Our Team

Staff

• Darla Pierce Executive Director
  

  Darla Pierce

  Executive Director

  "My job is to take care of the business side of things at the firm. I truly enjoy handling all the administrative details because it allows our attorneys and staff to spend their time and energy helping clients. If our firm is managed well, operates smoothly and efficiently, if people are working harmoniously together, then I've done my job."
• Aaron Starr IT Director
  

  Aaron Starr

  IT Director

  "My role in the firm is to maintain and develop technologies so our attorneys can better help the clients. I also wear a marketing assistant hat as our society has migrated into the digital space. My technology experience adds value to help those in our community searching for the best family law advice. I consider it a privilege to be a part of what truly is a family here at Gevurtz Menashe. There is never a dull day here; there are always new technologies and projects that keep me moving. I love what I do so this doesn't feel like a "job". It feels like Saturday every day!" 
• Holly Miller Marketing Director
  

  Holly Miller

  Marketing Director

  "As the firm marketing director, I help promote the Gevurtz Menashe story. From community and client relations, advertising, social media, event planning and sponsorships, I work collaboratively with our attorneys to coordinate the firm’s marketing endeavors throughout our Oregon and SW Washington communities."
• Janet Rickel Receptionist
  

  Janet Rickel

  Receptionist

  "As the receptionist, I understand the importance of extending kindness and a good listening ear to our clients. I feel I can really help best by directing callers to the right person here and by providing support to the attorneys and staff. This is my contribution to maintaining a professionally vibrant team."
• Kevin Hawkes Accounts Receivable Clerk
  

  Kevin Hawkes

  Accounts Receivable Clerk

  "While my job is to handle incoming receipts, it's really more about providing good customer service to our clients. It's critical to maintain a good working relationship between the attorney and the client during the course of their legal matter. Part of that is how the money works. I spend a significant portion of my day with clients developing plans that work for everyone."
• Lorna Catania Bookkeeper
  

  Lorna Catania

  Bookkeeper

  "My role as Bookkeeper is to keep accurate financial records for the Firm and to handle all aspects of the client’s billing and payment process. I love puzzles that challenge my mind, and bookkeeping is that constant challenge. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, travel, and just taking in all simple pleasures life has to offer."
• Rebecca Kurtzman Accounting Coordinator
  

  Rebecca Kurtzman

  Accounting Coordinator

  My role as an accounting assistant is to help perform daily bookkeeping tasks and file maintenance for our clients. I enjoy the detail oriented procedures that are required for keeping the finances balanced and accurate. I also love getting to know clients, and helping them in any way I can to make their lives easier. These things all give me a wonderful sense of fulfillment within my job. Outside of work I enjoy any kind of adventure in the mountains, playing ping pong with friends, riding motorcycles and dancing to live music. 
• Aaron Fenske Office Services Director
  

  Aaron Fenske

  Office Services Director

  "My role at Gevurtz Menashe is to keep the office organized and tidy and take care of the little details. I feel my job is to provide great customer service to our attorneys and staff so they can take care of our clients. I strive to keep our file room, kitchen, and conference rooms organized and clean. The office assistants and I make sure a myriad of other tasks are taken care of for everyone in the firm, including managing our records archives, providing reception coverage, ordering supplies, assisting with copy jobs, and handling our mail."
• Doug Stidum Office Assistant
  

  Doug Stidum

  Office Assistant

  "My goal working for Office Services is to ensure that the everyday tasks are taken care of and help the firm run smoothly. My duties include copy projects, running errands, and maintaining the general cleanliness around the office. I enjoy working for Gevurtz Menashe because it gives me an opportunity to become experienced in an office environment, while also feeling like I’m a part of a firm that gives back to its community."
• Kaitlin Olson Office Assistant
  

  Kaitlin Olson

  Office Assistant

  My role at Gevurtz Menashe is to keep the office organized and running smoothly. As an office assistant I take care of a number of tasks such as assisting with copy jobs and trial notebook preparation, providing reception coverage, ordering supplies, and various other organizational tasks. What I enjoy most about my role is that I have the opportunity to provide excellent customer service to our clients and help to ensure a positive experience.
• Preston Catania Office Assistant
  

  Preston Catania

  Office Assistant

  My task consist of multitasking for attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants. While time managing to ensure each are properly assisted, so they can aid our clients with ease. Also tracking inventory to ensure the office is well stocked on office supplies to get through the work day.
• Avis Tucker Paralegal
  

