Tonkon Torp LLP has appointed new firm leadership for several of its practice groups.
Business partner Claire Brown is now serving as Co-Chair, with Jeff Cronn, of both the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Finance & Transactions practice groups. Brown is experienced addressing a broad range of legal issues for both new and established businesses, including in securities law, corporate finance, corporate governance, and contract negotiation. In her transactional work, she represents both buyers and sellers across a variety of industries, with a particular interest in consumer products companies.
Partner Rocky Dallum joins Drew Hagedorn to Co-Chair the firm’s Government Relations Practice Group. His practice includes strategic counsel and direct advocacy for corporate and nonprofit clients engaging Oregon’s legislative and executive branches. Rocky is particularly active in the areas of tax policy, life sciences, and natural resources.
Jarell Hunt is serving as Chair of the firm’s Financial Services & Investment Management Practice Group. His practice focuses on transactional work, including securities offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. He regularly counsels clients on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and general business matters, particularly in the financial and professional services industries.
Business partner Michael Millender is now serving as Chair of the firm’s Tax Practice Group. His practice focuses on federal, state, and local taxation and tax controversies, executive compensation, business ownership transitions, and employee benefits. Michael also engages in a general business practice, representing clients in a range of M&A, commercial, and corporate governance matters.
Litigation partner Christopher Pallanch joins Caroline Harris Crowne to Co-Chair the firm’s 41-attorney strong Litigation Department. As a trial lawyer, Chris has tried eight- and nine-figure cases to verdict with juries and judges in federal and state court. Chris has a wide-ranging practice that centers on finding solutions and offering strategic guidance for complex business disputes.
Bankruptcy partner Ava Schoen is now serving as Co-Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy & Reorganization Practice Group. She joins partner Timothy J. Conway in leading the group. Ava’s practice focuses on Chapter 11 corporate reorganizations, out-of-court workouts, state-court receiverships, and debtor-creditor law. She represents Chapter 11 debtors-in-possession as well as creditors, and has worked on some of the largest chapter 11 cases in the Pacific Northwest.
Josh Smith has taken over as Chair of the firm’s Startups, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital Practice Group (formerly known as the Entrepreneurial Services Group). His practice is focused on representing and counseling emerging and established companies on a wide variety of intellectual property, corporate, and transactional matters. He regularly counsels clients on venture capital and angel financings, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures, technology licensing, commercial agreements, and general business matters.
Attorney Michele Wasson is now the Chair of the firm’s Nonprofit & Tax-Exempt Entities Practice Group. Her practice is concentrated on providing legal counsel to and advocacy for nonprofit organizations, including trade associations, social clubs, professional groups, advocacy groups, public charities, private foundations, and other nonprofit entities. Her work with nonprofit organizations covers issues relating to tax-exemption, fundraising and cause marketing, commercial joint ventures, governance, lobbying and political activity, unrelated business income tax, and private foundation excise taxes.
