Hello!
Arrival of the summer is a good time to pause (that is, if one can between graduation parties, demands of the garden and the siren call of our wine country, coastline and mountains) and look at the progress.
We got much done in the first half of 2018: four CLE events and three socials. Among them, another set of stellar seminars--communication skills with Michael Grinder (covered in an article below) and business skills with our partners at the Willamette MBA program. Our wonderful sponsors Markowitz Herbold and Tonkon Torp delivered well-attended CLEs loaded with practical information (recaps of both these events will be featured in our summer newsletter). Barran Liebman’s unique post-holiday celebration and their whiskey and cigar tasting were events not to be missed.
As great as this looks, we have more coming your way! On June 13, Holland & Knight will present a diversity CLE with the participation of the local chapter of Girls Inc., a non-profit organization that offers programming to girls aged 6-18 to encourage them to be strong, smart and bold. This is the first diversity event for our chapter in some time and we encourage you to join us. The event is open to all in-house attorneys, regardless of their ACC membership.
We are taking a break in July and August, but return in September with a family friendly social sponsored by Markowitz Herbold at a Portland Thorns game. In early October, we will have another CLE presented by Holland & Knight. The ACC's Annual Meeting heads to Austin, Texas in late October. Our Chapter Annual Meeting sponsored by Ogletree Deakins will take place in November. Please look for more information about these and other upcoming events in your mailbox and on our website.
We are considering a short series of small-group seminars to take place at the end of 2018 or early 2019 in response to your interest in career planning and resume writing specific to our field. The events may be led by local and national experts and allow personal interaction. If this sparks your interest, please reach out to me with your thoughts and ideas.
Lastly, we extend a warm welcome to our new ACC Oregon Chapter members and say a big thanks and good-bye to Bill Barber who stepped down from the board after five years of service. We sincerely thank Bill for his support through the years and wish him much success in Bend.
As always, please do not hesitate to let us know how we are doing.
Best,
Kat
Katerina Kogan
Chapter President
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Upcoming ORACC Events
Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Through the
Legal Department CLE
Sponsored by Holland & Knight
June 13
4:30pm - 6:30pm
Zapproved!
ORACC Family Night at the Portland Thorns*
Sponsored by Markowitz Herbold
September 7
7:00pm - 9:30pm
Providence Park
CLE*
Sponsored by Holland & Knight
October 10
4:00pm - 6:00pm
ACC Annual Meeting
October 21-24
Austin Convention Center
Austin, Texas
*
Additional information and
registration site available soon
.
For the most up-to-date information about events, job listings and more; please visit our chapter's website.
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DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY:
BUILDING A WEB-BASED ENVIRONMENT AVAILABLE TO ALL
By Donovan Bonner, Barran Liebman LLP
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The digital world grants us access to a variety of information at the mere click of a button. With the expansion of the internet and advancement of technology, information is not always easily accessible to individuals with disabilities. Just as disabled persons have a right to access buildings and other spaces, they also have a right to equally accessible services on the internet.
Many people with disabilities use "assistive technology" to allow them to access the internet using mechanisms that can read the text for a user and translate it into the necessary medium, control all the website's functions through a keyboard, and navigate and find content in other ways. When websites are ineffectively designed, it limits the accessibiliby and use for disabled persons. On the contrary, when accessible features are built into web pages, webite are more convenient and available to everyone, including disabled persons.
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Donovan Bonner, Associate
Barran Liebman LLP
For more information about
Donovan, please click
here
.
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The Lewis & Clark Law School Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC) is looking for attorney volunteers to help with transactional legal support for low-income small business owners. As a bar-certified program, SBLC is able to provide PLF coverage for volunteers. Attorneys can work with one or two clients on issues of their choice. Areas of the law include:
· Entity formation
· Contract drafting and review
· Employment law questions
· IP (copyright and trademark registration)
· Regulatory compliance
An attorney will typically spend less than 10 hours per client. If you'd like to volunteer or have questions, please contact Julieanna Elegant at 503-768-6947 or
jelegant@lclark.edu
.
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Please click on the logo above to learn more about the SMLC.
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INCREASING DIVERSITY IN
OUTSIDE COUNSEL HIRING
By Shannon Armstrong, Holland & Knight LLP
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While the business world continues to recognize the increased effectiveness of diverse teams, it’s no secret that law firms continue to struggle with recruiting, promoting, and retaining diversity within their ranks. Considering that, according to a 2017 National Association of Women Lawyers report, only 6% of equity partners in U.S. law firms are minorities and 19% percent are women, in-house lawyers face a consistent challenge in hiring outside counsel who align with their company’s internal diversity initiatives. In-house lawyers should consider the following strategies to increase the diversity of their outside counsel.