  Avis Tucker

  Paralegal

  "My contribution to the practice is to make sure the attorneys have all the facts, figures, documents, and evidence needed to settle the case, mediate, or go to court. Managing and interpreting information, both hard copy and electronic, can take up most of my day. I move from meeting with attorneys and other professionals on a case to spending many hours "digging" through lots of documents. I love my work because it is ever-changing. Due to constant changes in the laws and procedures, there is always something new to learn. Family law stretches over every facet of life; it's truly "people" law!"
• Jeanne Vachal Paralegal
  

  Jeanne Vachal

  Paralegal

  "What makes my job interesting, challenging, and fun is assisting the attorneys and our clients. My goal is to help any way I can to manage the cases and keep the process running smoothly. I am specifically involved in the discovery, financial, and trial preparation aspects of the cases. One of the things I particularly enjoy about working at Gevurtz Menashe is that I have the opportunity to work with all the attorneys, who have different styles, levels of experience, and represent clients with a variety of legal issues."
• Jill Carroll Paralegal
  

  Jill Carroll

  Paralegal

  "As the firm’s Estate Planning and Probate paralegal, my role includes document preparation, client communication, and ensuring that every detail is addressed so our clients end up with a successful estate plan and our probates are run as efficiently and quickly as possible. For fun, I enjoy reading, walking, and spending time with my family and friends.  I also love volunteer work – my daughter and I regularly volunteer at the Portland Rescue Mission."
• Terry McCoy Paralegal
  

  Terry McCoy

  Paralegal

  "I work with our attorneys to provide a variety of services based upon the specifics of each case and their determination as to how my assistance will best serve our clients. My duties often include reviewing, analyzing and managing documentary evidence, assessing income, assets, debts and expenses, and preparing for formal and informal proceedings. Our attorneys delegate selected responsibilities to paralegals in order to provide the most efficient and cost-effective representation possible to our clients. Being a part of that process has always been rewarding for me."
• Kelly Warren Paralegal
  

  Kelly Warren

  Paralegal

  “I support our attorneys in gathering and analyzing information in an efficient and cost-effective way in order to achieve results through settlement or court proceedings. I enjoy being part of a team dedicated to assisting families as they navigate through some of the most challenging circumstances of their lives.” 
• Phillip Wenzel Paralegal
  

  Phillip Wenzel

  Paralegal

  “Family law requires us to be there for our clients not only through the practical process of their case, but also through the emotional impact. My goal as a paralegal is to partner with our attorneys to put our clients first. Whether that be sifting through discovery documents to assess the financial impact something may have on our clients future, or handling the small details and preparing documents, it’s my job to make sure things move along smoothly and our clients’ needs are met.”
• Misty Wilson Paralegal
  

  Misty Wilson

  Paralegal

  “I have over 20 year of experience in the legal field and enjoy helping others with their estate planning and estate administration needs. I thrive on organization, attention to detail and the creation of systems that streamline processes – all of which enable me to efficiently manage our client’s legal matters.” 
• Charleen Cram Legal Assistant
  

  Charleen Cram

  Legal Assistant

  "As a Legal Assistant my goal is to leave the office at the end of the day knowing I have affected someone in a positive way. I strive to help attorneys produce work, effectively lighten their workload so they can focus more on the client, and provide the best comfort and support when dealing with each client's case. Providing this kind of assistance is satisfying in knowing I am needed as part of a process to help make a change in this time of need."
• Damarise Davis Legal Assistant
  

  Damarise Davis

  Legal Assistant

  As a family law legal assistant who has personal and professional experience in navigating through the legal system with regard to divorce, child custody, and child support, she is not just able to assist and connect with clients throughout their case, but she understands that no one should go through it alone and having a team to support you allows you to focus on what’s important to you – your family.
• Danie Binks Legal Assistant
  

  Danie Binks

  Legal Assistant

  "I grew up around law. My mother worked for the Sonoma County DA’s office and attended law school in San Francisco when I was young. A sense of justice, advocacy, and helping others was instilled in me from a young age. After attending Portland Community College’s ABA-accredited paralegal program and working for a couple of firms in the Portland area, I joined Gevurtz Menashe in 2015. I immediately felt at home. The bustling day of a family law professional, client contact, and a sense of helping others during an extremely stressful time have helped me feel more fulfilled on a daily basis than I had felt before. When I'm not pestering my attorneys, I “enjoy” running (does anyone, really?), spending time with friends, taking advantage of Portland’s brewery culture, and making terrible puns. I have lived in Portland for the better part of a decade and am constantly overjoyed by this beautiful city and all the area has to offer."
• Elizabeth Razo Legal Assistant
  

