PORTLAND, OR -- (Marketwire) -- 06/30/09 -- Five Miller Nash LLP attorneys, including Elisa Dozono, Hong Huynh, Josh Sasaki, Valerie Sasaki and Joelle Tavan, have helped found the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association (OAPABA). The organization, which is Oregon's newest bar organization, is committed to connecting and serving Oregon's fast-growing community of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys. Parallel to Miller Nash's commitment to furthering diversity within the legal field, OAPABA will serve as Oregon's affiliate of the more than 40,000-member National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

"I'm excited to be part of the formation of the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association and to help expand professional opportunities for the APA community within the legal profession," said Elisa Dozono, a Miller Nash LLP attorney. "Historically, the APA population has been underrepresented within the legal field, particularly among firm partnership and the judiciary. Through the OAPABA, I hope that we're not only able to help pave the way for greater success by the APA community in law, but to increase ethnic diversity throughout the legal profession."

Members of OAPABA will work together to encourage further communication, professional development and advocacy among and in regard to issues impacting the APA legal practitioners in the state. The organization's membership is open to Oregon lawyers, judges, law students and paralegals.

"Increasing diversity and advancing opportunities for people of all backgrounds within the legal field is critical to the sustained vitality of our profession," said Casey Mills, a Miller Nash partner and head of the firm's diversity team. "Miller Nash is happy to be part of founding OAPABA and we look forward to continuing to support the organization and its mission moving forward."

The following Miller Nash OAPABA attorneys bring extensive legal experience to the organization.

--  Hong Huynh, partner. Huynh is a partner at Miller Nash's Portland
    office and focuses her practice on environmental, natural resource,
    telecommunications and energy law. She has defended clients in
    environmental enforcement actions and Superfund litigation, as well as
    advised them through cleanup and permitting regulatory programs. She is a
    member of the executive committee of the Oregon State Bar Environmental and
    Natural Resources section. The Portland Business Journal named her as one
    of Oregon's 2008 Forty Under 40 business leaders.
--  Josh Sasaki, partner. J. Sasaki has been with the firm since 1996 and
    concentrates his practice on business litigation. He serves on the firm's
    hiring and diversity committees. He also participates in Partners in
    Diversity and is a member of the Japan America Society of Oregon and the
    Oregon Minority Lawyers Association. Sasaki was selected for inclusion in
    Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition 2008 and was recognized by the
    Portland Business Journal as one of Oregon's Forty Under 40 business
    leaders in 2007.
--  Elisa Dozono, associate. Dozono focuses her practice on business
    litigation and government relations. A fourth-generation Portlander,
    she sits on the boards of directors for the Japan America Society of
    Oregon, Emerge Oregon and Cascade AIDS Project, and serves as Multnomah
    County's appointee to the Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission.
    Dozono was selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition
    2008 and was recognized by the Portland Business Journal as one of
    Oregon's Forty Under 40 business leaders in 2008.
--  Valerie Sasaki, associate. V. Sasaki focuses on multistate taxation,
    including state income/franchise, sales/use and property tax law. She also
    practices in the areas of tax controversy and debtor/creditor issues.
    Before joining Miller Nash, she worked as a manager in the state and local
    tax group of the international accounting and consulting firm KPMG. She
    sits on the board at Portland Taiko. V. Sasaki is chair-elect of the Oregon
    State Bar Tax Section and is an adjunct professor of state and local tax at
    the University of Oregon Law School. She is also an adjunct tax professor
    in Portland Community College's paralegal program.
--  Joelle Tavan, associate. Tavan is an associate in Miller Nash's
    Portland office and specializes in employee benefits. She is an active
    member of the Asian American Business Alliance and Oregon Women Lawyers
    (OWLS).
    

Established in the late 1980s, NAPABA was created to advocate for the legal needs and interests of the APA community. The association represents the interests of more than 40,000 attorneys and approximately 58 local APA bar associations nationwide.

While OAPABA is in its early stages of development, the organization attracted more than 100 attorneys, judges, students and legal professionals from across the state at its kickoff event held June 16. The organization is in the process of electing its board of directors. Current members of the organization will convene at Miller Nash's Portland office located at 111 SW 5th Avenue, 34th Floor, Portland, Ore., on Tuesday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m., to conduct officer and board of director elections.

About Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association (OAPABA)

Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association (OAPABA) is an organization of lawyers, law students, judges, and law professors. OAPABA seeks to foster communication, fellowship and the exchange of ideas among Asian Pacific American attorneys and between Asian Pacific American attorneys and other individuals, organizations and governmental entities. OAPABA is committed to implementing, coordinating or supporting legal services impacting Asian Pacific American communities at the local and national levels; encouraging, supporting, researching and implementing programs relating to professional development and advancement; and to represent and advocate the interests of Asian Pacific Americans in the legal profession, education and community. Additionally, OAPABA provides a vehicle and forum for formulating, adopting and expressing opinions and positions on matters or events of concern to Asian Pacific American attorneys in Oregon.

About Miller Nash

Miller Nash LLP is one of the Pacific Northwest's largest and most respected multiservice law firms, offering comprehensive, creative, and innovative services to its business clients since 1873. Miller Nash has 126 lawyers serving clients throughout its offices in Portland, Bend and Prineville, Ore., and Seattle and Vancouver, Wash. Miller Nash serves a wide range of leading businesses, nonprofit organizations, public entities, and individuals, and does pro bono representation. The firm's clients work in a variety of significant industries, including banking, manufacturing, biotech, construction, energy, food production, forest products, government, healthcare, higher education, intellectual property, real estate, securities, and technology. More information is available at http://www.millernash.com/.

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