NOVEMBER 1, 2024 – Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is pleased to announce that Kevin Kono, a veteran commercial litigator and leader at the firm, has been named Portland partner-in-charge, taking over from longtime PIC Bill Miner.
Kono began at DWT as a summer associate and has spent his entire 22+-year career at the firm. His many leadership roles have included, most recently, serving as vice chair of the litigation practice and chair of the Associate Evaluation Committee. A well-known member of the Oregon legal community, Kono has been active in local and state bar associations and is recognized for excellence by all of the leading lawyer-ranking organizations, including Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers.
Kono graduated first in his class from University of Oregon School of Law and summa cum laude from University of Oregon.
Said Kono: "DWT's Portland office is strong. I'm eager to continue building on the successful practices here, which include the beachhead of our nationally recognized food and beverage team, a government relations practice that regularly makes headlines with high-impact litigation, a first-rate employment group, a leading IP team, an environmental group handling matters critical to our planet, and robust commercial litigation and construction practices. We will continue to invest in our people, promote our distinct culture, and work to capture strategic growth opportunities in this market that will benefit from and contribute to our platform."
Kono takes over as PIC effective today. He succeeds Miner, who served in the role for the past decade.
Said Jaime Drozd, DWT's firmwide managing partner: "During his time as PIC, Bill achieved some remarkable milestones, including the recent move to our beautiful new office space at Block 216. Through it all, he's maintained a vibrant, diverse, and energetic office culture that is simultaneously very DWT and uniquely Portland. I'm grateful to Bill for his past service and dedication and to Kevin for stepping up to this critical position at a time of great opportunity at our firm."
Said Miner: "Kevin and I have spent our entire careers working together and I know what an extraordinarily effective leader he is. With the Portland office in his capable hands, I look forward to spending more time growing my practice, mentoring associates, and cross-selling our increasingly diverse capabilities across the firm."
About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with more than 600 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. Learn more about www.dwt.com.