The purpose of the series is to bridge the gap between junior and senior business lawyers in Oregon, fostering understanding and camaraderie. Read on to learn more about Tim’s choice to pursue a career in law, what being a business lawyer means to him, and his advice for junior and senior lawyers.
- Tell me about your path to being a lawyer. What inspired you to pursue this career?
When I started college, I was interested in an academic career, but I realized I wanted more engagement with commerce and government, and I wanted more control over where I would live. Which, together, directed me to law school. My parents owned a small business most of my childhood, so representing closely held business owners and families felt like a natural fit.
- What is your practice area?
I am a business lawyer, which can mean a lot of things. I have run some very high-stakes and sophisticated M&A transactions working alongside lawyers at the world’s largest firms, but most of the time I am working with Oregon and Washington operating businesses and holding companies.
I spend a fair amount of time helping people and institutions in business crises, such as business break-ups or high-stakes regulatory issues.
- How long have you been in your current role?
I joined Black Helterline in 2012, became a partner in 2018, and have served as managing partner since January 1, 2026.
- How have you seen the practice change since you started practicing?
For many clients, the relationship with their lawyer is unusually personal. They’ll call at all hours, and often I’ll answer. That doesn’t happen with most other businesses they interact with, such as their medical providers, their cable company, or the taxing authorities.
That said, from private clients and individuals, expectations have evolved in healthy ways. Clients understand that work and life are blended, and they’re fine with an initial response like, “I’m not at my desk, but here are my preliminary thoughts and I’ll circle back.” I don’t feel stuck to my desk from 8 to 6, waiting in case the phone rings, but responsiveness and follow‑through matter as much as ever.
- What do you wish you had known before you started working as a new lawyer?
Execution matters. Being the smartest person, or the best public speaker, is good and important, but being the person who gets things done, especially under pressure and time constraints, matters a lot. And showing up consistently for people builds long-term trust, which is valuable for business development and valuable when things don’t go perfectly. This applies equally to coworkers, referral sources, and clients. For junior attorneys, showing up consistently shows your partners or supervisors that you’re dedicated to getting things right.
- What are your career highlights?
One highlight was working closely with the Oregon State University leadership and a passel of other excellent lawyers in the Pac-12’s recent transitions. Among other things, the OSU leadership are smart and tough, but also incredibly positive and supportive collaborators, which made a challenging situation manageable to work through.
For years I have worked with many different families, individuals, and closely-held businesses that I hope to steward for the next generation. These are rarely high-profile, but they are deep and satisfying relationships built on mutual trust and respect.
- What is your favorite part of the job?
Laughing with colleagues and clients while working on very tricky problems.
- What parts of the job do you wish you could outsource to AI?
So far, AI for me has been another smart colleague in the room. I’ll check what Claude has to say, then ask the appropriate folks in my office, then research what the state of the art is in treatises, cases, or other publications to inform the advice I give my client. AI has not replaced judgment and experience, but it is another resource to expedite and refine client service.
- What advice would you give a new business lawyer?
Make yourself interested in your clients—their businesses and industries, their families, and their long-term goals. Read voraciously on all kinds of topics, but especially on business and government news applicable to the communities you serve. If I did not find this stuff interesting, I would not have lasted three months.
- What advice would you give a senior lawyer who is charged with mentoring a new lawyer?
Every new lawyer has blind spots, and it behooves the senior lawyer to gently figure out what they are and help them fill those gaps. ♦