Distinguished Business Law Graduate Award

The Distinguished Business Law Graduate Award was instituted in 2004, and is awarded annually by the business law faculty and dean to a graduate of the law school who:

  • has demonstrated exemplary leadership,
  • has made a positive mark on the legal or business profession,
  • and whose accomplishments have brought honor and distinction to the law school.

Past Winners

David Howitt
March 1

2024 Business Law Spring Luncheon & Distinguished Business Law Graduate: David Howitt ’94

Join us for the Business Law Spring Luncheon on March 1st at The Nines in downtown Portland, celebrating the 29th anniversary of our program. This year, we’re excited to honor David Howitt ’94, Founder & CEO of Meriwether Group and co-founder of Oregon Chai, as our Distinguished Business Law Graduate.

October 14, 2022

Alice Cuprill-Comas ’95

Lewis & Clark Law School is pleased to announce Alice Cuprill-Comas ’95 as our 2022 Business Law Distinguished Graduate.

March 15, 2019

Rex A. Malott BS ’73, JD ’76

Lewis & Clark Law School is pleased to announce Rex A. Malott BS ’73, JD ’76 as our 2019 Business Law Distinguished Graduate.

Ambyr O'Donnell, '01
April 12, 2018

Ambyr O’Donnell ’01

The Business Law Spring Luncheon is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our students and to thank the many members of the community who lend their time, resources, and talents to the curricular and extracurricular activities of the Business Law Program.

Steven Hedberg '84
March 1, 2017

Steven Hedberg ’84

Lewis & Clark Law School is pleased to announce Steven Hedberg ’84 as our 2017 Business Law Distinguished Graduate.

Harley Franco '77
March 2, 2016

Harley Franco ’77

Lewis & Clark Law School is pleased to announce Harley Franco ’77 as our 2016 Business Law Distinguished Graduate.

Gary Grenley '75
March 5, 2015

Gary Grenley ’75

Lewis & Clark Law School is pleased to announce Gary Grenley ’75 as our 2015 Business Law Distinguished Graduate.

Schwabe Williamson portrait shoot
April 17, 2014

Román D. Hernández ’00

Lewis & Clark Law School is pleased to announce Román D. Hernández ’00 as our 2014 Business Law Distinguished Graduate.

April 18, 2013

Ying Chen ’95

Lewis & Clark Law School is pleased to announce Ying Chen ’95 as our 2013 Business Law Distinguished Graduate.

April 5, 2012

Jun Ge ’95

This year, the Law School is pleased to bestow this honor upon Jun Ge, who graduated from the East China University of Political Science and Law and Lewis & Clark Law School in 1995.

April 28, 2011

Jordan Schnitzer ’76

This year, the Law School is pleased to bestow this honor upon Jordan D. Schnitzer, who graduated from University of Oregon in 1973 and from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1976.

Michael T. Winslow '80
April 23, 2010

Michael T. Winslow ’80

This year, the Law School is pleased to bestow this honor upon Michael T. Winslow, who graduated from Indiana University and from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1980. Mike is a member of the American Bar Association and the Oregon State Bar Association.

April 29, 2009

Trudy Allen ’82

This year, the Law School is pleased to bestow this honor upon Trudy Allen, who graduated magna cum laude from Pennsylvania State University, and from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1982.

Jeff B. Curtis
April 18, 2008

Jeff B. Curtis ’86

This year, the Law School is pleased to bestow this honor upon Jeff B. Curtis, who graduated magna cum laude in 1986 from the Law School.

Ron (Rongwei) Cai
May 1, 2007

Ron (Rongwei) Cai ’90

A 1990 honors graduate of the Law School, Ron (Rongwei) Cai is a partner in Davis Wright Tremaine’s Shanghai Office. Ron, who received an LLM from Columbia Law School and an LL.B. with honors from Xiamen University School of Law, is also fluent in English, Mandarin and Taiwanese. 
Sen. Betsy Johnson
April 7, 2006

Sen. Betsy Johnson

Betsy received her undergraduate degree in History from Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota) and her Law degree from the Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College. A licensed commercial pilot of both fixed and rotor-wing aircraft, she founded Transwestern Helicopters, Inc., in 1978.

April 22, 2005

Wayne Perry ’75

We are very excited to announce the inauguration of what will become an annual honor, the Distinguished Business Law Graduate. This year, we will honor Wayne Perry (’75), Chief Executive Officer of Edge Wireless LLC as our first Distinguished Business Law Graduate. Prior to his position at Edge Wireless, Mr. Perry served as Vice-Chairman of AT&T Wireless Services, and has been a leader in the wireless telecommunications industry.