People > Attorney > George C. Spencer
Overview
Representative Work
Activities & Membership
Awards & Recognition
News & Publications
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Overview
Before his retirement in 2018, George represented individuals and businesses on a wide range of issues in their personal, commercial, and corporate activities. George’s practice background involved manufacturing, forest products, private investment, corporate governance, automobile dealerships, wealth planning, and nonprofits.
Known for combining his business knowledge, negotiating skills, and effective personal counseling approach, George advised clients in such areas as finance, family business planning and wealth management, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, and corporate governance, both for profit and nonprofit entities.
He represented businesses through all development stages, from startup and early stage to maturity and sale. Clients involved in family businesses and wealth management particularly appreciate George's personal counseling approach.
George began his legal career in 1966 at Portland's Black & Apicella law firm, where his work included family business planning and, in corporate law, hostile takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, and securities financings. George moved to Tonkon Torp in 1989.
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Featured Representative Matters
Proxy Matters
Actively involved in hostile tender offer and proxy matters seeking control for utility, bioclinical, and financial business clients.
Families & Businesses
Counselor to families and their businesses in a variety of matters, including operations decision-making, formalizing corporate governance, management and ownership succession and business acquisitions, and dispositions.
Family Foundations
Counseling family foundations and other non-profits in the conduct of their charitable activities.
Special Counsel
Special Counsel to the Lewis & Clark College Board of Trustees. This matter involved investigation and issuance of a report to the Board and the Oregon Attorney General concerning the College's failed loan.
Cemetery Reorganization
Reorganizing (for purposes of continuing in operation as a tax exempt organization) one of Oregon's historical cemeteries.
Business Sales
Managing and participating in significant purchases and sales of businesses.
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Featured Work
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Community Involvement & Activities
Oregon Symphony Foundation
Board Member and Secretary
Pro Bono Legal Services
Multnomah Athletic Club
Past President and Board Member
Multnomah Athletic Foundation
Founder and Director Emeritus
The ESCO Foundation
Board Member and Secretary
The Stimson-Miller Foundation
Secretary
University of Oregon Foundation
Past Trustee
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Professional Memberships
Multnomah Bar Association
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Awards & Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America
1995-2019, Corporate Law
University of Oregon Alumni Spotlight Award for the Portland Area
Community Service
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Recent News
8.17.2018
Best Lawyers in America® Names 51 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2019 List
Fifty-one Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 41 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years
8.16.2017
Best Lawyers in America® Names 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2018 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018. Nearly all attorneys have been named to the list in past years, and have been recognized for more than five years…
8.15.2016
Best Lawyers in America® Names 44 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2017 List
Forty-four Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 38 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017. Each attorney has been named to the list in past years, and nearly all have been recognized for more than five years…
9.30.2015
Tonkon Torp Sponsors Multnomah Athletic Club Anniversary
Tonkon Torp made a sponsorship payment to the Multnomah Athletic Club (MAC) in support of their 125th anniversary agenda. Formed in 1891, MAC is a private, not-for-profit athletic and social club in southwest Portland.
8.18.2015
45 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America® 2016
Forty-five Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 39 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016. All of them have been named to the list at least once before, and many of them have been recognized for a number of…
8.20.2014
Best Lawyers in America® 2015 Names 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to Prestigious List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 40 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015. All of them have been named to the list at least once before, and many of them have been recognized for a number of…
8.15.2013
50 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers in America® 2014
Fifty Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 42 practice areas were selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014. “We are honored to have more than half of the firm’s partners recognized by the larger legal community for their legal talent…
8.29.2012
Best Lawyers in America® Names 50 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2013 List
Lawyers from Tonkon Torp LLP continue to earn the high regard and professional respect of their peers and litigation adversaries. This year, 50 Tonkon Torp lawyers - well more than half of the firm's partners - were selected by their peers for…
9.21.2011
Best Lawyers in America® Names 40 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2012 List
40 Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 64 percent of the firm's partners were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012.
3.20.2011
Tonkon Torp Creates Practice Group for Nonprofit Entities
Tonkon Torp has formalized its longstanding work on behalf of nonprofit and charitable organizations by creating a Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Entities practice group. Attorneys in the multidisciplinary group serve the specific needs of all nonprofit…
8.17.2009
Best Lawyers in America ® 2010 Names 30 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Thirty Tonkon Torp attorneys have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2010, a well-respected peer-review legal publication.
9.29.2008
The Best Lawyers in America ® 2009 Names 25 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Twenty-five Tonkon Torp attorneys have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2009, the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession. Six of the firm's attorneys were selected in more than one category…
10.4.2007
Best Lawyers in America ® 2008 Names 22 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Twenty-two Tonkon Torp attorneys have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2008, the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession. Four of the Portland firm's attorneys were selected in more than one…
10.18.2006
The Best Lawyers in America Names 16 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Tonkon Torp LLP is pleased to announce that 16 of the firm's partners have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2007. Fifteen of those partners have been listed in prior years, eight for the last 10 or more consecutive years…
8.26.2005
Tonkon Torp's Attorneys Selected for The Best Lawyers in America® 2006
A remarkable thirty-five percent of Tonkon Torp partners were selected by their legal peers in Woodward, White's 2006 Best Lawyers in America.
1.24.2005
Twelve Tonkon Torp Partners listed in Best Lawyers in America
Tonkon Torp LLP cemented its reputation as a leading Portland firm with twelve partners recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2006.
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Publications & Presentations
Oregon Law Review
Lewis & Clark College Report