Law firm instrumental in bringing International Science and Engineering Fair to Portland

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt's managing partner Mark Long has been thinking about the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. And with good reason - the law firm is one of the driving forces behind the fair coming to Portland.

I was trying to figure out how we got into this up to our ears, said Long.

When Long, a corporate and business attorney, sat on OGI's board of trustees several years ago, he met Eve Menger, who is an adjunct professor at Portland State University. At the time, Menger was embarking on a crusade to increase the number of statewide science fairs and to find a way to bring ISEF to Portland.

Meanwhile, a partner with the firm, Nikki Hatton, was asked to sit on the board of Youth Exploring Science, Menger's new nonprofit. Hatton also had a daughter that was involved in ISEF.

In addition, Julie Becker, a professional at the firm, who passed away several months ago, was involved in the state science fair along with her husband, Bill Becker, who is a science and engineering faculty member at PSU.

Long took a seat on the board of YES, and soon another Schwabe partner, Kelly Hagan, was involved. After Schwabe filed the articles of incorporation for YES, the nonprofit raised enough money to bid successfully on ISEF, which is ending a weeklong stay at the Oregon Convention Center today. Hagan did all the legal work necessary to bring ISEF to Portland.

During the week, Schwabe helped sponsor a number of dinners and receptions for attendees and judges and several members of Schwabe's intellectual property group spent Wednesday judging. In addition, the firm made room in its Portland offices for YES when members needed a central place to meet downtown.

Schwabe and YES also established the Julie Becker Award, a $1,000 cash award given at the Intel Northwest Science Expo on April 2 in honor of the former Schwabe employee.

No longer a board member of YES, and now on the ISEF coordinating committee, Long said he was reluctant at first to get involved, but Menger's passion and the dedication of other volunteers carried him along.

At every step along the way, a little success would breed another success, he said. It was very cool.