Check the track record: Although law firms as a whole have diversity issues, some firms perform demonstrably better than most in diversity measures. Organizations like the National Association of Women Lawyers, the Human Rights Campaign, and the National Association for Legal Placement regularly evaluate and reward law firm diversity and inclusion efforts. Check how outside counsel has scored on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, the Women in Law Empowerment Forum’s Gold Standard Certification initiative, and The American Lawyer’s Diversity Scorecard. Locally, the Portland Business Journal annually ranks the most diverse law firms in Portland. While these are just a few of the most-recognized measures of law firm diversity, in-house counsel will find that a handful of firms are consistent leaders in workplace inclusion and diversity, while others rarely make the cut.
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Shannon Armstrong, Partner
Holland & Knight LLP
For more information about
Shannon, please click
here
.
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USING THE POWER OF INFLUENCE TO COMMUNICATE
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The Oregon Chapter of ACC hosted a breakfast and CLE/Workshop with communications skills expert Michael Grinder on February 1 at Cambia Health Solutions.
Michael Grinder is a world-renowned expert in presentation skills, the power of influence, science of nonverbal communication, group dynamics and advance relationship-building skills. Michael has given national and international presentations and workshops to law firms, professional associations, government agencies, and businesses including Nike, Microsoft, HP, Daimler and BBC.
The all morning CLE/Workshop entitled “Using the Power of Influence to Communicate with Your Clients” showed how the skillful use of nonverbal communication techniques can help attorneys communicate more effectively with their clients by operating from a position of influence instead of a position of power/authority.
The CLE/Workshop addressed topics such as:
- The two primary nonverbal communication styles: credible and approachable
- Effective use of eye contact, voice patterns and body language
- Asking questions vs. making statements
- Listening styles that affect your ability to influence and persuade
- Advising clients without being perceived as talking down to them
This CLE/Workshop was worth three credit hours and provided a unique opportunity to learn practical, immediately applicable techniques; and it
was open to ORACC members and their colleagues.
As with Michael’s previous CLE/Workshop in 2016, this year's CLE/Workshop garnered rave reviews from attendees.
ORACC has more professional development opportunities planned for later this year and in early 2019 so be on the lookout for more information in the coming months!
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THE LUCK OF THE IRISH!
On March 14, Barran Liebman LLP helped members of the Oregon Chapter of the ACC celebrate St. Patrick's Day a few day early with an Irish Whiskey Tasting and Cigar Sampling at El Gaucho's dark and swanky cigar lounge.
The first part of the evening was dedicated to learning the history of Irish whiskey by a local expert. Members were then led through a vertical tasting of three whiskeys from Bushmill's Distillery, the world's oldest whiskey distillery. Bushmill's. Bushmill's Original Irish Whiskey, Black Bush Irish Whiskey and Bushmill's 16 Year Single Malt Whiskey were all savored.
Cigars handpicked by Barran Liebman's Anthony Kuchulis were then provided to all attendees while El Gaucho's cigar lounge captain led everyone through the process of preparing and smoking a fine cigar.
Thank you so much to Anthony Kuchulis and Traci Ray at Barran Liebman LLP for providing this unique opportuntity to our members--we look forward to another event with their firm later this year!
More social and networking opportunities are in the works for ORACC members later this year. Be sure to visit our
website,
and check your emails for information.
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Jen Yeh
Senior Attorney
Standard Insurance Company
Interviewed by ORACC Board Member, Elizabeth Schultz:
Could you please give us a brief overview of your background – where you grew up, went to college, law school (why law school?), etc.?
I was born in Ohio but mainly grew up in Dallas, TX from 1
st
grade through high school. I went to Duke University for college and NYU for law school. I think I always wanted to be a lawyer even though I had no idea what that actually entailed other than from TV and movies (“Ally McBeal” is not representative of the law!). Prior to moving to Portland, I worked at King & Spalding in its Atlanta and New York offices, McGuireWoods in NYC, and MetLife in NYC.
How many people work in your legal department and in how many locations?
We have about 25 attorneys in our legal department who are primarily located in Portland.
Other than you colleagues and clients, what do you like most about your job?
