Stoel Rives Promotes Nine Attorneys to Partnership

PORTLAND, Ore.—Stoel Rives LLP, an Am Law 200 firm, today announced nine attorneys are being promoted to partnership, effective January 1, 2023. The new partner class includes six women and three men from four of the firm’s offices: Boise, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle. The diverse partner class includes two attorneys in the Corporate group; one in the Energy & Regulatory practice; two in the Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources group; one in the Labor & Employment group; one in the Litigation group; and two in the Real Estate, Development & Construction group.

“These lawyers have proven themselves to be significant contributors both to our business and to the culture of our firm,” said Melissa Jones, firmwide managing partner. “They are diverse and talented; we are pleased to welcome them into the partnership, and we look forward to watching their continued growth as leaders of the future.”

The new partners are:

Boise

Jeffrey Nielson is a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Development & Construction group and specializes in the development, acquisition, and financing of commercial real estate projects across the United States. He frequently represents financial institutions in connection with construction, bridge and other secured real estate financings and has handled loan originations totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Jeff also has deep experience in the renewable energy industry and regularly represents developers, tax equity investors and lenders in connection with solar and wind projects. His practice includes drafting and negotiating site control instruments and securing energy project title insurance. He also advises renewable energy developers on mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters. Jeff earned his J.D. from Baylor Law School and his B.A., in Political Science, from Brigham Young University.

Portland

John Dudrey is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment group. He focuses on wage and hour compliance, representation of employers with unionized workforces, and complex advice and counsel matters. John is particularly knowledgeable in the area of Oregon wage and hour law and is frequently relied upon by clients large and small, as well as business lobby groups and members of the Oregon legislature, for his counsel. John is chair of the Stoel Rives Coaching and Mentoring Committee, a Donate Life Northwest board member and recognized among Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. In addition, John’s prior experience includes serving as head law clerk at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. John earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School and his B.A., in Journalism, from the University of Oregon.

Allison Reynolds is a member of the firm’s Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources group. Her practice is focused on helping residential, commercial, and industrial developers and companies navigate all phases of the land use entitlement process in Oregon and Washington. Allison counsels clients through pre-acquisition due diligence and land use permitting before local governments and engages in local and state rulemaking to shape regulations beneficial to her clients’ interests. Allison is active in the greater Portland development community as a board member of the Oregon Chapter of NAIOP (the Commercial Real Estate Development Association), where she leads the Public Affairs Committee, a policy committee member of Oregon Smart Growth, a member of the Portland Business Alliance’s Government Affairs Committee and a member of Leadership Portland’s Class of 2021. Allison earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School and her B.S., cum laude, in Political Science, from Grand Valley State University.

Kristin Russell is a member of the firm’s Corporate group, co-chair of its Debt subgroup and co-chair of the Portland Recruiting Committee. Her practice includes supporting both borrower and lender clients of varying sizes as they navigate debt financing arrangements, whether in connection with acquisitions, expansions, or restructurings. Kris also provides outside counsel assistance to clients in a variety of industries on general corporate matters. She has experience in both domestic and cross-border debt and equity transactions, covering a range of industries including agribusiness, entertainment, health care, manufacturing, and consumer products. Kris also maintains an active pro bono practice, including working with the Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic and the ACLU of Oregon, and serves on the Headwaters Council of The Freshwater Trust and on the steering committee of the Reed Legal Network. Kris earned her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her B.A., in Economics, from Reed College.

San Diego

Bo Harvey is a member of the firm’s Energy & Regulatory practice. He represents energy clients and financial institutions in connection with a wide variety of matters. He has particular expertise in negotiating and structuring energy hedges, swap, and derivative transactions, and providing related regulatory advice concerning the Dodd-Frank Act and Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulations. In addition, he counsels clients with respect to the structuring of power purchase and offtake agreements generally. Bo also represents energy developers in connection with the development, acquisition, and sale of renewable energy projects. Bo earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, his M.B.A. from Duke University Fuqua School of Business and his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego.

Seattle

Veronica Keithley is a member of the Environment, Land Use & Natural Resources group and assists clients in navigating environmental regulation for water quality, NPDES permitting, stormwater, wastewater, and wetlands. She advises clients on environmental permitting and regulatory compliance, and defends clients in enforcement proceedings and litigation, including citizen suits under the Clean Water Act. Veronica works extensively with a wide range of clients in Washington and Alaska, including industrial, transportation, commodity, energy, and resource development companies, as well as ports and dam operators. She counsels clients on environmental issues related to operations, construction, and development of projects, focusing on water issues. Veronica has been recognized among Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America and is a member of the Association of Washington Businesses’ Water Quality Committee. Veronica earned her J.D, cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School, her M.S., in Environmental Science, from Oklahoma State University and her B.S., magna cum laude, in Forestry, from Oklahoma State University.

Emily Kelly is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Development & Construction group. Her practice focuses on complex commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing of multifamily mixed-use, retail and office projects. Emily has significant experience advising clients on the development and leasing of life sciences, biomedical and technology space, and also specializes in negotiating complex ground leases on behalf of tenants and landlords. Her clients include private developers, technology and life sciences companies, real estate investment trusts (REITs), nonprofit organizations, institutional investors, and government entities. Emily is co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate Training Series, serves on the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and has been recognized among Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America and named a Washington Super Lawyers Rising Star. Prior to law school, she served as a Corps Member with Teach for America. Emily earned her J.D., cum laude, from Boston College Law School, her M.E. from George Mason University, and her B.A. from Tufts University.

Claire Mitchell is a food and beverage regulatory attorney in the Corporate group with extensive experience helping businesses navigate the complexities of food and alcohol laws. Specifically, Claire counsels grocery chains, national and regional restaurant groups, hotel operators, e-commerce retailers, entertainment venues, alcohol brand owners, and beer, wine, and spirits producers on state and federal liquor licensing strategies, tied house compliance, trade practice regulation, promotional advertising and sponsorship assessments. Claire’s practice also involves regulatory support for food and beverage industry transactions, negotiation of common food and beverage industry commercial contracts, and defense against alleged administrative violations. Claire is a key contact for Stoel’s Agribusiness, Food, & Beverage industry group and leads a subcommittee of the industry group focused on beverage alcohol. She was recognized among Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Claire earned her LL.M., in Food and Agricultural Law, from the University of Arkansas School of Law and her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. She earned her B.A., magna cum laude, in English, from Villanova University.

Jenna Poligo is a member of the firm’s Litigation group. Her practice focuses on business disputes, representing clients in the technology, insurance, manufacturing, and consumer products industries facing class actions, government enforcement actions, antitrust, bad faith, and other commercial disputes. Jenna is an experienced trial lawyer adept at defending clients in individual lawsuits and class actions in state and federal courts across the country and counsels clients through arbitration, trial, and appeals. Jenna is a key contact on Stoel Rives’ Privacy Team and serves as the Young Lawyer Liaison to the Executive Committee of the Antitrust Consumer Protection and Unfair Business Practices Section of the Washington State Bar Association. She has also been recognized among Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. Jenna also serves her community through a dedicated commitment to pro bono work with a focus on representing individuals facing lengthy sentences as juveniles and advocating for women’s rights. Jenna is a member of the Intake Committee of Legal Voice in Seattle and co-chaired Stoel Rives’ inaugural participation in the Associates’ Campaign for Equal Justice for the Legal Foundation of Washington. Prior to joining Stoel Rives, Jenna served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Gerald J. Pappert of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jenna earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from the William & Mary School of Law, and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Ursinus College.