About Joe Follansbee

From Sci-Fi to Synergy

Karen Williams bucks the Hollywood stereotype of attorney as fierce adversary. The Portland real estate attorney calls herself a “synergist” and has a track record of helping people with differing interests find common ground.    “The thing that I do best is make connections between people,” says Williams, 53, a shareholder at Lane Powell.    This quality came in handy this summer when she offered her pro bono services to help close a deal for a large subsidy that helped build the …