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Attorney By Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession

Who?

Renée E. Rothauge
Partner/Shareholder
renee.rothauge@bullivant.com

What?

Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Commercial litigation with an emphasis in intellectual property, corporate disputes and breach of contract claims.

When?

Years in Practice Area:
Since 1990

Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1990

Where?

Employer:
Bullivant Houser Bailey, P.C.
www.bullivant.com

Size/Sector:
150 attorneys/private

City/State:
Portland, Oregon

Law School:
Willamette University College of Law, J.D., cum laude, (1990)
Order of the Barristers Executive Editor (1990) and Published Author (1989) Willamette Law Review

Undergraduate School/Degree:
Georgetown University, The School of Foreign Service, B.S.F.S., Phi Sigma Alpha, (1986)

Why?

Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
It is a challenge keeping up with the fast-paced business trends facing most of corporate America's Fortune 100 and 500 companies and devising creative solutions to handle and/or prevent litigation.

Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
The most important skill is the ability to learn how a business operates in its particular industry. The ability to quickly learn the business lingo, its market challenges, and its infrastructure is crucial to being able to represent it meaningfully in court and to a jury.

Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Learn from everyone you meet.

How?

Career Path to Current Position:
I began my career in private practice with Garvey, Schubert & Barer in Portland, Oregon, where I worked on complex business cases for six years. I then moved to my current firm.

Influences and Mentors:
I have had the opportunity to work with some of the best litigation and trial attorneys in Oregon at Garvey, Schubert & Barer and Bullivant Houser Bailey. Five mentors have influenced my practice and trial techniques and I still call on them for advice.

Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
McCarthy on Trademarks and Unfair Competition, The Uniform Commercial Code by White and Summars, Evidentiary Foundations by Edward J. Imunankdried, and People Magazine.

Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
Networking and Law School Career Counselor.

Bar Affiliations and Activities:

  • American Bar Association Participation: Self-Insurers and Risk Managers Committee of TIPS (Chair 2002-2003), Newsletter Editor (Fall 1998-2000), Annual Meeting Program Chair (2000-2001)
  • American Bar Association Member: Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment Law and Tort & Insurance Practice sections
  • American Inns of Court: Barrister, Gus J. Solomon Chapter
  • City Club of Portland Member: Research Board (1994-1997)
  • Defense Research Institute: Business Litigation Committee/Regional Editor for Newsletter (1999-2000)
  • Oregon State Bar Association Member: Litigation, Business Litigation, Computer Law & Internet (Executive Committee), Employment & Labor Law Sections, and Judicial Administration Committee, 1994-1996)
  • Multnomah County Bar Association
  • Oregon Women Lawyers

Recent Professional Publications and Presentations :


  • Speaker,Federal Practice and Procedure, Oregon Law Institute (2002)
  • Speaker,Roundtable Discussion on Business Litigation - Learning the Ropes, Oregon State Bar Professional Liability Fund (2002)
  • Speaker,What Business Attorneys Should Know About Preserving Evidence in Anticipation of Litigation, Oregon Law Institute Seminar: Oregon/Washington Reciprocity for Business Lawyers (November 2002)
  • Speaker,Liability for Protection of Digital Information Assets, Information Systems Security Association (October 2001)
  • Program Chair & Speaker,E-Trials: Litigating in Cyberspace ABA Annual Meeting (August 2001)
  • Speaker,Corporate Trade Secret and Employee Raiding in Oregon, National Business Institute (November 2000)
  • Speaker,Governmental Liability Issues - What's Uncle Sam Doing and Who's He Going to be Suing? Defense Research Institute Y2K Conference (March 1999)
  • Speaker,Recent Washington Case Law Update, Employment Law CLE, Clark County Bar (1998)

Memorable Career Moment:

I have had many career highs and memorable moments, but the one that meant the most was when an experienced 25-year trial attorney told me at the conclusion of a jury trial that I had tried a very professional case.

Intriguing Interests:

Crew, Art Deco Collectables and gardening.