Barnhisel Barlow Stephens & Smith P.C.
Peter L. Barnhisel
Admitted to Practice in 1966
Practice Emphasis
Preparation for trial of complex cases; appeals; arbitrations; administrative hearings; probate administration; trust and will preparation; banking law; conservatorships and business entities (sole proprietorships, LLC’s, partnerships, joint ventures, corporations): negotiations.
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Education
University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., 1966
Stanford University, B.A., 1961
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Oregon State Bar Association
Board of Governors, 1974-77
Board of Bar Examiners, 1979-82
State Professional Responsibility Board, 1988-91
Estate Planning Section Executive Committee, 1981-83
Construction Law Section Executive Committee, 1992-94
Litigation Section Executive Committee, 2008-Present
Federal Bar Association
United States District Court
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
United States Supreme Court
Lawyer Representative, Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, 1989-92, Chair 1991-92
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Publications
Guardianships and Conservatorships, Oregon State Bar, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2009
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Relationships Between Federal and State Courts, Federal Civil Litigation in Oregon, Oregon State Bar, 1994, 1996, 2002, 2009.
Community Activities
Board of Directors, Benton County Bank, 1978-1993
Elder and Trustee, First Presbyterian Church, Corvallis
Corvallis Arts Center, Board of Directors
Past President, Corvallis-OSU Symphony Society
Trustee, Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation
Oregon Coast Aquarium Board of Directors
Benton County Historical Society
Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission 1990-95 (chair 94, 95)
Corvallis Benton County Public Library Foundation
John L. Barlow
Admitted to Practice in 1981
Practice Emphasis
Employer-employee relations including: preparation of employee manuals, handbooks, contracts, non-competition and non-disclosure agreements; state court litigation of employee claims; contested complaints before Employment, Wage and Hour, and Civil Rights Divisions of Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries.
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Education
Stanford Law School, J.D., 1981
University of Oregon, B.A., 1978
Professional Affiliations
Pro Tem Circuit Court Judge
Oregon State Bar Association
Benton County Bar Association
Representative Cases in Family Law
LIND and LIND, 207 Or App 56 (2006):
Preserved client’s substantial property interest
BOYD and BOYD, 226 Or App 292 (2009):
Increased Spousal Support
HIXSON and HIXSON, 235 Or App 217 (2010):
Substantially increased wife’s property share
GAY and GAY, 250 Or App 31 (2012):
Preserved Husband’s separate business property interest
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Bar Association Activities
Member, Disciplinary Board, 2005- Present
Member, State Professional Responsibility Board, 1994-1997
Member, Oregon State Board of Bar Examiners, 1988-1991 (Chairman, 1990-91);
Member, Uniform Civil Jury Instructions Committee, 1986-1989.
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Cary B. Stephens
Admitted to Practice in 1995
Practice Emphasis
Construction law, land use, real property disputes, business law, and general civil litigation in Oregon State and Federal Courts.
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Education
University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., 1995

University of Oregon, B.S., Cum laude, 1991
Professional Affiliations
Oregon State Bar Association
Benton County Bar Association
American Bar Association
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Community Activities
Downtown Corvallis Association Board 2003 to 2010- President 2005-2006
Economic Vitality Partnership committee member 2005
Member of Citizens Open Space Advisory Committee 1999-2006, Chair 2000-2005
Board Member of Greenbelt Land Trust 1998-2003, 2005-2010, Vice President, 1999-2001, 2005-2007, President 2002-2003, 2008-2010
Board Member of Institute for Applied Ecology 2012-Present
Keri J. Smith
Admitted to Practice in Oregon in 2008
Admitted to Practice in Washington in 2004
Practice Emphasis
All areas of Family Law, including divorce issues, division of property, child custody, child support, spousal support paternity matters, unmarried couples, and modifications.
Education
University of Idaho College of Law, J.D. 2004
University of Idaho, 2001
Professional Affiliations
Oregon State Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association
Linn-Benton Bar Association
Associations
American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers - Oregon Chapter, 2023-Present
Current Secretary, 2024
Oregon State Bar, Family Law Executive Committee, 2016 - Present
Current Chair, 2024
Benton County Family Law Advisory Committee, 2017 - Present
Linn County Mediation Commission, 2018 - Present
Oregon Women Lawyers - Linn Benton Chapter
President 2014-2020
Linn-Benton Bar Association
President 2015-2018
Community Activities
Board of Directors, Chamberlain House 2023-2024