Happy New Year!
I am excited and honored to begin my tenure as board president of the Oregon Chapter of the ACC – I cannot imagine a better way to kick off this next decade!
2020 is shaping up to be an exciting year, filled with CLE programs across a variety of practice areas that we hope you will find interesting and useful in your practice, as well as a full calendar of professional development and social networking events. First up is our annual New Year's Celebration with Barran Liebman on January 23
rd
at The Hairy Lobster. Not only will delicious food and drinks be available at this festive social event, but you can also try your hand at shucking oysters! All in-house counsel are invited to attend, regardless of membership with the ACC – spouses and significant others are welcome as well!
As we go into this new year, a quick housekeeping note – our primary form of communication with you is through Constant Contact. Please be sure your spam filters are set to accept emails from me and our Chapter's Outreach & Events Coordinator, Stephanie Shields Calhoon (
accoregon@accglobal.com
).
Our greatest strength as a Chapter is you – our members – and I would love to hear your ideas as to how we can better serve you in 2020. Please contact me any time with any comments or suggestions you may have.
I hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season, and I look forward to seeing you at our annual New Year's Celebration!
Cheers,
Liz
Elizabeth Schultz
Chapter President
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UPCOMING EVENTS
January 23, 2020
4th Annual New Year's Celebration
The Hairy Lobster
Sponsored by Barran Liebman
March 3, 2020*
"Litigation 2020: Trends, Costs & Prevention Strategies for the New Decade" CLE
Red Star Tavern
Sponsored by Holland & Knight
April 19-21, 2020
ACC XChange 2020
Chicago, IL
October 13-16, 2020*
ACC Annual Meeting
Philadelphia, PA
*More information available soon.
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Questions about ACC Oregon?
Please contact our Outreach & Events Coordinator, Stephanie Shields Calhoon
here.
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AVOIDING LITIGATION: Tips For Corporate Counsel
By Stanton R. Gallegos & Katharine M. Acosta
Markowitz Herbold, PC
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Litigation can be a costly distraction for a business. Corporate counsel plays a crucial role in controlling this cost by laying the groundwork to prevent or limit the costs of that litigation. In our experience, the practices described below are a few ways that corporate counsel can reduce the likelihood and cost of future litigation.
Get Involved and Identify Issues Early
A key to reducing the potential for litigation is by getting counsel involved with transactions early enough to be able to identify and plan for the risks involved. If involved early, corporate counsel is in a better position to advise about the risks associated with the transaction and propose ways to mitigate those risks. For example, experienced corporate counsel will be able to assess whether the terms of the transaction are consistent with industry standards. Because the law that judges and juries ultimately apply is an expression of community expectations for conduct, if a transaction deviates from industry standards in a way that could be considered unfair, it is far more likely to result in litigation. Having corporate counsel involved early will give ample opportunity to consider ways to structure the transaction or to build additional defenses into the contract to limit litigation risk.
Consider the Impact on Other Obligations
A second factor that should not be overlooked is to consider the ways a transaction can impact other aspects of the company’s business or its relationship to third parties. Will there be information shared that may be subject to privacy or data security requirements—either regulatory or contractual—in the United States or abroad? Do the terms of the contract conflict trigger rights of other counterparties such as a most-favored customer clause in another contract? Identifying these issues is vital.
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Stanton R. Gallegos, Partner
Markowitz Herbold, PC
To learn more about Stanton R. Gallegos, please click
here
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Katherine M. Acosta, Partner
Markowitz Herbold, PC
To learn more about Katherine M. Acosta, please click
here
.
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4th Annual New Year's Celebration
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January 23
5pm - 6:30pm
The Hairy Lobster
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Please join Oregon ACC and Barran Liebman to "ring" in 2020 at The Hairy Lobster!
Mingle with your corporate counsel colleagues while enjoying delicious hors d'oeuvres and drinks at this stunning restaurant overlooking Jamison Square in Portland's Pearl District. There will be an oyster shucking station to learn how to prepare and serve fresh oysters as well as a raffle for terrific prizes!
All in-house attorneys may attend regardless of membership in the ACC. Spouses and significant others are also invited to attend!
