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About Us

Karnopp Petersen LLP   →  About Us

About Us

Ethos

Philosophy

Our philosophy is pretty simple—do your best and give back. We believe if we work hard every day, provide excellent legal counsel, support the community we serve, and exceed expectations in service, our clients will continue to call. Our goal is to do our best and to always be there when you need us most.

With Gratitude

Recognition & Associations

Over the years, we’ve been called many things…Super Lawyers. Rising Stars. Best Lawyers in America. Most Recommended Law Firm.

Yet our favorite title is “trusted advisor”. We appreciate that our clients turn to us for advice when they face some of their most important decisions — it tells us that we are performing our core function of providing legal advice that is valued by our clients.

Below are a few of the recognitions we have been honored to receive for doing what we love. We’re also proud to be members of the associations that further support business in our community and the foundations of the legal profession. Of course, our greatest reward is doing our best for our clients every day.

Best Lawyers 2020
Best Law Firms 2020
OS Bar
Campaign for Equal Justice
Bend Chamber
OR Native American Chamber
ACTEC

Give Back

Community Involvement

We cherish our reputation as legal advisors to Central Oregon. We hold it with great responsibility and find every opportunity to give back to our region. We are sponsors, board members, business advisors, community activists, and residents. We are also dedicated to sustainable business practices and do our part to steward our remarkable natural resources.

Below are just a handful of organizations we are proud to support.

KP Fund Benefitting The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

Karnopp Petersen in partnership with Oregon Community Foundation has established a fund to benefit The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Learn More
High Desert Museum
Family Kitchen
Education Foundation
OR Native American Chamber
Bend Film Logo

Testimonials

Our Roots

KP History

  • 1935

    McKay Opens Practice

    The son of Clyde McKay, one of Bend’s founders, opens a sole law practice on Oregon Street in Downtown Bend, later to become known as Karnopp Petersen LLP.

  • 1950

    Law Firm Panner McKay Founded

    Owen Panner enters into partnership with Duncan McKay. The Law Firm of Panner and Mckay is established.

  • 1955

    Tribal Clients Retain Firm

    The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon becomes a client of Panner and McKay.

  • 1967

    Karnopp Joins Firm

    Karnopp founding partner Dennis Karnopp joins the firm as an Associate Attorney.

  • 1977

    Noteboom Joins Firm

    Jim D. Noteboom joins the firm and dedicates his career to representing The Confederate Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.

  • 1979

    Petersen Joins Firm

    James E. Petersen joins Karnopp Petersen LLP

  • 1980

    Panner Becomes US District Judge

    Nominated by President Jimmy Carter, Owen Panner departs to become a United States District Judge for Oregon.

  • 1992

    First-ever Tax Exempt Bonds for Tribes

    Karnopp Petersen successfully represents The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon in attaining the first-ever public offering of tax-exempt bonds by an Indian tribe.

  • 1995

    Hubel Becomes Federal Magistrate Judge

    Attorney, Dennis Hubel, departs Karnopp to become a Federal Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon

  • 2008

    Fish Accords Agreement

    The Warm Springs Tribes signed the Columbia Basin Fish Accords with the Federal Government in May of 2008, reconciling the Endangered Species Act and the Tribes’ Treaty rights and turned long-time courtroom adversaries into partners in Columbia Basin salmon restoration.

  • 2008

    Noteboom Passes Away

    11/27/2008 Jim Noteboom passes away suddenly from acute leukemia. He is survived by his, wife, 3 children and six grandchildren.

  • 2012

    Petersen Retires

    12/30/2012 - Jim Petersen retires from Karnopp Petersen after 33 years.

  • 2019

    First Female Co-Managing Partners Elected

    Karnopp announces the election of Ellen Grover and Erin MacDonald as new managing partners.

  • 2019

    Howard Arnett Receives 2019 TWANAT Award

    The Museum at Warm Springs honors Arnett for his four decades as an attorney for The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and contributions to Native American Tribal Nations

  • 2019

    Karnopp Establishes Fund to Benefit Warm Springs Tribe

    A donor-advised fund with OCF is established to benefit The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.