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Law school: Stanford Law School

Career highlight: Early in Kadish鈥檚 career, he became a mentee of Sidney Lezak, one of Oregon鈥檚 legal icons. In 2011, Kadish was named the recipient of the Sydney Lezak Award for Excellence in Dispute Resolution.

Noteworthy: As an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark law school, Kadish teaches in a seminar room named for Lezak.

As a new attorney in the early 1980s, Josh Kadish found a trusted mentor in the late Sidney Lezak, one of Oregon鈥檚 legal icons. Kadish has carried that good fortune through his career by mentoring other new attorneys. Last year, it came full circle when Kadish received the Sidney Lezak Award for Excellence in Dispute Resolution.

With bachelor鈥檚 degrees in political science and philosophy from Haverford College, Kadish earned his law degree from Stanford Law School in 1979. He practices family law, trusts and estates, and business and corporate transactions. His favored specialty is family mediation, ranging from will contests and small business issues to divorces and prenuptial agreements.

鈥淢ediation is very creative work; it鈥檚 helpful to people generally, and it represents the really good aspect of what the legal system can offer people,鈥� Kadish said. 鈥淚t also provides an opportunity to directly interact with people, speak to their intellectual and emotional sides, and help them find solutions to problems.鈥�

An Oregon Super Lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Kadish frequently lectures and writes for the Oregon State Bar and participates in the Multnomah Bar Association鈥檚 mentorship program. His pro bono service includes the Pro Se Assistance Program, and he is involved with The Casey Family Institute, the Oregon Mediation Association and the Oregon Family Institute.

Music and the city of Hillsdale are close to Kadish鈥檚 heart as well. He supports Chamber Music Northwest, Young Musicians and Artists, and the Hillsdale Farmers Market. Kadish is working with other neighbors to revitalize Hillsdale鈥檚 commercial core through a National Trust for Historic Preservation grant.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really rewarding to work with people in the neighborhood to encourage others to walk to stores and shop locally instead of driving to the mall,鈥� he sad. 鈥淭hese neighborhoods give Portland a lot of character.鈥�

An adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law School for the last 20 years, Kadish serendipitously teaches in a seminar room named for Lezak. 鈥淚 sort of feel like I鈥檓 passing on the spirit of Sid when I鈥檓 teaching mediation and resolution there,鈥� he said.