Hilary Newcomb Has the Champagne; Who Brought the Carrot Cake?

My nickname is … Hil or Hilley, but only my family and old friends use them.

The lawyers I most admire are … Jan Kitchel (he’s so smooth and quick) and John Draneas (a tax attorney with a gigantic, creative brain).

The quality I most like in a lawyer is … the confidence to be super candid. It’s so refreshing and efficient.

My career high point (so far) has been … when I was voted in as a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) in 2017.

If I weren’t a lawyer, I’d be … an interior designer. Currently, we are finishing several months of construction on our new building in downtown Lake Oswego. I really enjoy getting involved with all the aspects of color, lighting, furnishings and fixtures. We’re trying a bright pink paint by Farrow & Ball in my office, so we shall see how that ultimately works out.

When I win a case, I celebrate by … buying a bottle of champagne to open with my coworkers. 

The SCOTUS justice I’d most like to meet is … RGB. She’s a firecracker with nine lives. 

I can’t believe more people haven’t read … How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The title is off-putting and dated, but this is a book that was published in 1936 and remains relevant to understanding and working with people in general but specifically in business.

My favorite meal is … chicken paprikash with dumplings, a family tradition from my mom’s Czechoslovakian side.

The craziest thing I witnessed in a courtroom is … a judge yelling at counsel for not standing up to speak with her.

My earliest memory is … collecting water bugs at age 3 out of our backyard pool in California, and putting them in a metal bucket that I carried around thinking they were my pets.

I wish I had invented … Post-it notes. Genius.

If I had a morning show, my co-host would be … my three siblings. They’re all amazingly witty and hilarious. Although the conversation would immediately descend into excessive sarcasm, inside jokes and lots of foul language.

The last TV show I binge-watched was … How to Fix a Drug Scandal on Netflix. The behavior of some of the attorneys was atrocious.

Nothing cheers me up like … a big slice of cake—preferably coconut or carrot. Actually, any type of cake if it’s slathered in cream-cheese frosting.

The app I use the most is … Pinterest. It’s helps me organize my projects.

I’m inspired by … the fighting, resilient human spirit. I love a well-done inspirational documentary.