Charles E. Harrell

On September 9, 2025, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington entered an order confirming the plan of liquidation Tonkon Torp, led by new bankruptcy practice group Co-Chair Danny Newman, filed for clients Refreshing USA, Water Station Technologies, and Creative Technologies (and another 20 entities that were merged or substantively consolidated into the Debtors).

Tonkon Torp LLP is pleased to announce the launch of its revamped and expanded Food, Beverage & Leisure practice, bringing together a suite of industry-focused legal services under a single umbrella to better serve clients navigating complex regulatory, operational, and transactional challenges. The multidisciplinary group unites the firm’s established niche industry groups of Alcohol, Cannabis, and Food & Beverage with new specialties in the Hospitality and Lottery & Gaming industries. Attorney Charles Harrell will chair the expanded practice.

Tonkon Torp attorney Charles Harrell has joined the Board of Directors for Cultivate Initiatives. Cultivate Initiatives is a nonprofit organization supporting East Portland, working alongside those who have been marginalized to empower individuals and communities through a range of services and support.

Tonkon Torp LLP is pleased to welcome Of Counsel attorney Charles Harrell to its Business Department. Harrell is a veteran attorney with over 22 years’ experience, including tenures as in-house counsel for such companies as Copia Power and Form Factory, Inc, and nine years managing a solo practice.

By Charles Harrell – By the time a startup has addressed structure, governance, compliance, employment, and fundraising, it has built the core framework for growth. But long-term success depends on more than regulatory discipline and capital strategy. As companies mature, two additional factors increasingly determine enterprise value: protecting what the business has created and preparing for what it cannot predict. Intellectual property often becomes the company’s most valuable asset, and operational resilience becomes essential as complexity increases.

By Charles Harrell – As startups move beyond formation and begin to scale, the nature of legal risk changes. These risks often emerge gradually. A new hire, a new customer in another state, or a new investment round can quickly trigger legal obligations that did not exist at launch. In this installment, we will focus on growth-stage risks and how to manage them before they undermine the value you are building.

By Charles Harrell – Starting a business is exciting. It is also inherently risky. But in my experience advising founders, most serious legal problems are not caused by bad ideas. They result from preventable legal mistakes made at the outset.

By Charles Harrell – In the 2023 legislative session, Oregon passed Senate Bill 4 – a groundbreaking move to bolster its position as a leader in the semiconductor industry and to strengthen the industry within its borders. The legislation empowers the state to designate new sites specifically aimed at fostering semiconductor manufacturing and innovation, an essential sector in today’s digital economy that could herald a new era of economic growth and technological advancement.