TM Published Quarterly by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 25, No. 4 Fall 2014 25 years of breaking barriers OWLS Workplace Leader Award 1989 -2014 Goes to McDowell Rackner & Gibson he Portland law firm McDowell Rackner President Kendra Matthews T& Gibson is the Vice President, President-Elect 2014 recipient of the OWLS Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick Workplace Leader Award. Secretary Katherine McDowell, a Angela Franco Lucero longtime OWLS member, Treasurer accepted the award on the Laura Craska Cooper firm’s behalf at OWLS’ Fall Historian CLE on September 26 in Amber Hollister Portland, at the close of a Board Members half-day discussion on what Hon. Allison Boomer Hon. Frances Burge the different generations of Megan Burgess women lawyers have to teach Maya Crawford each other. Dana Forman Kristina Holm After a rousing and Photo by Jodee Jackson Susan Bradley Krant inspiring introduction by Katherine McDowell, founder of McDowell Rackner & Gibson Katharine Lozano OWLS Past President Kellie Banafsheh Violet Nazari Jennifer Nicholls Johnson, Katherine said, “I was pleased and humbled when I heard about this award initially, but Hon. Julia Philbrook I have to say that after sitting in this room this afternoon, I am even more humbled to receive this Kristin Sterling Val Tomasi award on behalf of my law firm.” Katherine said she was a young associate when OWLS was formed Gloria Trainor and that she immediately joined despite the sentiments of some that a woman’s bar association was Hon. Youlee You “unnecessary and probably counterproductive,” which drew laughter from the audience. Twenty- Past Presidents five years later, Katherine and her partners, Lisa Rackner and Kirk Gibson, are presiding over a firm Kathleen Rastetter that is itself an example of generations of lawyers working together in a structure that works to Megan Livermore Heather L. Weigler bring out the best in everyone. Continued on page 6 Concetta Schwesinger Gwyneth McAlpine Heather Van Meter Laura Caldera Taylor Kellie Johnson OWLS Fall CLE a Resounding Success Norma S. Freitas Kate A. Wilkinson By Sandra Fraser Jennifer K. De Wald Sarah J. Crooks our generations now work side by side, in downtown Portland. Ms. Favero and Dr. Heath Elizabeth Schwartz each shaped by different social, economic, began the session by summarizing the charac- Lori E. Deveny and cultural events, and each with different teristics of each generation: traditionalists (born Debra Pilcher Velure F Marilyn E. Litzenberger expectations of work. The conflict generated before 1945), baby boomers (born 1946–1964), Teresa M. Kraemer by these differences permeates the workplace: Generation X (born 1965–1980), and Generation Patricia L. Heatherman Julie Levie Caron younger workers are labeled “entitled” and “not Y (born 1981–1995, also called millennials). After Phylis Chadwell Myles willing to work,” while more senior workers describing how these characteristics developed, Helle Rode are labeled “workaholics with no real life.” On they addressed the stereotypes and conflicts Diana Craine Kathryn M. Ricciardelli September 26, OWLS confronted these issues in that negatively affect communication between Agnes Sowle our 2014 Fall CLE, which culminated in a rousing the generations and how that plays out in the Katherine H. O’Neil call to action: “Bit by bit, brick by brick, build a workplace. Central to their presentation were Executive Director better model for our legal community.”* the results of their research on intergenerational Linda Tomassi, 503.841.5758 OWLS President Kendra Matthews kicked off conflict and work-life balance, “Generational [email protected] the program by welcoming keynote speakers Perspectives in the Workplace: Interpreting the Editor: Elise Gautier [email protected] Linda Williams Favero, MS, and Renee Heath, PhD, Discourses that Constitute Women’s Struggle to www.oregonwomenlawyers.org to the sold-out event, held at the Embassy Suites Continued on page 4 OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 1 FALL 2014 Gap at Work,” and our 25th anniversary the idea, and I am proud of the work President’s Message reception were rousing successes. many OWLS members put into making Inevitably though (indeed, by design), the event a success. ive years every person left thinking, “OWLS should So, if you have an idea, please share Fago, at have a program on . .” Please share those it. But, remember, patience is a virtue. If the OWLS Fall ideas! We strive to present meaningful you lack patience or, more practically, if CLE and 20th programs for our members; basing you have the time and energy, instead of anniversary programs on members’ suggestions is an just sharing the idea, I would encourage reception, excellent way to do that. you to use OWLS to help you execute it. a panel of When you make that suggestion, • Multnomah County Circuit Court women however, remember—practically speak- Judge Katherine Tennyson