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Henry Hewitt was a new lawyer at Davies, Biggs, Strayer, Stoel and Boley when then-managing partner David Lloyd Davies came into his office and gave him some advice.

鈥淗e said, 鈥楬enry, it鈥檚 important for lawyers to be involved in their community,’ 鈥� Hewitt recalled.

Davies Biggs is now Stoel Rives, and Hewitt is now a partner in the firm. But the advice he received in 1970 has remained a constant guide, leading him through years of contributions to his profession and to the community.

In honor of that long-term service and dedication, Hewitt has been selected as a 2012 recipient of the Judge Learned Hand Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes professional excellence and contributions to the legal community.

Hewitt, who graduated from Madison High School, earned a degree in economics from Yale University in 1963 before serving in the U.S. Army in Germany for two years. He returned to Oregon and earned his law degree from Willamette University in 1969, then joined Davies Biggs after having worked as a summer clerk there.

With a practice in corporate business law, Hewitt has represented several clients for decades.

鈥淚t鈥檚 allowed me to develop a close working relationship with the management teams at those companies and the lawyers in our firm who work with those companies as well,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hose interpersonal relationships and the teamwork involved make me feel that I鈥檓 not just a lawyer for those companies, but that I add perspective, judgment and thoughtfulness about issues that may not always be just legal.鈥�

Over the years, Hewitt has received several professional honors, including leadership, merit and public service awards from the Oregon State Bar. He was the inaugural recipient of the Henry H. Hewitt Access to Justice Award and was selected by Best Lawyers as Corporate Compliance Law Lawyer of the Year in 2012 for Portland.

Hewitt鈥檚 community service reach is expansive as well. He served on the boards of Lawyers’ Campaign for Equal Justice, Friends of the Children, Oregon Health & Science University, March of Dimes, Oregon Symphony Association, The Library Foundation, Oregon Graduate Institute and Delaunay Mental Health Association. He also served as chairman of the Oregon Transportation Commission and is a lifetime member of the Willamette University Board of Trustees.

鈥淚鈥檝e had the pleasure of working with a lot of different nonprofits and civic organizations over the years,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd I鈥檝e benefited immensely from those involvements.鈥�

Hewitt will receive the Judge Learned Hand award from the Oregon Area Jewish Committee during a at the Governor Hotel.

Julia E. Markley, a partner at Perkins Coie, also will be honored during the luncheon. She will receive the OAJC’s Emerging Leadership Award.