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PROTECTING YOUR BUSINESS - Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation, and Confidentiality and Nondisclosure Agreements
in Oregon
By Peter Hicks
Jordan Ramis, PC
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The beginning of the new year presents a good opportunity for employers to evaluate the security of their customer and employee relationships, as well as the confidentiality of their company and client information and trade secrets. The following is a review of the agreements or “restrictive covenants” potentially available to employers to most effectively protect their substantial business investments and resources.
Noncompetition Agreements:
A noncompetition agreement is defined in Oregon as “an agreement, written or oral, express or implied, between an employer and employee under which the employee agrees that the employee, either alone or as an employee of another person, will not compete with the employer in providing products, processes or services that are similar to the employer’s products, processes or services for a period of time or within a specified geographic area after termination of employment.” ORS 653.295(7)(d).
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Peter Hicks, Executive Committee Member & Shareholder
Jordan Ramis, PC
To learn more about Peter Hicks, please click
here
.
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VISITING WINE COUNTRY WITH TONKON TORP
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On October 4, Tonkon Torp LLP hosted Oregon ACC members for an exclusive visit to two of Yamhill County's finest wineries--Adelsheim Vineyard and Penner-Ash Wine Cellars.
All attendees traveled by private coaches to each of the wineries located in gorgeous estate settings in the heart of Oregon's renowned Willamette Valley wine country.
"It was a beautiful, cool fall day at the wineries. Enough sun to be outside, but we also were able to enjoy the extremely pretty, private tasting rooms at Penner-Ash and Adelsheim," according to Oregon ACC board member and attendee David Meisels.
Around since 1971, Adelsheim produces wines that celebrate the unique bounty of their estate vineyards -- home to some of Oregon’s most diverse soil types, elevations and exposures. As a founding winery of the Willamette Valley, and the first winery in the Chehalem Mountains, Adelsheim has played an instrumental role in nearly every aspect of the Oregon wine story. Adelsheim is a LIVE certified sustainable winery, a 2017 Wine & Spirits Top 100 Winery and the official wine sponsor of the Portland Trail Blazers.
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Penner-Ash Wine Cellars was founded in 1998 by husband and wife team Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash. The first woman winemaker of note in Oregon, Lynn Penner-Ash began her career in the Willamette Valley with Rex Hill Vineyards and now
produces boutique wines under the label she shares with her husband specializing in Pinot Noir, Syrah and Riesling from the northern Willamette Valley
. The sustainable, gravity-flow estate winery in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA was built in 2005. Surrounded by estate vineyards, the building appears to spring from the hillside and enjoys 360 degree views of the Willamette Valley.
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Meisels also shared his favorites from both wineries. "The Penner-Ash pinots were all very good. My favorite was the 2016 Bella Vida Vineyard. At Adelsheim we had a nice variety of whites and reds, and we were all able to taste the Blazers 50
th
Anniversary special bottlings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I thought the Chardonnay was extremely nice and the labels of the two wines will make them great show pieces for the upcoming Blazers championship run!"
Thank you to Tonkon Torp for providing our Chapter members with this tremendous experience in wine country.
Tonkon Torp LLP is one of the largest firms headquartered in Oregon, with over 80 lawyers dedicated to a sophisticated business practice, and have been a generous supporter of the Oregon Chapter of the ACC for several years providing both CLE and social networking opportunities to our members.
We look forward to more great events with the firm in 2020!
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OREGON ACC ANNUAL MEETING
AT PORTLAND CITY GRILL
SPONSORED BY OGLETREE DEAKINS
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The 2019 Annual Meeting for the Oregon Chapter of the ACC was held on November 20.
Sponsored by Ogletree Deakins, the evening kicked off with hosted cocktails and hors d'oeuvres for over 40 Chapter members high above downtown Portland at the Portland City Grill.
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The first part of the meeting saw the election of our Chapter's 2020 Officers and Board Members. Our 2020 officers are: President - Elizabeth Schultz (Vestas),
Secretary - Emily Warren (Standard Insurance) and Treasurer - Bonnie Page (ProKarma). Our 2020 Board Members are: Ben Buhayer (NWEA), Taylor Engers (Lattice Semiconductor), Tamara Kessler (Umpqua Bank), Katerina Kogan (MKS Instruments), Gary Lau (Cambia Health Solutions), David Meisels (Sound United), Yumi O'Neil (Cambia Health Solutions), J. Stuart Patterson (HP), Valentina Rucker (Intel), Robert Scott (Opal Labs) and Anthony Stark (DiscoverOrg).
