91ÊÓƵ

The news that Tom Matsuda is leaving Legal Aid Services of Oregon felt a little like one of those “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news” jokes.

There’s little doubt among his colleagues that the loss of Matsuda, who is returning to his native Hawaii, will leave a hole in Oregon’s legal aid community. But the sting was tempered a bit by another piece of news about Matsuda — that he’d been selected by a jury of his peers as the 2012 Leader of the Year.

The Legal Leader of the Year is the highlight of the annual Leadership in Law awards created by Briefly Legal’s parent publication, the Daily Journal of Commerce, as a way to honor the veterans of Oregon’s legal community. The competition is open to any lawyer in Oregon who has been a bar member for 10 years or more.

Matsuda was one of 20 Oregon attorneys from public and private practice honored during the awards ceremony, which was held May 15 at The Nines in downtown Portland. Finalists joining Matsuda on stage during the dinner event were: Robert Barton of Cosgrave Vergeer Kester; Akin Blitz of Bullard Law; Larry Brisbee of Brisbee & Stockton; Jerry F. Carleton of Immix Law Group; Dayna Christian of Immix Law Group; Lea Ann Easton of Dorsay and Easton; Peter Glade of Markowitz, Herbold, Glade & Mehlhaf; Laurel P. Hook of Stahancyk, Kent & Hook; James D. Howsley of Jordan Ramis;Josh Kadish of Wyse Kadish; Wayne D. Landsverk of Miller Nash: Jill Laney of Cosgrave Vergeer Kester; Mark A. Long and David Bartz, both of Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt; Steve Shropshire of Jordan Ramis; Jon P. Stride of Tonkon Torp; Steven B. Ungar of Lane Powell; Tim Volpert of Davis Wright Tremaine; and Mark Wada of Farleigh Wada Witt.

Full profiles of the 19 Leadership in Law finalists and Legal Leader of the Year Tom Matsuda can be found on the 91ÊÓƵ’s website.