PORTLAND, Ore. – Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that Oregon Governor Kate Brown has appointed partner Robert Manicke as the judge of the Oregon Tax Court, effective January 1, 2018. Manicke replaces the Honorable Henry Breithaupt, who is retiring at the end of this year. Judge Breithaupt was also a partner at Stoel Rives until he joined the Oregon Tax Court in 2001.
Manicke heads Stoel Rives’ Benefits, Tax and Private Client group and has focused his practice on complex issues of state, local and employment taxation. He has represented clients before the Oregon Tax Court and the Oregon Supreme Court in corporate and partnership tax, personal income tax, employment tax, and property tax cases, as well as in audits and other administrative proceedings. He and his tax colleagues have worked with clients on legislative solutions, and they have represented energy, technology, health care and natural resource clients on economic development incentives, including state tax credits and property tax exemption.
“Robert is an excellent addition to the court,” said Penny Serrurier, Co-Managing Partner of the Stoel Rives Portland office. “We’ll miss him in our Portland office and across the firm, but we’re also happy to see his deep knowledge of tax law put to work for all Oregonians.”
“The court is gaining an excellent legal mind with the addition of Robert to its ranks,” said Jim Torgerson, Stoel Rives’ Firm Managing Partner. “His time at Stoel Rives has been characterized by his leadership and his commitment to excellence in the legal profession.”
Manicke chaired the Oregon Business & Industry’s Business & Finance Committee from 2011 to 2017 and has chaired the Oregon State Bar Tax Laws Committee since 2007. He was named by legal rating service The Best Lawyers in America® as Portland’s Litigation & Tax Controversy "Lawyer of the Year" for 2014 and 2018 and Portland Tax Law "Lawyer of the Year" for 2011.
In addition, Manicke has served as the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany for Oregon and Idaho since 2012.
Manicke received a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in 1984 and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1992. He is admitted to the bar in Oregon, California, Idaho and Washington.