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Ogletree shareholder Elizabeth Falcone then presented a lively and interactive CLE about social media and its impact on the workplace entitled "Employment in the Era of Oversharing". She once again conducted smartphone polls throughout the presentation for real time polling of attendees on questions.
Thank you so much to longtime sponsor Ogletree Deakins for once again sponsoring the Oregon Chapter's annual meeting and providing another engaging CLE on workplace law. We look forward to working with Ogletree Deakins in the future!
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DISCUSSING DIVERSITY THROUGH INCLUSION WITH HOLLAND & KNIGHT
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On December 10, Holland & Knight hosted an interactive CLE on diversity through inclusion at Red Star Tavern in downtown Portland.
Yusuf Zakir, Holland & Knight's National Director of Diversity and Inclusion (based in the firm's Los Angeles office), led an interactive discussion about the challenges faced in the field of law--one of the least diverse professions. Yusuf guided the group to identify solutions to help organizations sustain diversity through inclusion.
Shannon Armstrong and Matt Donohue of Holland & Knight were also on hand to help host the event and guide small group discussions.
Oregon ACC board president, Elizabeth Schultz liked that this event "got our members working collaboratively together in small teams to tackle the challenge questions and advocate for their solutions."
One of the highlights of Yusuf's presentation was a tool to help dispel bias. According to Elizabeth, "Everyone loved the Bias Buster idea — it's sure to be trademarked soon!"
Yusuf works closely with the Holland & Knight's Diversity Partner, Diversity Council and firm leadership to continue to build an organization and a culture where all talented individuals--including those traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession--can have a path to long-term success. He helps develop and implement strategies and initiatives to build a more diverse and inclusive organization that produces better results and better serves the firm's clients.
Thank you to everyone at Holland & Knight for creating another dynamic CLE for in-house attorneys! The firm is already planning another CLE on litigation in early March, and more great events are in the works for later this year.
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
The Oregon Chapter of the ACC would like to welcome the following members who joined our Chapter recently:
Edwardeen Hilts
Hyster-Yale Group, Inc
.
Walter Karnstein
Hewlett-Packard, Inc.
Matthew Lawless
Roseburg Forest
Products Co.
Andrew Mayer
Vestas American
Wind Technology, Inc.
Sam Rissmann
A-Dec
We look forward to seeing you at
one of our events soon!
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WELCOME NEW SPONSOR!
The Oregon Chapter of the ACC would like to welcome the following new sponsor for 2020:
LITTLER MENDELSON P.C.
121 SW Morrison Street, Suite 900
Portland, OR 97204
We look forward to our Chapter's first event
with the firm in 2020!
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Thank You
Chapter Sponsors!
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*Please click on any logo above
to visit a sponsor's website.
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OREGON CHAPTER LEADERSHIP
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President
Elizabeth Schultz, Senior Corporate Counsel
Vestas
Secretary
Emily Warren, Attorney
Standard Insurance Company
Treasurer
Bonnie Page, Chief Legal Officer
ProKarma
Board Members
Ben Buhayar, Attorney
NWEA
Taylor Engers, Corporate Counsel
Lattice Semiconductors, Inc.
Gary Lau, Associate General Counsel
Cambia Health Solutions
Tamara Kessler, Vice President & Senior Counsel
Umpqua Bank
Katerina Kogan, Attorney
MKS Instruments, Inc.
David Meisels, General Counsel
Sound United
Yumi O’Neil, Associate General Counsel
Cambia Health Solutions
J. Stuart Patterson, Vice President & Associate General Counsel
HP, Inc.
Valentina Rucker, Senior Commercial Counsel
Intel Corporation
Robert Scott, Vice President & General Counsel
Opal Labs Inc.
Anthony Stark, General Counsel & Vice President of Corporate Development
DiscoverOrg, LLC
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