2025 Events
CLE – Cybersecurity Contractual Clauses – Getting them Right – On December 8, 2025, the Corporate Counsel presented a practical look at how to bridge the gap between legal and technical worlds when it comes to cybersecurity clauses. Attendees learned to spot and handle key issues such as notice and remediation requirements, cybersecurity program expectations, and other challenging negotiation points.
Oregon Food Bank Volunteer Event – Members of the Corporate Counsel section and their families volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank on November 13, sorting enough potatoes to provide 246 meals per person to Oregonians in need. This is the second year the group has volunteered at the Oregon Food Bank, and we are thrilled to provide needed assistance while getting to know other attorneys in the community.
Corporate Counsel Section Social – Members gathered at McMenamins Cedar Hills on Thursday, Nov 6 for socializing and network development.
Corporate Counsel Section Social – On October 17, the Eugene-area social brought practitioners from Portland, Salem, and Eugene together for conversation and connection.
CLE – In-House Counsel’s Superpower—Settlement Negotiations – October 8 – Justin Monahan (General Counsel, Otak) and Chad Colton (Shareholder, Markowitz Herbold PC) discussed how in-house counsel can use their unique perspective to drive successful outcomes, noting that in-house counsel can be the most powerful voice in the room during settlement negotiations. They discussed what matters in settlement negotiations, which are rarely about dollars and cents — but instead about credibility, strategy, and timing. Justin and Chad gave an intriguing presentation on how to manage internal dynamics, set the tone for negotiations, and know when to step in (or step back) as disputes evolve.
Corporate Counsel Section Social – Members of the Executive Committee joined members of the section for a social at Steeplejack Brewing in NE Portland at the end of May. Participants enjoyed engaging conversation and an opportunity to connect with other corporate attorneys over appetizers.
CLE – Understanding and Adapting to the Changing DEI Landscape – April 30 – Vicky Slade, partner in the Employment Services group at Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle, presented an insightful overview of the evolving legal landscape surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the workplace including recent Executive Orders, agency actions, lawsuits, and other developments. Vicky discussed legal standards applicable to DEI programs, considerations to guide decision making around DEI, and practical strategies for assessing and managing risk related to DEI programs.
2024 Events
Oregon Food Bank Volunteer Event – Nov 14 – Members of the Corporate Counsel Section and their families joined Oregon Food Bank to sort tons of squash and potatoes while getting to know each other.
CLE – The Legal Team as a Driver of Corporate Value and Growth – The Corporate Counsel section organized a panel of experienced in-house counsel on November 13, for a useful discussion of their strategies in knowledge management, contract management, and succession planning to drive value and growth within their organizations, both organically and through strategic transactions. The panel included Brad Thies (former General Counsel of FEI Company, which was acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific), Chad Paulson (General Counsel, Powin), and Jakob Lutkavage-Dvorscak (General Counsel, The Partners Group), and was moderated by Brendan McDonnell of K&L Gates.
CLE – Bridging the Gap: Mastering Collaboration Between In-House Counsel, Marketing, and Finance – On October 1, Alison Pear moderated a panel of experts to guide in-house counsel on how to foster cooperation and partnerships among different departments to drive business success.
CLE – Deposition Bootcamp for In-House Counsel – On May 15, 2024, Chad Colton (Shareholder, Markowitz Herbold PC) gave an informative and engaging presentation on the crucial role of in-house lawyers in preparing company witnesses for depositions. In-house lawyers play a vital role in ensuring that witnesses are adequately prepared to provide accurate and reliable testimony while protecting the interests of the company. Chad used real-world deposition video clips to explore aspects involved in preparing company witnesses for depositions and highlight the strategies and techniques that in-house lawyers can employ to ensure witness readiness.
2023 Events
South Park Blocks Clean Up with SOLVE – On June 29, 2023, section members gathered in downtown Portland with the Association of Corporate Counsel and SOLVE to clean up the South Park Blocks. We had a great time getting together to connect, get outside, and help the community. It was a fantastic event, and we’re excited to do it again soon. We hope you can join us for the next one!
2022 Events
CLEs
On Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at noon, the Oregon State Bar Corporate Counsel Section held a virtual CLE on implementing company-wide mask mandates in an ever-changing landscape. A special thanks to our panel speakers Karen O’Connor, Kat Rosenbaum and Sarah Ewing.
On Thursday, July 21, 2022, we were excited to welcome Chad Colton, who provided attendees with some invaluable tips in working with outside counsel during litigation. Thanks, Chad, and all those those who attended! Please stay tuned for our October diversity panel event.