turned lawyers spoke ing—to whom it is being made. OWLS is her idea into the OWLS first-gener- on the topic a nonprofit professional organization. ation professionals discussion group. “How Far We OWLS is fortunate to have two outstand- • Renée Rothauge and Lisa Kaner, part- Kendra M. Matthews Have Come, ing part-time staff members. We would ners at Markowitz Herbold, turned How Far We be lost without them. But they do not do their idea into the OWLS-sponsored Have To Go.” it alone. OWLS and its chapters work to Rothauge & Kaner Women’s Trial The women were impressive and fulfill OWLS’ mission through the efforts Academy, an eight-month training inspirational. Two were from out of of volunteers, the vast majority of whom program for women trial lawyers. state. Two were minority lawyers. Two are busy lawyers. • Teresa Statler, a Portland immigration had worked largely in private practice; In 2014, OWLS and its 11 active chapters attorney, and others think that OWLS two had experience working in the public will host well over 100 events aimed at should go abroad. They are planning sector. Some, but not all, had children. It advancing OWLS’ mission to transform an OWLS CLE program in the UK for was a diverse panel. the practice of law and ensure justice and 2015. As the women fielded questions, equality by advancing women and minori- Whatever your idea to promote women however, one commonality became ties in the legal profession. Additionally, and minorities in the profession, OWLS clear: They were all baby boomers. Their OWLS has provided resumé reviews and would love to help make it happen. But thoughts on how far we had to go (and mock interviews for judicial candidates. if you want to see it ASAP, I’d encourage what we needed to do to get there) were It has created an online searchable direc- you to reframe your thinking. Instead of naturally influenced by the effort they tory of its over 1,400 members. It has co- “OWLS should have a program on . .” had put into getting us where we were. sponsored events held by other minority think, “How can I facilitate OWLS’ having And, at times (at least to me), there was bar associations. It has put out four issues a program on . .” a palpable tension between the boomers of the AdvanceSheet, including this, our And, hey, if you get your program and the generations that had followed. first digital issue. accomplished in less than five years, I left the CLE thinking, “OWLS should Though OWLS volunteers dedicate congratulations—you’ve got me beat. have a program about closing the various thousands of hours to the organization generation gaps.” each year, moving a project from idea to It took five years, but we did it. And execution can take time. Considering all although I am biased, I think we did it the other programming OWLS has done, well. Every CLE has its limitations, but I I am not disheartened by the five-year think this year’s OWLS Fall CLE, “Talkin’ turnaround on the generation-gap issue. Kendra M. Matthews ’Bout my Generation: Bridging the Age Instead, I am proud that we stuck with President, Oregon Women Lawyers Nominations for Roberts, Deiz Awards Due by Nov. 7 WLS invites nominations for the 23rd Justice Betty Roberts and Judge Mercedes Deiz Awards. The awards recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of individuals in promoting women and minorities in the legal profession and com- Omunity in Oregon. The recipients will be honored at the annual awards dinner on Friday, March 13, 2015, at the Nines Hotel Ballroom in Portland. The Justice Betty Roberts Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to promoting women in the legal profession and in the community. The recipient of this award is a person who has influenced women to pursue legal careers, opened doors for women attorneys, or advanced opportunities for women within the profession. The Judge Mercedes Deiz Award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to promoting minorities in the legal profession and in the community. The recipient of this award is a person who has influenced minorities to pursue legal careers, opened doors for minority attorneys, or advanced opportunities for minorities within the profession. Nominations must be received 5 p.m. Friday, November 7, 2014. Nominations must include the following: the appropriate nomination form, available at www.oregonwomenlawyers.org; at least three letters of recommendation; and detailed informa- tion about the nominee, explaining how that person fulfills the award’s criteria. Please email nominations to Kristin Sterling, Roberts-Deiz Awards committee co-chair, at [email protected]. Our mission is to transform the practice of law and ensure justice and equality by advancing women and minorities in the legal profession. OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 2 FALL 2014 Upcoming OWLS Events Please Renew 25th Anniversary Reception lawyers who want a unique, interactive Wednesday, October 22, 5:30–7:30 p.m.