management, compliance, and health and safety teams. As a business advisor, she has deep expertise in identifying, evaluating, and mitigating risks. Croce is dedicated to providing strategic legal counsel to the practice’s leadership team, supporting the continued evolution of Banfield’s governance and compliance programs, and ensuring healthy hospitals by creating a safety culture for pets, clients, and associates.
She was previously the Human Resources Director PMG of Providence Health & Services and General Counsel and VP of Human Resources at Interdent Service Corporation. Croce received a JD from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Denver.
Amy Vanheuverzwyn
Senior Counsel, AES Clean Energy
Amy Vanheuverzwyn is the Senior Counsel of The AES Corporation. She first joined the company in 2021. The AES Corporation is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy.
Previously, Vanheuverzwyn was a General Counsel at EnBW North America and, before that, a senior associate general counsel at Enel North America. Earlier in her career, she worked with Wilmer Hale as an associate. Vanheuverzwyn earned a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and an undergraduate degree in human rights from the University of Connecticut.
Angelica Espinosa
Vice President & General Counsel, Portland General Electric
Angelica Espinosa is the Vice President and General Counsel of Portland General Electric. She first joined the company in 2021 as Deputy General Counsel.
Previously, Espinosa was a VP of safety, compliance, and Chief Risk Officer at Socal Gas and, before that, a VP of compliance-governance and corporate secretary at Sempra Energy. Earlier in her career, she worked as a regional counsel with GE Oil and Gas. Espinosa earned a JD from Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dedman School of Law and an undergraduate degree in international and comparative law from SMU.
Nichole Tennyson
General Counsel, Daimler Trucks North America
Nichole Tennyson is the General Counsel of Daimler Trucks North America. She first joined the company in 2022. Daimler Truck North America, a Daimler Truck AG company, is the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading producer of medium-duty trucks and specialized commercial vehicles.
Previously, Tennyson was a Sponsorship Executive of the legal innovation team at Fortive and, before that, an Associate General Counsel at Tektronix. Earlier in her career, she worked with Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt as an Associate Attorney. Tennyson earned a JD from Lewis and Clark Law School and an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Arizona.
Jennifer Baker
Attorney, The Standard
Jennifer Baker is the Attorney of The Standard. StanCorp Financial Group, through its subsidiaries marketed as The Standard, is a leading provider of financial products and services. Her practice focuses on providing legal support and counsel with respect to the marketing, sales, and administration of employer group insurance products and services with an emphasis on emerging federal and state privacy, data security, and algorithmic accountability laws including HIPAA, CCPA/CPRA, and GLBA.
Baker graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School with a JD and Willamette University with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
Adam Kobos
Partner, Troutman Pepper
Adam Kobos is a Partner at Troutman Pepper. He is a nationally recognized attorney whose practice encompasses a wide array of tax matters for energy industry clients, including utilities, tax equity investors, and project developers and sponsors. Kobos regularly represents clients who develop, acquire or invest in renewable energy projects, energy storage facilities, electric vehicle charging, and other alternative fuel refueling facilities.
He was previously a Partner at Troutman Sanders and Stoel Rives. Before this, he was an Associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Kobos graduated from Stanford Law School with a JD, Harvard University with a master's degree in philosophy, and Amherst College with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
Tim Cunningham
Partner, Davis Wright Tremaine
Tim Cunningham is a Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine. He’s been with the company for over 11 years. Cunningham utilizes his experience guiding companies and individuals through complex litigation and appeals to provide practical advice tailored to Davis Wright Tremaine’s business goals. Additionally, he regularly represents publishers and platforms in intellectual property disputes or disputes with the government, including cases at the leading edge of platforms' liability for third-party speech and the application of statutes to new technologies.
Previously, Cunningham was a Law Clerk at the DC Court of Appeals and a Summer Associate at Davis Wright Tremaine. He received a JD from the University of Michigan Law School, an MUP from the University of Michigan, and a BA in the growth and structure of cities from Haverford College.
Ian Anderson
Corporate Counsel, Geosyntec Consultants
Ian Anderson is the Corporate Counsel of Geosyntec Consultants. Geosyntec is a consulting and engineering firm that works with private and public sector clients to address new ventures and complex issues regarding the environment, natural resources, and civil infrastructure. Anderson first joined the company in 2018.
Previously, Anderson was an Associate Attorney at Kaufman Dolowich and Voluck and, before that, an Associate Attorney at Boornazian, Jensen, and Garthe. Earlier in his career, he worked with Burroughs and Froneberger as an Associate Attorney. Anderson earned a JD from the University of California, Hasting College of the Law, and an undergraduate degree from Emerson College.
Nathan Maki
Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton
Nate Maki is a Partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton. He’s a registered patent attorney who works closely with technology companies to develop and execute global patent strategies that maximize the protection of their valuable intellectual property assets. He has drafted and successfully prosecuted patent applications related to cellular networks, radio-frequency front-end solutions, volatile and non-volatile storage devices, platform and resource virtualization, clean technologies, storage networks, and optical systems. Maki’s experience allows him to quickly identify the innovative concepts embodied in his clients’ complex technologies and effectively capture and communicate these inventive concepts in patent applications and prosecution.
Before joining the firm, Maki was a Patent Attorney and shareholder at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt and an Intern at the patent and licensing group of Intel Corporation. He graduated from the Lewis & Clark Law School.
