About Susan G. Hauser
Susan G. Hauser is a Portland writer whose articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, People, O, and many other publications. She holds a B.A. in English from Portland State University and an M.A. in Near Eastern languages and civilizations from the University of Chicago.
Articles written by Susan G. Hauser
The Storyteller
Carol Bernick’s way with words sways judges and juriesWith Carol Bernick, it’s all about the story. That’s only fitting for a lawyer who once wanted to be a librarian. Bernick, 49, managing partner of Davis Wright Tremaine’s Portland office, is known for swaying judges and juries in tough employment law cases. She credits her Seattle DWT colleague Michael Reiss with coaching her in courtroom storytelling. Bernick began working with Reiss in 1990, days after reporting for work in Portland as a new graduate of the University of Virginia School …
The Lawyerly Lineage of Thomas H. Tongue
The acclaimed Portland trial attorney is filling the oversized shoes of three namesakesIn 42 years of lawyering, Thomas H. Tongue has racked up more than his share of awards and accolades—all very gratifying. But if you want the truth, says Tongue, only one of those honors was the cause of major hoopla in his family. That was the day in 1993 that he was informed of his acceptance into the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL). After spreading the welcome news through his own household, Tongue picked up the phone to tell his parents. It happened to be an Irish holiday. “I …
The Truth-Seeker
It’s what you do with the knowledge, once you find it, that matters to Rita BenderRita Bender has been away from the office for the last nine months, teaching a class at the University of Mississippi on racial inequality in education—a topic that seemingly has little to do with her successful family law practice in Seattle. But it has everything to do with Rita Bender. This isn’t the first time her path has taken her to the Southern state. In 1964, Bender was also there on a mission to bring racial equality. As her friends well know, her life was shaped by a tragedy that …
The 800-Pound Piranha
David Markowitz is a courtroom giant—and a gentle soulThe first time Lynn Stafford tried a jury case with David Markowitz, her 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound law partner leaned over and said, “Now, Lynn, I can’t get up in front of a jury and be in their face. I am too big and I will be too intimidating.” Markowitz instructed Stafford to take the more aggressive stance while he remained the quiet background presence. Stafford, who retired from Markowitz Herbold Glade & Mehlhaf last year, recalls that Markowitz’s nudging helped her develop a …
He Just Does It
Jim Carter defends the Nike brandBehind Jim Carter's desk at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., is a framed poster of Olympic champion marathoner Joan Benoit Samuelson. It's inscribed to Carter, thanking him for joining her on a run near her New England home. "That," says Carter, pointing to Samuelson's note, "is one of the best perks of the job." At 60, the Nike general counsel and vice president maintains the lean physique of a runner. It pays to stay in shape, because opportunities like runs with Samuelson—"my …
On the Side of the Angels
N. Robert Stoll fights the good fight for the downtroddenYou might expect the walls of N. Robert Stoll's corner office to be lined with Italian art or framed photos from his treasured semi-annual Roman holidays. After all, the flag of Italy flutters outside his building. At the moment, Stoll, a top securities and class action lawyer with Stoll Berne, seems to have one foot in Rome and the other in Portland, having recently returned from a sojourn of several weeks with his wife, Barre, to the Italian capital. Rome is his favorite city—after …
The Last Laugh
William Barton may have been the class clown in law school, but today he's one of Oregon's finest trial lawyers (no joke)In this corner, wearing the white trunks, is Muhammad Ali. The autographed photo of The Champ belongs to William Barton, who is something of a champ himself, with more than 500 courtroom bouts under his belt.The scene depicts Ali, a look of fury in his eyes, poised victoriously over a supine Sonny Liston. The photo hangs in a far corner of Barton's oak-paneled office. He says he goes to this corner at the beginning of every case, just to tune into that fury, that sense of righteous indignation …
Against the Odds
Graciela Cowger jokes that she always liked playing with boys. So, naturally, she never thought twice about entering male-dominated fields—first electrical engineering, then patent law. At 40, Cowger is the first female managing director of Portland intellectual property law firm Marger Johnson & McCollom. She is also the immediate past president of the Oregon Patent Law Association. Like many minorities and women, she has encountered a few barriers along the path to success. But …
Follow us on social media
Find top lawyers with confidence
The Super Lawyers patented selection process is peer influenced and research driven, selecting the top 5% of attorneys to the Super Lawyers lists each year. We know lawyers and make it easy to connect with them.
Find a lawyer near you