Walter Van Valkenburg Headshot
Retired Partner

E. Walter Van Valkenburg

Overview

E. Walter Van Valkenburg is a retired partner no longer practicing law. To connect with an intellectual property attorney, please click here.

Wally Van Valkenburg is a retired partner of the firm. During his time in practice, he served as a trusted advisor and counsel to the firm’s clients across a wide range of industries, including technology, manufacturing, footwear and apparel, sports and entertainment, healthcare, gas and electric utilities, retail, educational institutions, trade associations, and wood products.

Wally’s legal practice focused on complex transactional matters, including M&A, licensing, and commercial contracts, antitrust compliance, and privacy. He was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in Antitrust Law, Copyright Law, Litigation—Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Technology Law, and Trademark Law and by Chambers USA in Intellectual Property.

Wally held a number of management roles with the firm, including Portland Office Managing Partner, Technology and Intellectual Property Practice Group Leader, and Executive Committee member. He also held several leadership roles in the business community, including serving under two governors as Chair of the Oregon Business Development Commission.

Wally was also an instructor at Columbia University School of Law, where he wrote a dissertation on constitutional theory and the First Amendment. After graduating from law school and before practicing law, he was a law clerk to Justice Edward H. Howell of the Oregon Supreme Court.

Education

Columbia University School of Law, LL.M., 1984

Willamette University College of Law, J.D., 1978, summa cum laude; Editor in Chief, Willamette Law Journal

University of Washington, B.A., 1975, cum laude

Experience

  • Represented leading manufacturer of test and measurement equipment in numerous technology transfer transactions, including licenses and other transfers in connection with acquisitions and dispositions valued at over $3 billion.
  • Represented maker of footwear, apparel and equipment in negotiating and drafting various strategic alliances and intellectual property license agreements.
  • Represented developer of small modular nuclear reactor technology in negotiating and drafting a variety of commercial agreements.
  • Represented licensor in license of a software platform for the operation and maintenance of information technology systems related to payment systems and networks.
  • Represented leading manufacturer of production laser systems for micro-engineering applications in strategic alliance involving exclusive distribution of laser systems and future system development.
  • Provided antitrust compliance advice concerning a broad range of commercial transactions, including joint ventures, strategic alliances, product distribution and technology licensing.
  • Advised trade and professional associations concerning antitrust compliance.
  • Represented numerous clients in connection with merger reviews by the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice and in antitrust investigations by the Oregon Department of Justice.
  • Advised clients on various privacy matters, including formulation of privacy policies, review of data protection agreements, and compliance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Insights

Insights & Presentations

  • “Higher education faces challenges ahead,” Portland Business Journal, December 2018
  • “Who Owns a Lecture? University IP policies,” Issue Spotting for Higher Ed Institutions: It’s Not Scary When You Are Prepared, Stoel Rives education seminar, October 2018
  • “Why Portland is Pursuing Amazon,” The Oregonian, October 18, 2017 (co-author with Janet LaBar)

Recognition

  • Named by Best Lawyers® as Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Portland, 2021; and Antitrust Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Portland, 2016 and 2018
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America® (Antitrust Law, Copyright Law, Litigation—Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Technology Law, Trademark Law), 2006–2023
  • Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Oregon) by Chambers USA (Intellectual Property), 2009–2015
  • Listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World

Affiliations

Professional

  • TerraLex, Director at Large
  • Prior general counsel for the 1998 NIKE World Masters Games

Civic

  • Portland State University, Board of Trustees
  • Greater Portland, Inc., former Board Member, (Chair, 2017–2019)
  • Portland State University Foundation, former Trustee, (Chair, 2017–2019)
  • Oregon Business Development Commission, former Chair, (appointed by the Governor, 2003–2013)
  • Oregon Innovation Council, former Member
  • Oregon Business Council, former Board Member
  • Portland Business Alliance, former Board Member
  • Multnomah County Legal Aid Services, former Chair
  • Oregon State Bar, Antitrust, Trade Regulation, and Unfair Business Practices Section, former Chair
  • American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, former President
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