Perkins Coie Expands Portland Office with Oregon Governor’s General Counsel Misha Isaak

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Misha Isaak has joined the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice as a partner in the Portland office. A prior associate of the firm, Misha rejoins Perkins Coie from the Office of Oregon Governor Kate Brown, where he served as general counsel. Misha’s addition to the Portland office comes after commercial litigator Renée Rothauge joined the office last month.

During Misha’s tenure as general counsel, he managed all legal affairs in the Governor’s Office, representing Governor Brown in settling the state’s most significant litigation during her tenure, including its dispute with Oracle, the hoteling of foster youth, services for the intellectually disabled, treatment of transgender inmates, and sale of the Elliott State Forest. Misha also managed the appointment of a historic number of state judges, including more than half of the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and Multnomah County Circuit Court, significantly increasing diversity of the state court bench. An excellent trial attorney, Misha argued a number of significant motions during his prior time with Perkins Coie, including the summary judgment argument in Oregon’s marriage equality case.

Misha earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his B.A. from Reed College. In addition to his current practice, he is also currently an adjunct professor at Lewis and Clark Law School and a member of the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners.