22 Stoel Rives Attorneys Selected 2016 Best Lawyers "Lawyers of the Year"

Twenty-two Stoel Rives lawyers have been named 2016 Best Lawyers^® “Lawyers of the Year” in their markets. Best Lawyers compiles its lists of attorneys by conducting peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and in each community surveyed is selected as a Lawyer of the Year.

“Congratulations to our 22 lawyers who have achieved Lawyer of the Year recognition,” said Firm Managing Partner Bob Van Brocklin. “This recognition underscores the quality and value that all of our lawyers deliver to our clients every day.  Delivering outstanding results to clients is our highest priority.”

The Stoel Rives “Lawyers of the Year” include:

James E. Torgerson, Anchorage Litigation – Environmental “Lawyer of the Year,” focuses on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on commercial, corporate and property issues, and represents major oil and gas companies, Alaska Native corporations, electric utilities, telecommunications companies, professional services firms, nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Kevin J. Beaton, Boise Water Law “Lawyer of the Year,” practices in the areas of environmental, administrative, and natural resources law with an emphasis on water quality, Clean Water Act permitting, Endangered Species Act consultations, contaminated sites, water rights and related federal and state environmental enforcement actions.

Gary W. Glisson, Portland Information Technology Law “Lawyer of the Year,” advises clients on the intellectual property and contractual issues arising from corporate activities and commercial transactions involving their technology assets, products, services, data, information and creative content.

Christopher K. Heuer, Portland Litigation & Controversy – Tax “Lawyer of the Year,” concentrates his practice on a wide variety of federal income tax and business law issues, including taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions and transactions involving partnerships, S corporations, limited liability companies and other pass-through entities.

Emily V. Karr, Portland Trusts & Estates “Lawyer of the Year,” practices in the areas of estate and financial planning, personal tax planning and the administration of estates and trusts.

Robert J. Moorman, Portland Mergers & Acquisitions Law “Lawyer of the Year,” advises clients on the sale and acquisition of businesses, including on director fiduciary duty issues, corporate governance and general securities law compliance, and is widely experienced in public and private financings, both debt and equity.

Margaret Hill Noto, Portland Corporate Governance Law “Lawyer of the Year,” represents publicly held and private companies in corporate and securities matters, executive compensation matters, corporate governance matters, mergers and acquisitions, and financing transactions.

Lois O. Rosenbaum, Portland Litigation – Mergers & Acquisitions “Lawyer of the Year,” practices in the area of complex business litigation and has represented numerous public and private companies and their officers and directors in defending class actions and SEC and other government actions and investigations.

Penny H. Serrurier, Portland Non-Profit/Charities Law “Lawyer of the Year,” practices in the areas of tax-exempt organizations, charitable giving, estate planning and administration, business succession planning, and personal tax planning and represents tax-exempt organizations and advises on all aspects of governance, compliance, and tax-related matters.

E. Walter Van Valkenburg, Portland Antitrust Law “Lawyer of the Year,” focuses on transactions and business counseling. He also has extensive experience in antitrust and trade regulation, and represents clients in the technology, footwear and apparel, sports and entertainment, health care, electric utilities, retail and wood products industries.

Jere M. Webb, Portland Technology Law “Lawyer of the Year,” practices all aspects of intellectual property law, including Internet and e-commerce; marketing, trade regulation and distribution; technology transfer, protection and licensing; trademark and franchise; and international trade.

Thomas R. Wood, Portland Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year,” has extensive experience in the areas of air quality and hazardous waste permitting and compliance and in defending criminal and civil environmental enforcement actions including citizen suits and civil nuisance actions.

Matthew M. Durham, Salt Lake City Labor Law – Management “Lawyer of the Year,” represents clients in state and federal courts and administrative agencies in matters relating to employment discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour, drug testing, leave, benefits and labor/occupational safety issues.

Thomas A. Ellison, Salt Lake City Land Use & Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year,” helps clients navigate the requirements of real estate development projects, including land use entitlements, equity, development and construction financing, strategic partnerships and joint ventures, construction contracts and property acquisitions and leasing.

David J. Jordan, Salt Lake City Administrative / Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year,” practices in commercial litigation representing business and individuals in a wide variety of civil matters, including anti-trust cases, intellectual property cases, environmental cases, mining cases, securities cases and other commercial disputes.

Ronald G. Moffitt, Salt Lake City Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year,” concentrates his practice on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, corporate finance and commercial transactions and has more than 30 years of experience buying and selling public and private companies, negotiating public and private debt and credit facilities, negotiating commercial transactions, and counseling clients on corporate, securities, licensing and tax matters.

Steven D. Woodland, Salt Lake City Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law “Lawyer of the Year,” advises businesses, healthcare organizations and not-for-profit organizations with respect to employee benefit matters.

Beth S. Ginsberg, Seattle Litigation - Environmental “Lawyer of the Year,” focuses on environmental, wildlife and natural resource litigation, permitting, and counseling for both public and private interests, including renewable and non-renewable energy producers users, and exporters, industrial, manufacturing, and navigational interests, port authorities, cities and counties, and private landowners.

Richard L. Goldfarb, Seattle Financial Services Regulation Law “Lawyer of the Year,” practices primarily in the commercial, banking, corporate and securities law areas and is experienced in complex commercial transactions, including foreign and domestic sales; secured transactions for banks, other financial institutions and borrowers; and in all aspects of the Uniform Commercial Code.

Timothy J. O’Connell, Seattle Communications Law “Lawyer of the Year,” practices in the areas of telecommunications and labor and employment law. He has practiced before the Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho utilities commissions, handling cases involving business practices, rates, costs and cost studies and other issues, and in all phases of state law proceedings implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Brian C. Park, Seattle Litigation - Patent “Lawyer of the Year,” handles high-stakes, high-risk litigation involving clients' most important assets, including their technologies, secrets, brands, creative work product and business deals, and advises them about the full range of IP protections. He also has extensive experience with complex commercial litigation involving contract disputes, unfair competition and corporate espionage.

W. Scott Wert, Seattle Banking & Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year,” focuses on project financings and other real and personal property secured financings and has represented U.S. and foreign entities in asset and stock acquisitions and general corporate and commercial matters.