Stoel Rives Promotes 7 Attorneys to Partner Status

Corporate and litigation law firm focused on energy, natural resources, environmental law and climate change promotes lawyers in key practice areas.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Stoel Rives LLP, an Am Law 200 law firm, is pleased to announce that seven of its attorneys became new partners of the firm effective Jan. 1, 2019. Located in the firm’s Boise, Minneapolis, Portland, Salt Lake City, and Seattle offices, the new partners are focused on client value and innovation, which are keystones of Stoel Rives’ corporate culture and commitment to excellence.

“I am pleased to welcome this talented group of dedicated and diverse lawyers to our partnership,” said Firm Managing Partner James E. Torgerson. “These lawyers are emerging leaders in key service areas including technology, climate change, renewable energy, litigation, and real estate and construction. They will help us continue to modernize our practice and innovate the business of law to serve our clients better.”

Stoel Rives has more than 350 attorneys in 10 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia. The new Stoel Rives partners include:

Rachel Hoffman Cox, an experienced environmental attorney, advises clients in permitting, compliance and enforcement matters arising under state and federal environmental laws. Cox uses a results-oriented approach to help clients in natural resources industries navigate and comply with complex regulatory schemes, including climate change-related regulatory programs.

Kelly A. Echols, an experienced chemical patent attorney, focuses on counseling pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, waste conversion, battery component, and chemical companies. Echols has significant intellectual property (IP) transaction experience, and he enjoys developing creative global patent portfolio strategies that maximize product value.

Joseph E. Nussbaum, a member of the firm’s project finance group and renewable energy industry team, focuses his practice especially on the U.S. solar industry. He helps project sponsors and investors evaluate, structure and execute on secured loans, tax equity financings, purchase and sale transactions, joint ventures, and other commercial transactions through all stages in an energy project’s lifecycle.

Andrew J. Pieper, an experienced trial attorney, applies his skills no matter how a dispute arises, whether in business, commerce, land use, natural resources, employment, bankruptcy, intellectual property, or other areas. When multinational corporations, small businesses, or individuals in a variety of industries find themselves facing intractable legal disputes, they turn to Pieper to help them solve their problem, including by developing and executing cost-effective trial strategies that leverage his client’s strengths.

Bart W. Reed focuses his practice on construction and design issues and disputes, representing public agencies, private owners/developers, contractors, design professionals and sureties in diverse matters on both public and private projects. He has extensive experience in complex commercial and construction law, multistate litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, and regularly advises clients on their transactional and claims-related matters.

Robert R. Teel’s legal practice includes U.S. and foreign patent procurement, patent management, patent opinions, product clearance and freedom-to-operate assessments, IP transactions including licensing and IP aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions, and patent disputes. As a specialist in IP and a registered U.S. patent attorney, Teel combines his electrical engineering, business and legal experience to develop thoughtful IP strategies for technology companies — particularly for those designing sophisticated software, electrical circuitry, and optoelectronics.

Elijah M. Watkins is an experienced trial attorney, handling complex business litigation in both state and federal courts. He regularly represents companies in consumer and unlawful trade practices actions, intellectual property disputes, products liability matters, commercial contract disputes, and real property issues.