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About Brownstein Rask LLP

Brownstein Rask LLP Portland Oregon Attorneys

Mission Statement

Brownstein Rask LLP has been a prominent midsize Portland law firm since its founding over 50 years ago. Our firm prides itself on servicing our clients' needs with lawyers who are experienced in various disciplines and who can promptly respond to a host of legal issues. All our partners have at least 10 years of experience and many of our attorneys have been practicing law for over 30 years.

Brownstein Rask LLP Mission Statement

Our significant experience in a wide array of legal fields is paralleled by our ability to render exceptional legal services in an efficient manner. We understand that clients expect and deserve to receive exceptional services from experienced lawyers in a timely manner.

At Brownstein Rask, you will be our firm’s priority. Whether you are a large business with significant assets in a complex case or an individual needing representation on a smaller matter, you will never be considered “just another client.”

As the late Dick Brownstein used to say, “There is no substitute for always striving to be exceptional, efficient, and timely.”

Firm History

Brownstein Rask LLP is located in the Umpqua Bank Plaza overlooking Tom McCall Waterfront Park on the bank of the Willamette River. The firm has a rich and storied local history.

Brownstein Rask LLP Firm History

In 1971, prominent Portland attorneys John Yerkovich and John Gilbertson started the law firm Yerkovich & Gilbertson. Both lawyers were past presidents of the Multnomah County Bar Association and Mr. Yerkovich was a past president of the Oregon State Bar. At that same time Douglas Grim, currently one of the firm’s managing partners, was employed as an associate attorney.

In 1973, Richard Brownstein joined the firm as a partner and Miles Sweeney and Andrew Kerr came to the firm as associate attorneys. Later that year, Messrs. Sweeney, Kerr and Grim were made partners and the firm name changed to Yerkovich, Gilbertson, Brownstein, Sweeney, Kerr and Grim.

In 1979, the firm moved to a downtown Portland building that was formerly the home of Multnomah College and which remains on the National Register of Historic Places. That location, 1200 SW Main Street, was the firm’s home for 40 years before moving to its present location in May 2020.

In 1982, Raymond Rask merged his very substantial practice with the firm which then became known as Gilbertson, Brownstein, Rask, Sweeney, Kerr and Grim.

In 1987, Terry DeSylvia merged his practice with the firm as a partner and the firm’s name was changed to Brownstein, Rask, Sweeney, Kerr, Grim and DeSylvia, with Mr. Gilbertson having departed to pursue other endeavors.

In 1994, John Arenz, Robert Lucas and Kirkham Hay became partners through a merger of their prominent firm. That merger resulted in a name change to Brownstein, Rask, Arenz, Sweeney, Kerr, Grim, DeSylvia and Hay.

In 2011, the firm adopted Brownstein Rask LLP as its name. We are proud of our heritage and excited for the future of our firm and clients.