From the Multnomah Lawyer: Emily Reber: YLS Member Spotlight

Emily Reber did not know much about the Portland legal community when she moved to Portland in the summer of 2018 with her beloved golden retriever, Bonnie. But by immersing herself in various networking events for young lawyers, Emily no longer feels like an “outsider.”

Although she is originally from Oregon, Emily has spent most of her life in the Midwest. When she was in the seventh grade, her family moved from Eugene to Cincinnati. She received her bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University in 2012, where she studied history, international studies, and French. Following a gap year in Rome, Emily attended Notre Dame Law School. She then returned to Cincinnati for two years to practice general litigation at a boutique fi rm. Despite all her time in the Midwest, she has always had family roots in Oregon. Emily fondly remembers spending holidays in Portland visiting aunts, uncles, and cousins. So, when her parents moved to Portland in 2018, Emily decided to go west, too.

Emily works at the Portland branch of Troutman Sanders LLP, where she practices commercial litigation with an employment law focus. While Troutman Sanders has a large national presence, the Portland office is relatively new by comparison and only has nine attorneys. Emily likes having the smaller firm feel but with the resources of a big firm. And, as the only litigation associate in the Portland office, Emily has been fortunate to receive fantastic mentoring and professional development opportunities from more experienced attorneys. She hopes she can pay this forward in the future.

Outside the office, Emily has made professional connections by attending networking events hosted by the MBA and other local bar associations. Emily says that by attending events that focus on young lawyers networking with one another (in addition to practice-area specific events) she has been able to meet people with whom she otherwise would not cross paths. Emily has been very impressed with how supportive the Portland legal community is of young lawyers - and particularly with its support of law students. She has also been impressed with the number of minority bar associations and the Portland legal community’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Emily says the widespread commitment to diversity and inclusion is something that makes Portland a truly special place to practice law.

While the Midwest will always hold a special place in her heart, Emily and Bonnie are happy to call Portland their home now. She loves how conducive Portland is for a young professional wanting to meet new people. When she is not busy practicing law, Emily volunteers for the Oregon Humane Society and the Portland Japanese Garden. She also enjoys skiing and loves how close she is to Mt. Hood. The proximity to so many outdoor activities was another impetus in her decision to move to Oregon. She is also an avid Notre Dame Football fan and can regularly be found at game watches hosted by the Notre Dame Club of Portland cheering on the Fighting Irish.

On November 7, Emily will co-present a CLE seminar titled “The Corporate Designee Deposition: Avoiding Traps & Pitfalls” as part of the YLS Advanced Pre-Trial Litigation Series, along with Román Hernández, also of Troutman Sanders. The CLE will be held in the Standard Insurance Auditorium from 12-1 p.m. Details and registration can be found at https://mbabar.org/education/the-corporate-designee-deposition--avoiding-traps-pitfalls-2019/
 


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