The Vancouver office of established Pacific Northwest law firm Miller Nash LLP has seen several changes in the last few months, expanding in some areas of expertise and contracting in others, shifting to meet the economic and legal needs of Southwest Washington.
Names no longer found inside the firm’s 500 East Broadway Street office include Steve Horentstein, who recently opened his own small firm with wife and fellow attorney Cindy Horenstein, and James Howsley, who has joined the Vancouver legal office of Jordan Ramis PC.
Miller Nash’s Vancouver office now consists of eight attorneys, two paralegals and nine other staff, serving in a variety of legal arenas, including land use, real estate, business, litigation, employment, environmental and tax law.
“We are branching out beyond our traditional focus on real estate and development,” said LeAnne Bremer, partner in charge of the Miller Nash Vancouver office. “Those areas were down, not surprisingly, but we are seeing new calls for commercial real estate transactions in January. A good sign, we hope.”
Though Miller Nash has long been known locally for land use and environment law, Bremer stressed, “We do much more than that. Our business team and our tax people are seeing steady business.”
Steady is the word Bremer used when discussing business for area law firms in general for the coming year.
“The feeling is that this year will be a lot like last year for law firms, not really growing, but not shrinking either; Maybe a slight uptick, but not dramatic,” she said.
Miller Nash currently has 116 lawyers in offices in Portland, Central Oregon, Seattle and Vancouver.
“The attorneys in the Vancouver office are able to tap into the expertise of other attorneys in the firm,” said Bremer. “This is especially helpful when new proposed legislation like the recently tabled SOPA and PIPA arise that could significantly impact business.”
More than ever, Bremer said she and her fellow Miller Nash Vancouver attorneys are strongly committed to community involvement, and hoping to become even more involved in 2012. In January alone, the office worked nearly 450 pro bono hours, valued at more than $130,000.
Bremer herself serves as a member of the board of directors of the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. Firm partner Joe Vance serves on the Ridgefield School Board, while partner Steve Hill is an officer on the board of the Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools. Dustin Klinger, also a partner, is on the board of the YWCA of Clark County, while also providing monthly time at the SERVE Homeless Legal Clinic. Associate Kathryn Smith gives time to multiple organizations, including Educational Opportunities for Children and Families, and the YWCA’s Domestic Violence Legal Clinic. Associate Meghan Williams, newly hired in December, 2011, assists with pro bono work for the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington.
