Dunn Carney is pleased to announce that Elizabeth C. Knight has assumed the role of managing partner at the firm, effective May 1.
Knight succeeds Jonathan A. Bennett, who had begun his 15th year as managing partner at the time of the transition. She becomes the first woman to serve as managing partner at Dunn Carney.
Knight, a litigator with extensive experience in state and federal courts, joined the firm in 1999. Her practice areas include commercial litigation, condemnation, legal ethics and legal malpractice defense. Knight is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and previously served as the firm’s Hiring Partner and chair of Dunn Carney’s charitable giving and pro bono programs. She has served as President of the Campaign for Equal Justice Board of Directors, and as the Secretary and Treasurer of the Multnomah Bar Foundation Board of Directors. The Oregon State Bar recognized Elizabeth with the President’s Public Service Award in 2015 for her pro bono work and service to the profession.
“I am honored to step into this role and continue the legacy of strong leadership at Dunn Carney,” said Knight. “I look forward to working alongside our talented attorneys and staff to build on our firm’s success.”
Bennett, who has served as managing partner since early 2011, will continue his practice in real estate, construction and design, and business law.
“I have complete confidence in Elizabeth’s leadership and vision for the firm. Her commitment to our clients, our team, and the legal community will serve the firm well in the years ahead,” Bennett said. “Participating in management and leading our firm have presented challenges and rewards I could not have imagined when I started my legal career. As managing partner you have the opportunity to really get to know and work with a broad range of very talented lawyers, administrators and staff, most of whom the partners only interact with on a limited basis. Of course the role comes with its challenges. Recovery from the Great Recession and managing the firm through the unprecedented times of the COVID pandemic come to mind as the most notable.”
Established in 1930, Dunn Carney is one of Oregon’s largest law firms, offering practical legal solutions in areas including real estate law, business law, litigation, and estate planning and administration. The firm is Oregon’s only member of Meritas, a global alliance of independent law firms.
