Stoel Rives LLP Names James Torgerson Firm-Wide Managing Partner

PORTLAND, OR — The U.S. business law firm Stoel Rives LLP today announced that James E. Torgerson, a partner in the firm’s Anchorage office, has been appointed firm-wide managing partner (FMP), making him the first Alaska-based managing partner of a major law firm in U.S. history.

Torgerson, whose appointment went into effect Jan. 1, 2016, succeeds Bob Van Brocklin who served as the firm’s managing partner from 2008 to 2015.

“Jim is a respected leader with great strategic vision and strong management experience,” said Van Brocklin. “Under his guidance, our Anchorage office quickly became one of the leading law firms in Alaska by attracting oil, gas, and mining companies, Alaska Native corporations, and other natural resource companies as our clients. Jim is poised and well qualified to lead Stoel Rives into the future.”

Stoel Rives has nearly 400 lawyers in seven states and the District of Columbia. Torgerson joined the firm as a founder and managing partner of the Anchorage office in 2008. He also has served on the firm’s executive committee since 2012. Torgerson has helped to grow the Anchorage office to 15 attorneys representing many Alaska Native corporations*.

“Stoel Rives has a long history of giving great value to our clients, and I will continue that legacy. Starting immediately, I will focus on adding even more client value by using the best efficiencies and technology available so that we can become even better strategic legal partners to our clients,” said Torgerson. “As industry experts are aware, new competitive and market forces have been rippling through the legal profession. These are challenges, and responding to them provides extraordinary opportunities to more closely align our interests with our clients'. This includes a continued focus on efficient legal service, diversity, attracting top legal talent and being a true strategic partner to our clients.”

During the past two years, Stoel Rives has developed new senior-level business management positions, including a Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Lawyer Development Officer and Director of Pricing. The firm also has brought in new leadership in the form of its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Development Officer. In 2015, Stoel Rives added 17 income partners, 12 capital partners, and more timekeepers, demonstrating the vitality of the firm’s practices and the breadth of talent it possesses. As part of the firm’s commitment to improving its diversity and deepening its talent pool, Stoel Rives was one of the first law firms to join the OnRamp Fellowship, which provides experienced women lawyers a pathway to reenter the legal profession.

While the firm’s management has and will continue to change, Torgerson said, “One thing that won't change is our commitment to superior client service and diversity. That is our legacy at Stoel and the foundation upon which we will continue to build. However we evolve, each of us carries the responsibility and privilege of playing an important role in providing superior client service and building a great place for our lawyers and legal support staff to work.”

Raised on a family farm near Bemidji, Minnesota, Torgerson resides in Anchorage, Alaska. He is widely recognized as one of Alaska’s top litigators. The Best Lawyers in America® selected him Litigation - Environmental Lawyer of the Year for Anchorage for 2012 and 2016, and Litigation - Real Estate Lawyer of the Year for Anchorage for 2015. He is AV peer-review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, and Chambers USA has named him one of “America's Leading Lawyers for Business” every year since 2005.

About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a business law firm providing corporate and litigation services to clients in the Energy & Infrastructure, Agribusiness, Food & Beverage, Manufacturing & Consumer Products, Technology, Life Sciences, Healthcare, Government & Public Agencies and Natural Resources industries throughout the United States. The firm has nearly 400 attorneys operating out of 11 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia. Stoel Rives is a leader in corporate, energy, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment, land use and construction, litigation, natural resources, project development and real estate law. For more information, visit www.stoel.com.

*This press release reflects a change to our original release issued on January 11th, 2016. In the original release, it was noted that Stoel Rives represents a majority of Alaska Native Corporations. While we represent 10 of the 12 Alaska Native Regional Corporations we do not represent a majority of the Alaska Native Village Corporations. It should be noted that the original release was also posted to Business Wire and while a correction has been issued, original copies of the release may still be circulating with some online publications