SMHLLAW

PORTLAND, OREGON April 11, 2006  – Swider Medeiros Haver LLP has won the Oregon State Bar Pro Bono Challenge Award in the Small Firm category for its Direct Representation Services in 2005.  The firm has done hundreds of Pro Bono Publico hours based on the work of partners Kohel Haver, Martin Medeiros and Robert Swider.  The firm’s three partners and two associates have decades of experience representing clients shaping the laws of intellectual property.  Much of that work has been done with disadvantaged artists, innovators and small businesses. The firm also provides information resources on its website www.smhllaw.com for artists and innovators.

Kohel Haver has extensive experience in intellectual property.  Mr. Haver has represented fine artists who live out their cars, rap artists in between jail terms, and groups that assert their First Amendment Rights through the expressive content of art.  He is a member and contributor to many arts organizations including Northwest Lawyers and Artists, the Authors Guild, the Society for Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, the Graphic Artists Guild, and the Northwest Association of Book Publishers.  He is the immediate past President of the Board of Portland Community Media and a regular speaker for the Alliance for Community Media based in Washington, DC. He presents all over the country on topics related to publishing, graphic arts, entertainment law, the arts business, media and intellectual property laws. Mr. Haver’s book on Copyright and legal issues for Film and Video production has become the handbook for community media throughout the United States of America.

Managing partner Robert Swider is active in the community, contributing his time to groups including the Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program (ORTOP), the Environmental Middle School, the Creative Science School, the Classroom Law Project, the Oregon State Bar, Lewis and Clark Law School and the Computer and Internet Law Section of the Oregon State Bar. 

Martin Medeiros represents clients who use and create information and biological technology in a general legal counsel role.  Mr. Medeiros devoted substantial time in 2005 representing a disabled business owner and technology entrepreneurs on limited incomes.  Mr. Medeiros is the current chairman of the Oregon State Bar Computer and Internet Law Section and is a board member of the Oregon Law Institute.  He was recently elected Vice President of the board of directors for Portland Community Media and has been selected to sit on the Portland Mayor Tom Potter’s Citizen Budget Advisory Board and the Small Business Advisory Counsel.  Mr. Medeiros is a frequent author and lecturer on technology related matters.  Mr. Medeiros is active with the Portland Opera and Holy Trinity Parish and School.

The partners recently welcomed two new associates, Tom Graves and Tichelle Sorensen.  Mr. Graves’ background includes extensive work with technology-oriented businesses, as well as non-profit organizations and musicians.  Ms. Sorensen has recently returned from China, where she was a consultant for both private and state-owned entities.  Both Mr. Graves and Ms. Sorensen look forward to following the example of the partners by actively pursuing pro-bono and public service opportunities in the community.

About Swider Medeiros Haver LLP:  Swider Medeiros Haver LLP strives to meet the needs of a variety of clients ranging from the creative class to large organizations requiring assistance with specialized intellectual property and business legal services.  The partners will continue to actively volunteer in the community and are scheduled to speak coast to coast in 2006 on the business of intellectual property, fair use and open source.