We are delighted to welcome McKenzie Gerdes as the newest Summer Associate joining the Sussman Shank team. McKenzie recently finished her first year of law school at Lewis & Clark, where she serves as the Secretary for the Business Law Society and the Vice President of the Tax Law Society. Additionally, McKenzie graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Business from George Fox University.

While at Lewis & Clark Law School, she serves as a representative for the Community Clothing Closet, an organization that strives to provide free professional clothing for law students.

“I am looking forward to experiencing how the law firm works, as well as learning from the wisdom of the people who work here,” says McKenzie.

McKenzie’s educational background and experiences will provide valuable support to the firm. We look forward to offering her the opportunities to immerse herself in real-world legal practice and to further her professional growth.

McKenzie, an Oregon native, grew up in Yamhill County on her family’s multi-generational farm. In her free time, she enjoys activities such as dirt biking, paddle boarding, and hiking.

We are pleased to have McKenzie join us this summer!

About Our Summer Associates Program

Our Summer Associate Program is designed to give law students exposure to real-world law firm experience through a diverse range of opportunities and assignments in many of the firm’s practice areas. Our goal is to provide students with substantive and practical knowledge by working closely with attorneys on individualized assignments. We also take pride in introducing students to the culture of our firm and to our people through social events organized during the summer in Portland.