  Elizabeth Razo

  Legal Assistant

  "As a legal assistant at Gevurtz Menashe I enjoy my supporting role for two busy attorneys. I thrive in the “behind the scenes” work, taking care of organizational and clerical duties so the attorneys can focus on their clients and their cases. My attention to detail, organization skills, and compassionate nature make me an ideal fit for this position in the field of family law. I’m thrilled to be part of the Gevurtz Menashe team where I get to work alongside other caring and hardworking people who understand the sensitive circumstances our clients are typically in."
• Julie Doerksen Legal Assistant
  

  Julie Doerksen

  Legal Assistant

  "My role is to assist the attorneys I work with to provide the best legal services for their clients. Our clients are often people who are dealing with difficult life circumstances. Due to the personal nature of family law, I've learned that, along with the required legal expertise, we need to provide compassion, patience, and effective listening to best serve our clients."
• Kelly Sauer Legal Assistant
  

  Kelly Sauer

  Legal Assistant

  "As a legal assistant, I feel it's important to be the right hand to the attorneys. Giving my attorneys the support they need helps us to assist our clients efficiently and effectively. With this team effort, we can better counsel our clients during the difficult moments of their family law matter."
• Linda White Legal Assistant
  

  Linda White

  Legal Assistant

  "As a legal assistant, my role is to provide excellent legal services to the outstanding attorneys I work with and to our clients. I am excited to be part of the team. I have discovered that each case is unique and I am here to help and to offer our clients support through what is sometimes one of the most difficult times in their lives. I am always up for a challenge and enjoy the ever changing twists and turns that go along with my job."
• Lisa Whyatt Legal Assistant
  

  Lisa Whyatt

  Legal Assistant

  “In my role as an estate planning legal assistant, I enjoy knowing my daily work helps families plan ahead to help prevent drama and protect their loved ones. A substantial part of what I do is provide support to the attorneys, freeing up their time so they can grapple with legal questions and ensuring the estate planning process moves forward smoothly.  In my free time I am often found deeply involved in a book or going out for a night of ballroom and swing dancing.”
• Maribel Webber Legal Assistant
  

  Maribel Webber

  Legal Assistant

  “I have over 28 years of experience in the legal field.  What I value most about my professional career is being a part of highly expert teams and helping attorneys achieve their clients’ legal needs in a most professionally positive and cost effective way.”
• Nakia Bradley-Lawson Legal Assistant
  

  Nakia Bradley-Lawson

  Legal Assistant

  "My role as legal assistant is to organize and manage the caseload of the attorneys. What I enjoy most about my job are the opportunities and challenges of interacting with clients from different backgrounds and situations. I feel my greatest strength is being able to assist them to make the legal process easier to get through."
• Susan O'Bryan Legal Assistant
  

  Susan O'Bryan

  Legal Assistant

  As a Legal Assistant, my goal is to provide excellent legal services to our clients, as well as make an inherently challenging process go as smoothly as possible for them. I assist the attorneys by managing attorney, client and interoffice communications, by organizing our court related work product, and by keeping track of calendars, all with a careful attention to detail so that no client feels they are falling through the cracks. I enjoy being part of such an excellent and experienced team that is so well regarded in the community.
• Shannon Payne Legal Assistant
  

  Shannon Payne

  Legal Assistant

  “A great day at the office is when I see a client leave my attorney’s office with a sense of relief on his or her face. I get great satisfaction knowing my attorney and I play an important role in the clients’ life by helping them through this difficult time in their lives. I support my attorney in all facets of the legal process by providing the best legal services to her and giving attentive, compassionate assistance to our clients. In my spare time I love to spend my time exploring the outdoors, travelling, and looking for a new adventure. I love cooking, wine tasting, and attending any kind of live entertainment such as theater and concerts.”
• Shirley Richardson Legal Assistant
  

  Shirley Richardson

  Legal Assistant

  "This area of practice requires us to be available to our clients and not only work with them through the legal and practical process of their divorce but also help them through the emotional impact. My goal is to be the "right hand" to the attorneys, to handle the small details and to prepare documents. That way, the attorneys can focus their time and energy on meeting the client's needs."
• Susan McNabb Legal Assistant
  

  Susan McNabb

  Legal Assistant

  "As a legal assistant, I see my role as part of the team who can make things easier for the attorneys and clients. One of my strengths is attention to detail; I like to take care of the "particulars" so attorneys can focus on the bigger issues and maximize their time and efforts on the clients' behalf. I also greatly appreciate the "people" part of family law. I feel I can make a difference by lending that empathetic ear."