I like that the Legal department is not siloed off from the business, but rather that we are all different, yet integral, pieces of a puzzle working together to help the company succeed.
What is the one thing about your company you would like the world to know?
I am immensely proud to work at The Standard for many reasons, but one of the main reasons is The Standard’s commitment to public service. They encourage us to volunteer in many ways, including providing volunteer opportunities for us and supporting organizations for which employees may already be affiliated. They have been very supportive of my board work with Young Audiences of Oregon & SW Washington. They also host an annual, all-day board training for employees to support employees who want to join a board. We also have an annual Employee Giving campaign where the company matches our donations to our favorite organizations.
What is the best job you had before this one—either in the legal profession or outside of it?
One of the best experiences I ever had was doing a summer internship while I was in college at Christie’s in NYC. It happened to be the summer of the Princess Diana dresses auction, so it was an exciting time to be at Christie’s – and I got to see Princess Diana walk the red carpet for the auction premiere. This was just a few months before she died tragically in a car accident.
What was the biggest adjustment going from private practice to in house?
The frenetic pace and number of meetings!!
Who are your primary outside counsel, and what you do you like best about them?
Because our lawsuits cross multiple jurisdictions throughout the country, we don’t have a primary outside counsel. My favorite outside counsel, though, are the ones that I can trust to stay on top of things without me needing to follow up, who are responsive yet succinct, and who prepare drafts as if they were final copies ready to file.
Do you use social media in your professional life, and if so, which ones?
No, not really other than a sparse LinkedIn profile. I need to be better at it!
What is your favorite place in Oregon or SW Washington and why?
I really like Dundee wine country in Oregon because it is stunningly beautiful with tasty wines but without the pretentiousness of Napa.
What is the last book you read?
The Diary of Anne Frank
– I re-read it recently, and it affected me so much more than when I read it for the first time in middle school.
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What is the most useful piece of advice you have been given that has helped you in your career?
To advocate for yourself and forge connections (
i.e.
, network!) even if it doesn’t come naturally or feels awkward at first – you need to put yourself out there, get to know your business partners/clients so you can anticipate their needs and show your value and worth to them, and also meet people outside of your job through bar associations and other external organizations.
Who is your favorite doodle? 😊
Rivvy, of course!
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
The Oregon Chapter of ACC would like to welcome the following members who
joined our chapter recently:
Daniel A. Blaufus
Port of Portland
Howie Cockrill
Opus Agency
Rose Hartwig
Daimler Trucks North America LLC
Brian Jennings
Hyster-Yale Group, Inc.
Tricia Juettemeyer
Smarsh, Inc.
We look forward to seeing you at
one of our events soon!
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Thank You
Chapter Sponsors!
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*Please click on any logo above
to go to a sponsor's website.
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Bill Barber
VP & Senior Counsel
Umpqua Bank
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OREGON ACC CHAPTER LEADERSHIP UPDATE
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Dear Colleagues,
After five years, two as the treasurer, I am resigning from the ACC - Oregon board. Serving with each of you, and on behalf of all the ORACC members, has been a gratiying and enjoyable experience. It has connected me with many colleagues, enhanced my in-house knowledge and provided me with invaluable resources--enabling me to be a better attorney.
I will remain a member of the ACC and support its activities. Thank you for the opportunity, and I look forward to seeing you at future events.
Sincerely,
Bill Barber
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OREGON CHAPTER LEADERSHIP
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President
Katerina Kogan, Attorney
ESI, Inc.
Se
cretary
Marc Bocci, Associate General Counsel, Corporate Secretary
Portland General Electric Company
Treas
urer
Bonnie Page, General Counsel
Smarsh Inc.
Board Members
Ben Buhayar, Attorney
NWEA
Gary Lau, Associate General Counsel
Cambia Health Solutions
Tamara Kessler, General Counsel
Advantage Professional Management, LLC
David Meisels, General Counsel
Sound United
Warren Nickerson, Corporate Attorney
McAfee
Yumi O’Neil, Associate General Counsel
Cambia Health Solutions
J. Stuart Patterson, Vice President and Associate General Counsel
Hewlett-Packard Company
Robert Scott, Vice President and General Counsel
Opal Labs Inc.
Elizabeth Shultz, Corporate Counsel
Vestas American Wind Technology, Inc.
Joshua Simko, Assistant General Counsel - Licensing
NIKE, Inc.
Anthony Stark, General Counsel and Vice President of Corporate Development
DiscoverOrg, LLC
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