Clifford Davidson
Partner, Snell & Wilmer
Cliff Davidson is a Partner at Snell & Wilmer. He focuses on commercial disputes, litigation, and counseling relating to freedom of expression and defamation, including anti-SLAPP; noncompetition and nondisclosure; copyright and trademark; class action defense; Oregon and federal RICO; and public records. Davidson also has acted as a sworn Special Assistant Attorney General to the State of Oregon.
Prior to joining the firm, he was the Chair of the Litigation practice group at Sussman Shank LLP. He maintains an active docket in Oregon, Washington, and California. Davidson graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD and Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in government.
Mitch Baker
Partner, Fisher & Phillips
Mitch Baker is the Regional Managing Partner of Fisher & Phillips. He has defended a variety of employers in labor and employment law matters. He also provides training, advice, and counsel to assist employers in avoiding labor and employment problems. He has extensive experience enforcing non-competition agreements, prosecuting trade secret violations, and defending employers accused of retaliating against employees for exercising protected employment rights.
Baker is a frequent speaker at local and regional employment law seminars and has authored desk book chapters on federal civil litigation and civil trial procedure for the Oregon State Bar. He has also been a columnist for the Portland Daily Journal of Commerce and represents victims of domestic violence pro bono through the Oregon Legal Aid Clinic. He was previously an Associate at Ball Janik LLP. Baker earned his JD from the Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University.
Laura Rosenbaum
Partner, Stoel Rives
Laura Rosenbaum is a Partner in the Labor and Employment group of Stoel Rives. She represents clients in employment-related litigation in court and before administrative agencies. Her experience includes defending employers against a wide range of employment claims relating to employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Rosenbaum also conducts internal investigations for clients into employment-relaRamigted issues, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Before joining Stoel Rives, Rosenbaum worked as an Associate for Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston. She worked as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Nancy Gertner, US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and as a Summer Associate for Morrison and Foerster LLP, San Francisco. She also taught high school at the American School of Paris. Rosenbaum graduated from Stanford Law School with a JD and Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in history.
John Ramig
Partner, Buchalter
John Ramig is a Partner at Buchalter. He’s also a shareholder in Buchalter’s Corporate Practice Group in the Firm’s Portland office. Ramig serves as outside General Counsel to multiple businesses, working with them on a wide range of general corporate matters, including entity formation, mergers, acquisitions and sales of companies, corporate financings, intellectual property, and human resources matters. Most of Ramig’s clients conduct business in the global marketplace. Ramig also has expertise in intellectual property and trade secret protection.
Ramig was previously President at Global Nexus and Partner at Hagen O'Connell. Before practicing law, Ramig served on the Washington, D.C. staff of US Senator Mark O. Hatfield and the White House staff in the Carter Administration’s Office of Public Liaison. He also served on the staff of Donald Anderson, a member of the British Parliament. Ramig received his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and graduated from Harvard University.
Bill Patton
Partner, Lane Powell PC
Bill Patton is the Partner of Lane Powell, a widely respected law firm made up of diverse and cutting-edge thinkers who thrive on advocating for their clients. He focuses his practice in the areas of employee benefits, ERISA/health, and disability litigation.
Patton was previously a Law Clerk for the Oregon Department of Justice Trial Division and the US Attorney's Office Homicide Section. Before this, he was a Judicial Extern to the Hon. Robert. E Jones of the US District Court for the District of Oregon. Patton graduated from The George Washington University Law School with a JD and from Occidental College with an undergraduate degree in political science and government.
Neva DePalma
General Counsel, Smarsh
Neva DePalma is the General Counsel at Smarsh. She drives innovation in the critical areas of law, data privacy, and compliance. DePalma builds motivated and effective cross-functional teams through transparency and collaboration.
In her previous roles as General Counsel and VP of Customer Success at RadarFirst, DePalma combined her enthusiasm for legal problem-solving with her commitment to creating a customer-centric culture. Prior to that, DePalma served as General Counsel at the pioneering web analytics company Webtrends. DePalma earned her JD at the University of California at Berkeley and her bachelor’s degree in humanities and Spanish at the University of San Diego.
Benjamin Lenhart
General Counsel, Ampere
Benjamin Lenhart is the General Counsel at Ampere. He has a unique blend of legal counsel and business experience, from basic legal guidance to complex transactions.
He joined Ampere from Tonkon Torp LLP where he was a Partner focusing on mergers and acquisitions, general business, corporate and securities law matters, and commercial finance transactions. Prior to joining Tonkon Torp, he spent 20 years as an attorney with Lane Powell PC. Since 2008, Ben has been recognized in Chambers USA as one of America’s Leading Lawyers for his skill in corporate matters relating to securities, M&A, and commercial finance. Lenhart received his JD from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor's degree in history from Whitman College.
Thomas Bikales
General Counsel, Moda Health
Thomas Bikales is a Senior VP and General Counsel of Moda Health, a health insurance company based in Portland, Oregon. The company provides medical and dental insurance in Oregon, Alaska, and Texas. The Moda Center, a sports arena that is home to the Portland Trail Blazers, and Moda Tower, the tenth-tallest building in Portland, are both named after the company. Bikales joined the company in 2004 as the Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs.
Before joining Moda Health, Bikales was a Ropes and Gray LLP Associate. Bikales graduated from Yale Law School with a JD and an undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology from Harvard University.
