Steve English Joins Perkins Coie

PORTLAND (February 1, 2011) – Perkins Coie announced today that Stephen F. English has joined its Portland office as a Partner in the firm's national Commercial Litigation Practice Group.  English will continue to focus his practice on complex business problems and high stakes "bet the company" litigation.  English was formerly with Bullivant Houser Bailey PC. 

"We are so delighted to have Steve join the firm," said Robert Aldisert, Portland managing partner. "We look forward to Steve's contributions to the leadership of the Portland litigation group.  His vast trial experience in significant cases, combined with our talented group of trial and appellate lawyers, gives us the opportunity to offer our clients one of the best and most dynamic litigation groups in Oregon."

English has more than 30 years of trial experience, which covers a broad range of business disputes, directors and officers liability, and product liability claims. He has served as national, regional and Oregon counsel for international businesses and manufacturers.  He is ranked by Chambers Global in Commercial Litigation, in Chambers USA as a Star Individual in Oregon for General Commercial Litigation and is ranked nationwide in Trial Litigation. English is also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), which comprises the top 1 percent of the trial bar in the U.S. and Canada.  English was named a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (IATL), an invitation-only organization whose membership is limited to 500 lawyers. He currently serves as a State Co-Chair of the International branch of IATL. 

"It might seem to be a surprising decision on my part to make a change at this point in my career, and I certainly leave many good friends at Bullivant,” said English.  “For me, the opportunity to work with the lawyers at Perkins Coie, a firm with national depth and breadth, was one I couldn't pass up.  I am honored to be working with such an excellent group of lawyers and clients and excited to get to work.”

English joins a team of more than 300 litigators who represent plaintiffs and defendants across the spectrum of business and other disputes, from relatively simple contract matters to highly complex cases in such technical areas as class action, product liability, antitrust, intellectual property, securities and employment.

English earned his law degree from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He earned his undergraduate degree from Honors College, University of Oregon.

The addition of English reflects Perkins' continuing efforts to expand its national presence through strategic acquisitions and lateral hires. Since 2005 the firm has added more than 200 lateral attorneys in a variety of practice groups.

The firm has been recognized for its accomplishments in the legal profession, its commitment to diversity and its excellent client service. In January, the firm was recognized by FORTUNE magazine for the ninth consecutive year as being one of the "100 Best Places to Work." In addition, the firm was recently named as one of the "2010 Top Ten Family Friendly Firms" by Yale Law Women.  For the second consecutive year, the firm was named one of the "Best Law Firms for Women" by Working Mother magazine and national consulting firm Flex-Time Lawyers LLC and also earned the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's top rating of 100 percent in the 2009 and 2010 Corporate Equality Index.  In addition, the firm received the Corporate Partnership Award for Supporting People with Disabilities.