Miller Nash Names Firm Chair and New Managing Partner

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Miller Nash LLP has named Dennis P. Rawlinson and Kieran J. Curley as the firm’s new Chair and Managing Partner, respectively. Both assumed their new roles on January 1, 2012.

“We’ve seen many changes in our industry and in the economy in general, but I’ve been proud of our ongoing commitment to our people and our clients.”

Rawlinson becomes Miller Nash’s first Chair of the firm. In this newly created role, his primary responsibility will be overseeing the firm’s strategic direction and representing Miller Nash in the business and legal community. While the position of Chair is new, the role reflects work that Rawlinson has been doing for the firm over many years. Rawlinson has over 30 years of trial experience in state and federal courts in the Pacific Northwest and has handled a substantial number of trials and arbitrations on a wide range of commercial issues. Rawlinson will maintain his successful commercial litigation practice during his tenure as Chair.

Curley, who is taking over the Managing Partner role from Donald A. Burns, is the youngest Managing Partner that the firm has ever appointed. He will be responsible for strategic implementation as well as the internal management of the firm. Curley, a member of the firm’s business litigation group, joined Miller Nash in 2001. Before attending law school, Curley came to the Pacific Northwest through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and held accounting and finance positions with The Hillhaven Corporation and the Providence Health System.

“We’d like to thank Don for his leadership as Managing Partner,” said Rawlinson. “Kieran has some big shoes to fill, and we’re confident that he’ll continue to build on Don’s accomplishments.”

Burns became Miller Nash’s acting Managing Partner in June 2007. During his tenure, Burns successfully helped the firm to navigate the economic downturn and kept Miller Nash ahead of the industry curve, including acquiring the lawyers from the well-respected Portland firm Newcomb, Sabin, Schwartz & Landsverk LLP in 2009 and adding esteemed Portland business lawyer Kimball Ferris in 2011. Over the past four years the firm has received awards for Most Admired Company, Corporate Philanthropy, and Healthiest Employer, with Burns receiving CEO of the Year for professional services firms in 2010. Burns will return to his employee benefits practice full time.

“It has been a pleasure to lead our great firm for the last four and a half years,” said Burns. “We’ve seen many changes in our industry and in the economy in general, but I’ve been proud of our ongoing commitment to our people and our clients.”

About Miller Nash

Miller Nash LLP is one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest and most respected multiservice law firms, offering comprehensive, creative, and innovative services to its clients since 1873. Miller Nash has 116 lawyers serving clients through its offices in Portland and Central Oregon, and Seattle and Vancouver, Washington. Miller Nash serves a wide range of leading businesses, nonprofit organizations, public entities, and individuals, and the firm does pro bono representation. The firm’s clients operate in a variety of significant industries, including banking, biotech, construction, energy, food production, forest products, government, healthcare, higher education, intellectual property, manufacturing, real estate, securities, and technology. More information is available at http://www.millernash.com/.

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