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Jordan Ramis was founded in 1963 as Myatt & Bolliger by a couple of lawyers searching for clients from a small office. While its name, location and leaders have changed over the years, the firm is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the same focus on relationships that has driven its success through the past five decades.

“In the professional services industry, especially one where trust is such a core component of what we do, personal relationships inside the firm and with our clients are one of the most important ingredients to our success,” said Steve Shropshire, managing shareholder. “We hire excellent people who pride themselves on doing excellent work. As a result, we have multi-generational client relationships that sustain the firm over time.”

Today, Jordan Ramis employs nearly 70 people. It recently expanded its offices in Lake Oswego and Vancouver, Wash., and opened an office in Bend. It hired several new attorneys after successfully navigating the recession without layoffs, closures or other negative impacts suffered by its clients in the “Dirt Law” and business sectors.

“We sort of had an early warning system out there, and we saw the recession coming because of our involvement in the Dirt Law industries,” Shropshire said. “In early 2007, we saw the recession clouds on the horizon, so we made some early adjustments, tightened our belt and, kind of like the squirrel gathering nuts, we managed to roll into the recession in good shape and we were able to weather it.”

The recession had a definite impact on the firm’s clients: Many now view the need for legal services with a greater focus on the bottom line.

“I think the recession caused the buyers of legal services to start treating them like other line item expenses and they are much more cautious about spending,” Shropshire said. “Folks are definitely looking for a return on investment for their legal services in a way they didn’t before 2007.”

Over the years, the industries the firm serves have changed as well. Oregon has traditionally been a small-business state, but many family-owned companies and other small to midsize entities increasingly are involved in mergers with larger, out-of-state companies, he said.

“And, for all of our clients, doing business has gotten more complex, more regulated and more competitive,” Shropshire said. “Many are challenged to maintain a strong workforce as baby boomers retire. Finding educated, experienced employees has been a challenge for some of our client industries.”