Ken Mitchell-Phillips

Hometown: Santa Rosa, CA
Class Year: 2006
Prior Education: M.S. in Business Management, Troy State University, 1996 & B.A. in English, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 1991

Before Law School: The thought of going to law school had never crossed my mind until an academic advisor mentioned it to me. I gave it some thought and decided to take a few law classes and ended up loving them. It helped that I enjoy research, writing, and communicating, all key skills a lawyer needs.

I got involved with teaching in 1997 after I had my Master’s degree partly because I enjoy teaching and talking with people but also because I wanted to represent a person of diversity in the classroom with the hopes of being a motivation to others. I am currently a part-time business law instructor at Portland Community College.

What I am doing with my Law degree: I work for Davis Wright Tremaine LLP as a business transactional lawyer where I do majority of the basic legal tasks that businesses do. I advise them on what type of organization to form, register them, create bylaws and contracts, and assist with employment problems. I also do merger and acquisition work with public and private companies. This involves determining the pitfalls of merging, reviewing/drafting agreements, and developing disclosure schedules.

I find my work very stimulating and every project is a new challenge that I have to find a solution for.

Areas of law my work involves: Business Transactions, Securities, Mergers & Acquisitions, Real Estate and Entertainment

Best experience at Lewis & Clark: One thing that stands was the comfort of the Law School, it had a laid-back atmosphere where people were accepting and professors were accessible.

My favorite professor: It would be a tie between professors Johnson and Newell. I took securities and regulations from Jennifer Johnson and really appreciated her practical explanations of difficult concepts. Doug Newell was a hard teacher but was very motivating. I could tell he truly cared about his students and was committed to our success in becoming good lawyers.

What I am most proud of: During my first year of law school I had to work a paper route at 2 am to afford school. I faced that and other obstacles, I am most proud of what I have accomplished and overcome to be where I am now.