Bryson E. Davis

Attorney

1000 SW Broadway, Suite 1400

Portland, Oregon 97205

503.227.1111 Main

503.243.1638 Direct

Email: bdavis@sussmanshank.com

Assistant: Melissa D. Jaffee: 503.243.1661 x 228

Practice Areas

Banking and Finance

Business

Real Estate and Land Use

Overview

Bryson regularly serves the wide-ranging legal needs of businesses and nonprofits of all sizes and industries.

Bryson's practice involves advising and representing for-profit and nonprofit clients in a broad range of business issues from formation to sale and he often serves as external General Counsel for his clients. His practice touches on mergers and acquisitions, business formation and maintenance, securities offerings and sales, real estate transactions, contract drafting, employment advice, and regulatory compliance. In addition, he has specialized knowledge helping clients in the cannabis industry, working with professional licensing issues, and handling administrative law matters.

Bryson is also an active board member for several nonprofit organizations and focuses his volunteer work with organizations where he can help enhance awareness concerning diversity and business development.

When not working, Bryson can be found racing at the kart track, wine tasting, or at home playing board games with friends.

Education

B.A., Philosophy, Reed College

J.D., University of Washington School of Law

Student Chair of the Dean's Advisory Committee on Diversity
Participant in the Rural Alaska Tax Assistance Program
Member of the Black Law Students Association

Admitted to Practice

Oregon State Bar

United States District Court for the District of Oregon

Washington State Bar

Representative Matters

Advised companies regarding equity financing issues and prepared necessary documents for securities offerings.
Represented companies and owners in business sales and member buy-outs.
Advised clients on issues related to real estate acquisitions and sales.
Advised nonprofit clients on governance and structure issues.
Led a team of public relations professionals and attorneys advising a nonprofit board of directors on how to navigate a large public relations emergency, that also required resolving organizational governance issues, employment issues, and government contract issues.
Drafted and negotiated commercial contracts.
Represented company owners in the restructuring of a cannabis business.
Negotiated commercial leases for local companies and franchise owners.
Successfully advocated for the dismissal of BOLI investigations for civil rights and whistleblowing claims.
Successfully advocated for the admission of an attorney to the Oregon State Bar who had character and fitness concerns.
Represented a company during a shareholder dispute between two owners.
Represented an LLC Member in a dispute between owners of a local restaurant. Parties agreed on satisfactory buy-out terms.

Professional Organizations

Multnomah Bar Association

American Bar Association

Civic Organizations

Bryson is also an active board member for several nonprofit organizations and focuses his volunteer work on diversity and business development issues. His community involvement includes:

Co-Chair for the Williams & Russell Project Working Group (2018 - Present)
Member of the Board of Directors for the Soul District Business Association (2017 - Present)
Member of the Board of Directors for the Oregon League of Minority Voters (2019 – Present)
Member of the Oregon State Bar Securities Regulation Section Executive Committee (2020 – Present)
Member of the Oregon State Bar Diversity Section Executive Committee (2020 – Present)
Coach for the Jefferson High School Mock Trial Team (2014 - Present)
Member of the Prosper Portland Budget Advisory Committee (2019 - Present)
Chair of the Board of Directors for Ascent Funding (2015 - 2020)
Mentor for the Reed Leadership Academy (2016 - 2017, and 2019)
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Hatch Innovation (2017 - 2019)
Member on the Advisory Committee for Diversity and Inclusion for the Oregon State Bar (2016 - 2018)
Member of the Auxiliary Committee of the Oregon State Bar Diversity Action Council (2017)
Member and former Chair of the Business and Prosperity Forum of the Portland City Club (2014 - 2017)

Speaking Engagements

Regular Speaker at the Lee Hecht Harrison Portland Franchising Workshop (2019 – Present)
Keynote Speaker, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA) Banquet, "Experience with Diversity in the Practice of Law" (April 2019)
Moderator/Organizer, Opportunities for Law in Oregon Orientation, "Practice Area Spotlight" (August 2018)
Presenter, Opportunities for Law in Oregon Orientation, "Importance of Networking" (August 2017)
Moderator/Organizer, Oregon State Bar New Lawyers Division, "ONLD Writing Workshop" (June 2017)
Organizer, Portland City Club Business & Prosperity Forum, "How Businesses have Adjusted to Mandatory Requirements" (February 2017)
Moderator/Organizer, Portland City Club Business & Prosperity Forum, "Women in Sports" (April 2015)
Moderator/Organizer, Portland City Club Business & Prosperity Forum, "Benefit Companies" (February 2015)

Portland Business Journal: Oregon's 2019 Most Admired Companies

Oregon Business: 100 Best Companies to work for in Oregon 2019

Oregon Business: 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon 2019