United States: As Lane Powell Vice President Sondag Enters Retirement, Powell Assumes Role

Lane Powell Shareholder Bryan Powell has been elected the next Vice President of Lane Powell. Tom Sondag, who has served in the Vice President role since 2014, will enter retirement on July 1.

Sondag has been a valued member of the Lane Powell team for nearly 39 years. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law in 1984, and began practicing law thereafter. Across his career, Sondag established himself as one of the most experienced appellate lawyers in the Pacific Northwest, serving as lead counsel in more than 200 appeals in state and federal courts. In turn, Sondag has received numerous honors for his legal work, including being named as a Best Lawyers® “Portland Lawyer of the Year” numerous times, as a “Local Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, and as an “Oregon Super Lawyer” by Thomson Reuters.

In addition to his appellate work, Sondag has been a vital member of Lane Powell’s leadership team throughout his time as firm Vice President and Partner in Charge of the Portland office. He was appointed Vice President in 2014, and since then has worked with firm leaders to guide the firm’s strategic direction. He was instrumental in leading Lane Powell through a seamless transition to remote work when the pandemic began in 2020, and led the Portland office through a space renovation to prioritize collaboration and connection opportunities. He has also served on Lane Powell’s Community Engagement Committee, which helps guide the firm’s philanthropic efforts. In recognition of the impact Sondag has had on Lane Powell, he was named an “Executive of the Year” by Portland Business Journal in 2022.

“Tom’s service to Lane Powell has been truly exceptional, across his professional accomplishments as an appellate attorney and in his role as a key member of the firm’s leadership. His sharp insight and genuine compassion for others have always shone through in his time here and will be greatly missed,” shared Lane Powell President Barbara Duffy. “It’s the people who make Lane Powell one of the Northwest’s leading law firms, and Tom has exemplified that time and time again.”

Lane Powell is proud to announce that Bryan Powell has been elected as its next Vice President. Powell joined the firm in 1994, and advises clients on all aspects of real estate development, financing, leasing, and management. He will continue to serve clients throughout his appointment.

Powell has been consistently recognized in the Best Lawyers in America© rankings, and named one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in Real Estate by Chambers® USA, as well as an Oregon Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters. He is a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys, and a member of The Counselors of Real Estate®. Powell also serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Estate and Land Use Section of the Oregon State Bar, and formerly served on the Advisory Board for the Portland State University Center for Real Estate.

“Having had the pleasure of working alongside Bryan for many years, I know firsthand the clear communication, keen analysis, and sincere empathy that he brings to his work at Lane Powell – all of these qualities speak to his natural ability to lead,” noted outgoing Vice President Tom Sondag. “I have the utmost confidence in Bryan’s leadership and know that he will help keep Lane Powell on its exciting path forward.”