Areas of Expertise
Profile
Shawn M. Lindsay is a skilled business, intellectual property, and political attorney. He is a former member of the Oregon State House of Representatives. Shawn’s experience includes representing clients in the following areas: establishing, acquiring, transferring, and preserving businesses and intellectual property rights; software and commercial licensing; business entity formation and structuring; business transitions and successions; mergers and acquisitions; privacy and security; HIPAA compliance; government relations and political law.
Shawn regularly represents dentists, physicians, and other licensed professionals in buying and selling professional practices and establishing DSOs/MSOs. He represents individuals, political parties, candidates, businesses, political committees, lobbyists, tax-exempt organizations, and trade associations as they seek to effectively engage in political activity.
As a member of the Oregon Legislature, Shawn established a reputation as a problem solver. For example, as co-chair of a special redistricting committee, Shawn was instrumental in passing a redistricting plan, something that had not been done in over 60 years in Oregon. As an attorney, clients have called on Shawn’s skills to assist in negotiating and resolving complex matters with both private and governmental entities.
Prior to joining the firm, Shawn worked at two prestigious Portland law firms and served as a law clerk to Judge Sam A. Crow, at the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.
Shawn has lived in Spain and speaks Spanish fluently. Outside the office, Shawn enjoys snow skiing, boating, hunting, his Jeep Wrangler, and spending time with his wife and three daughters.
Representative Work
- Acts as outside general counsel for Special Olympics Oregon, Inc. assuring compliance, drafting corporate and commercial transactions, and advising executive management.
- Represents buying and selling dentists, physicians, and other licensed professionals in 5-10 transitions per month.
- Represents dentists and other licensed professionals in response to inquiries by the Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
- Acted as lead counsel to a national political association in winning a unanimous opinion by the Oregon Supreme Court striking down a controversial initiative petition ballot title.
- Represented political associations before Oregon trial, appellate, and supreme courts in successful Anti-SLAPP motion dismissing a lawsuit against public participation in political speech.
- Represented political candidates and committees in response to inquiries by the Federal Election Commission.
- Represented Brazier Mine Construction, Inc. in its multimillion-dollar asset sale to ESCO Corporation.
- Represented a Chinese software development company in its multimillion-dollar acquisition of a U.S.-based company.
- Serves as outside general counsel for international software consortia negotiating, drafting, and overseeing enforcement of domestic and cross-border agreements and licenses.
Professional & Civic Activities
- Governor-appointed Chair and Member, Oregon Government Ethics Commission
- Director, Plaid Pantries, Inc.
- Former Representative, Oregon State House of Representatives
- Former Chair and Director, J. Reuben Clark Law Society – Portland Chapter
- Former Member, Oregon State Bar House of Delegates
- Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States
Professional Honors & Awards
- Peer Review Rated “AV Preeminent” in Martindale-Hubbell
- Named as an “Oregon Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers magazine
- Named as one of the “Forty under 40” by Portland Business Journal
- Named an “Up & Coming Lawyer,” Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce
- Named as an “Oregon Rising Star,” Super Lawyers magazine
Admissions
- Oregon
- Washington (inactive)
- U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- Utah (inactive)
Education
- Washburn University School of Law, J.D., 2001
- Brigham Young University, B.A., 1997