Contact: Mark Fefer, Marketing Communications, 206.757.8583 or markfefer@dwt.com
SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 –Davis Wright Tremaine announced today that Bill Miner is the new partner-in-charge of the Portland office. Miner replaces Carol Bernick, who is the new CEO of the Oregon State Bar's Professional Liability Fund (PLF) following a very successful five-year stint leading the Portland office.
During Bernick's tenure, the firm substantially overhauled its profile in the Portland market. It developed national, top-of-market practices in the food and beverage, hospitality, and restaurant industries, under the leadership of two young partners, Jesse Lyon and Riley Lagesen. It recruited Dave Ernst, a national leader in food safety litigation and former managing partner of the Bullivant firm, and Chrys Martin, a leading employment litigator, also from Bullivant. And it gave a major boost to its national privacy and security practice by hiring Sean Hoar, the top cybercrime lawyer at the U.S. Attorney's office in Oregon.
"We will miss Carol terribly but are excited about what her leadership can bring to PLF," said the firm's managing partner, Dave Baca. "She helped us get to a much higher level in Portland and I'm sure she'll be transformative at PLF as well. She has given Bill a terrific platform to build on."
Miner, 38, is a homegrown DWT litigator and his appointment represents a continuation of Baca's commitment to developing younger lawyers into firm leaders.
"The demographics in our profession are such that it is time for the next generation to step up," said Baca. "They have a long time horizon, they embrace the change we need to undertake, and they bring an inspiring level of energy and commitment to excellence that helps us all. These lawyers are playing critical roles in many of the exciting things happening at our firm, whether it is building national practices or developing great client relationships or creating innovative ways to provide clients better service at lower cost."
"Thanks to Carol's leadership, and the talent we have, this office is in an outstanding position to accelerate its growth," said Miner. "I look forward to continuing to support the top litigation practice in the city, as well as expanding our current roles in hospitality, employment, health care, and IP. I'm also excited to deepen our connection to Portland's startup culture while further strengthening our office's central role serving the firm's leading national clients."
A native of Astoria, Oregon, Miner received his B.A. from the University of Oregon, where he was president of the student government. He received his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. He is the immediate past chair of the Multnomah Bar Association's Judicial Screening Committee and a member of the Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules Committee.
Miner's many public service activities include regular volunteer work at St. Andrew Legal Clinic and serving as president of Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger. As a member of the Multnomah County Young Lawyers Pro Bono Committee, he helped create the Outside/In Legal Clinic, which serves Portland's homeless youth.
In 2011, Miner received the Multnomah Bar Association's Pro Bono Award of Merit. That same year he was honored with Davis Wright Tremaine's Heart of Justice Award, presented each year to an associate who has exhibited exceptional pro bono commitment and performance.
"Like Carol, I remain committed to keeping this firm invested in our community," said Miner. "That's my background, as it is Carol's."
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com.