Michael Simon Appointed U.S. District Judge

PORTLAND, ORE. (June 21, 2011) – Michael Simon, a Litigation Partner in the Portland office of Perkins Coie LLP, is leaving the firm to accept appointment as a U.S. District Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.

President Obama nominated Simon for the position last summer, and the Senate confirmed his appointment on June 21, 2011. Simon will take his oath of office at the end of this month.

"This is a career dream for many lawyers and a great opportunity for Michael," said Bob Giles, firm managing partner. "We were very fortunate to have him with us for these past 25 years and wish him the best of luck in his new position," Giles added.

While at Perkins Coie, Simon specialized in business litigation in both federal and state court. Since he became partner in 1990, he has also handled several high-profile First Amendment cases on a pro bono basis. Before joining Perkins Coie in 1986, Simon served as a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, in Washington, D.C., where he handled both civil and criminal antitrust matters. Simon received his J.D. cum laude in 1981 from Harvard Law School and his B.A. summa cum laude in 1978 from the University of California at Los Angeles. Simon is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a past adjunct professor of law at the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland.