Rick Stone is a retired partner who left an indelible mark on Ball Janik LLP and the Portland legal community. He retired in 2014, after sharing his 40 years of national experience in law and public service with clients and the firm. He was hailed as one of the best business trial lawyers in Oregon and California (by the Portland Business Journal and Los Angeles Daily Journal, respectively). Notably, Mr. Stone’s cases included MAN AG v. Freightliner, LLC in 2006, which was the largest plaintiff’s jury verdict in the United States at the time, as well as the largest punitive damages awarded in Oregon history. As a testament to his superior courtroom skills, Mr. Stone received perennial recognition from the Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, and Oregon Super Lawyers. In 2007, Mr. Stone was named “The Bet-Your-Company Lawyer” by Super Lawyers Magazine.
Prior to joining Ball Janik in 1998, Mr. Stone practiced in Los Angeles for 27 years. He served as the Office Managing Partner at Zelle & Larson LLP (1994-97); Co-Head of the National Litigation Practice and Los Angeles Partner-in-Charge of Litigation at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP (1988-94); Counsel and Partner with Sidley & Austin (1981-88); and Associate with O'Melveny & Myers (1971-77).
Mr. Stone also was a top aide at the Pentagon and the Department of Energy for President Jimmy Carter, served on numerous public boards and commissions, and led high-profile special investigations on behalf of public and private clients. These investigations included the 1992 Los Angeles Police Commission’s study of the City’s emergency response to the Rodney King riots, a 1988 study by the Secretary of Defense on Prevention of Fraud and Waste at the Pentagon, and the owners’ response to state and federal government investigations of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
In addition to holding numerous leadership positions for the state and local bars, Mr. Stone served as President of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, one of the nation’s largest legal aid programs, and was the founding Chair of Dispute Resolution Services, Inc., a nationally-recognized Alternative Dispute Resolution program. He also was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
Mr. Stone was a treasured mentor and counselor to many Ball Janik lawyers.
Honors
Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2012
Oregon Super Lawyers list, 2007-2011
Chambers USA Industry Leader, Litigation: General Commercial, 2009-2011
