Julie Ballance

Bob Giles is the firm’s managing partner. Bob manages more than 900 attorneys in 19 different offices. He chairs the Management Committee, serves on the Executive Committee, and is involved with numerous other committees within the firm. Bob began at Perkins Coie in 1974. He focused his practice in the areas of partnerships, tax planning, real estate syndications and general corporate practice until 1986, when he became the firm’s managing partner.

Meg Johnston is a business and regulatory attorney with years of experience advising clients in regulatory, compliance, licensing, commercial and corporate business matters. She represents banks, bank holding companies, insurance and insurance holding companies, Fortune 500 companies and medium and small businesses in mergers and acquisitions, commercial and agricultural loans and commercial, corporate and real estate transactions. Meg also counsels agriculture landowners is leasing matters w...

Evan Schein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Evan, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Evan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

“A well-written real estate document should read with ease like a good book, without the need for re-reading paragraphs to understand the content. It should have clarity and flow.” With more than 30 years of experience and focusing on attention to detail, I strive to spot issues and help clients avoid potential landmines, such as future landlord and tenant disputes. I understand the need to balance legal issues with business practicalities in order to achieve effective results. My...

Jeffrey N. Gibbs joined Hyman, Phelps & McNamara in 1990. Over the course of his career, he has developed an extensive knowledge of FDA law, from product approvals to advertising and promotion, and enforcement actions. In recent years, Mr. Gibbs has focused primarily on advising medical device and IVD companies, as well as pharmacies. Based on his extensive experience working with the industry on FDA issues, and previously for FDA, he provides efficient and insightful guidance. He has wor...

D. Andrew Portinga has been practicing law since 1996. He is a litigator, and has extensive experience in both federal and state courts. He has represented both Fortune 500 companies and family owned businesses, and Mr. Portinga has handled complex cases involving myriad issues. General Commercial Litigation Mr. Portinga has handled a wide variety of complicated commercial cases. His clients have included oil and gas producers, a manufacturer of implantable medical devices, a national communi...

As co-chair of the firm's Life Sciences group, Bradford Addison has successfully prosecuted more than 10,000 original and complex patents over the course of his career. With a Ph.D. in pharmacology, Brad understands even the most cutting-edge science and technology behind innovation, as well as how to realize the true value of a commercially viable patent. Brad prepares and prosecutes patent applications in the chemical and biotech areas, including pharmaceuticals, molecular biology, instrume...

Larry Free has practiced exclusively in the area of Workers’ Compensation since 1995. His understanding and appreciation of workers began through his own employment history. In his early years, he worked at a variety of jobs in the food service industry, cabinet making, carpentry, appliance repair, and delivery. He originally joined the firm as a “runner” and worked as a clerk during law school. He became an associate following graduation and was admitted to partnership in 1...

Kate Van Namen is the Co-Chair of Butler Snow's Construction Task Force and a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice Group. She is licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas and concentrates her practice in all areas of construction law, including contract drafting and negotiation, project delivery systems, liens, licensing issues, construction mediation, litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution procedures. Kate has experience drafting and negotiating...

Mary Ellen Malas focuses her practice on Domestic Relations and Family Law matters. She is keenly aware that when her clients are dealing with matters of this type, they usually are experiencing intense anxiety, stress and fear. Mary Ellen is able to work with her clients during these difficult times to develop creative solutions that meet their individual needs. Mary Ellen is passionate in her representation of her clients. She believes that most clients are best served if they are able to r...