September 2021
MBA Committees
Walter H. Sweek MBA President, 1988-89 MBA Professionalism Award Recipient, 2000
Each year, MBA members serve on committees that address member needs and general issues affecting the profession. A synopsis of each committee’s charge follows. If you have ideas or concerns about a particular committee, please contact the chair, MBA President Jovita Wang, jovita@richardsonwright.com, or the MBA staff at mba@mbabar.org.
In Memoriam January 30, 1936-August 7, 2021 Jeffory “Jay” Johnston Nels Vulin
Justice Brooks Continuing Legal Education Chair: Justice Brooks, Foster Garvey PC, justice.brooks@foster.com Plans, conducts and evaluates approximately 40 CLE seminars, focusing on members’ primary areas of practice.
Events Chair: Nels Vulin, Vulin Law LLC, nels@vulinlaw.com Conducts member-outreach activities. Plans Bench Bar & Bagels, the Annual Golf Championship, which benefits the Campaign for Equal Justice for the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and the Battle of the Lawyer Bands and WinterSmash, which benefit Multnomah CourtCare.
Kevin McHargue Public Service Co-Chairs: Jeffory “Jay” Johnston, Attorney at Law, jeffjayjohnston@gmail.com and Kevin McHargue, St. Andrew Legal Clinic, kmchargue@salcgroup.org Explores new ways for lawyers to assist those in need in the community, in partnership with the court, pro bono and social service providers, and other stakeholders.
Matthew Colley
Amanda Nadell Court Liaison Chair: Amanda Nadell, Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, amanda.nadell@mcda.us Serves as the MBA’s interface with the court and fosters dialogue between the MBA membership, the local judiciary and other local area courts.
Judicial Screening Chair: Matthew Colley, Black Helterline LLP, matthew.colley@bhlaw.com Confidentially screens judicial and pro tem candidates in accordance with the MBA’s process.
Wendy Fay Solo/Small Firm Chair: Wendy Fay, Zimmer Bond Fay LLC, wendy@zimmer-law.com Plans workshops and socials tailored specifically for solo and small firm attorneys.
Michael Wu Professionalism Chair: Michael Wu, Attorney at Law, michael@michaelwulaw.com Implements activities that promote professionalism and carries out the professionalism award process.
Wally Sweek passed away August 7. He retired from Cosgrave Vergeer Kester LLP on January 1, 2019. During his 56-year career as a lawyer, Wally had experience in virtually every type of tort case - plaintiffs and defendants often entailing complex litigation dealing with catastrophic losses. His practice included product liability (including medical products and devices); professional liability; employer’s liability (work place torts); toxic torts; business litigation; and all types of claims related to the trucking industry. Wally earned his BS from the University of Oregon in 1959 and his JD from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1962. Before going into private practice, Wally clerked for the Honorable John F. Kilkenny, of the US District Court and later of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He was admitted to the OSB in 1962, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1963, and the US Supreme Court in 1972. Wally was active in the legal community, serving as president of the MBA in 198889 and president of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel in 1982-83. He received the MBA Professionalism Award in 2000. He was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) in 1990. He also served on the ACTL Jury Trial Experience Committee. Wally’s volunteer activities included working with young lawyer mentoring programs, law school moot courts, as a legal aid volunteer, and a volunteer in the SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) program in Portland Public Schools. A US Marine Corps veteran, Wally was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed golf, hiking, skiing and running marathons, and traveling with his wife, Gloria. Thom Brown, who worked with Wally at CVK, had this to say about him: “Wally Sweek was a wonderful lawyer and an even more wonderful human being. He was deeply involved with the MBA, proudly serving as its Board President and even more proudly accepting the MBA’s Professionalism Award. He cared deeply about the MBA’s
Walter Sweek mission. Just as importantly, though, he cared deeply about each person he met at the many MBA meetings and social functions that he attended for so many years. Wally will be greatly missed by all the countless people, in Oregon and elsewhere, that he touched and who had the good fortune - as I did for over 30 years - to benefit so much from his professionalism, intellect, sense of humor, warm smile, generosity, and - last but not least - great big heart.” Upon learning of his passing, ACTL members responded and described Wally as: “A classy guy and superb lawyer.” “A promises made, promises kept advocate.” “A wonderful advocate and adversary.” “A role model and leader.” “Wally had a guiding hand in all of us fortunate enough to have litigated against him.” “A talented attorney, a true professional, and a delightful human being.” ACTL Fellow Gordon Welborn said that “Wally figured out early on in his career how to respectfully and efficiently be a very strong advocate for his clients. His presence in cases calmed things down and set a high expectation for how the case was to go forward. His legacy is solidified by the universal high praise that was received in reaction to his passing from both sides of the bar. We were all lucky to have worked with him and even more to have been his friend.” Wally set a high bar for others to follow.
Austin Batalden Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Chair: Austin Batalden, Morris Stannard & Batalden Family Law PC, austin@msbfamilylaw.com Promotes equality in the profession, identifies ways in which the MBA can promote a diverse bar, and carries out the diversity award process.
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