Lewis & Clark Law School Honors Ron Ragen for His Stewardship of the DWT International Law Writing Competition

The Davis Wright Tremaine International Law Writing Award Competition at Lewis & Clark Law School began over 32 years ago from the vision of noted attorney Ron Ragen. On March 10, 2019, Lewis & Clark Law School presented a plaque to Ronald K. Ragen, former partner of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (DWT), in recognition of exemplary service that Ragen has provided the law school and its students over many years.

Ragen is a lifetime member of Lewis & Clark’s Board of Trustees and a past member of the law school’s Board of Visitors. In addition to his general corporate practice, he represented clients from throughout Asia, as well as West Coast based businesses involved in transactions with Pacific Rim countries. He earned his BA from Yale University in 1957, and his JD from Stanford University in 1961.

Ragen had long been concerned about the writing skills of law students and their understanding of international issues in particular.  “As West Coast lawyers and their firms become increasingly involved with legal matters having international law implications,” said Ragen. “It is my hope that this competition will open the eyes of more law students to the potential and challenges of matters involving international law while also leading to an even higher degree of professionalism in the understanding and written presentation of such matters.”

Ragen’s law firm was the competition’s first sponsor in 1987 when the firm began a deep involvement with international legal matters, especially involving various commercial matters throughout Asia. After a number of mergers, Ragen Roberts law firm became one of the founders of what is now known as Davis Wright Tremaine. The sponsorship of the International Law Writing Competition has continued unbroken by Davis Wright Tremaine. In fact, the law firm recently increased the size of the monetary awards.  Going forward the author of the first place paper will receive $2,500, and that of the second place paper $1,000.

The law school is extremely grateful to Ragen for all he has done over the years in connection with this competition, and looks forward to working with his successor, DWT partner Christie Totten.