What Sussman Shank LLP does

Sussman Shank LLP is a Portland, Oregon-based full-service law firm founded in 1960 by Gilbert Sussman and his brother Maurice. The firm employs 30-35 attorneys organized across nine practice areas — Business Law, Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy, Consumer Bankruptcy, Employment, Health Care, Litigation, Real Estate and Land Use, Tax, and Trusts and Estates — and seven industry specializations including agribusiness, banking and finance, construction, railroad, and privately held/family-owned businesses. Its client base spans startups, mid-market and enterprise companies, government entities, non-profits, and individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest, with named clients including Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods, Wilco Farmers Cooperative, Neil Kelly Co., and Wilsonville Concrete Products.

The firm generates revenue through traditional hourly billing for legal services, with engagement terms quoted on a per-matter basis. Its go-to-market motion is sales-led and relies on professional reputation, community involvement, attorney referrals, content marketing (187 news items and 43 articles on the firm website), social media presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, and referral flow through its Mackrell International network membership (90 firms in 60 countries). Distribution is direct, via the Portland headquarters at 1000 SW Broadway and a client extranet portal, with no channel partners or resellers.

Technically, Sussman Shank does not operate on a proprietary technology platform. Its technology stack consists of standard legal practice management and client communication tools, with third-party integrations limited to LawPay for invoice payments, Google Analytics for web traffic measurement, and Algolia for site search. The firm holds no patents, has issued no funding rounds, and operates as a privately held limited liability partnership with no parent company or external institutional ownership.

Name

Sussman Shank LLP

Legal name

Sussman Shank LLP

Website

https://sussmanshank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sussman Shank LLP is a Portland, Oregon-based full-service law firm founded in 1960, employing 30-35 attorneys across nine practice areas and seven industry specializations serving businesses and individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Hourly Billing: Traditional hourly billing for legal services including business law, litigation, business restructuring and bankruptcy, consumer bankruptcy, employment, health care, real estate and land use, tax, and trusts and estates practices.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sussman Shank LLP is a full-service law firm providing legal counsel across nine practice areas (Business Law, Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy, Consumer Bankruptcy, Employment, Health Care, Litigation, Real Estate and Land Use, Tax, and Trusts and Estates) and seven industry specializations. The firm represents businesses, government entities, non-profits, institutions, and individuals across the Pacific Northwest on entity formation, transactions, commercial disputes, regulatory compliance, bankruptcy, employment matters, real estate, tax planning, and estate administration. Legal services are delivered via traditional hourly billing directly from the firm's Portland, Oregon office.

Product overview

Sussman Shank LLP is a full-service law firm offering legal services through nine practice areas and seven industry specializations. Its practice areas include Business Law, Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy, Consumer Bankruptcy, Employment, Health Care, Litigation, Real Estate and Land Use, Tax, and Trusts and Estates. These practice areas are complemented by industry-focused counsel in Agribusiness, Banking and Finance, Construction, Health Care, Privately Held and Family-Owned Businesses, Railroad, and Real Estate and Land Use. The firm serves a diverse client base ranging from startups and family-owned businesses to public companies, government entities, nonprofits, and individuals throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Law Corporate legal services including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, contracts, and general corporate governance matters, for businesses ranging from startups to public companies.
• Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy Legal representation for creditors, debtors, and trustees in Chapter 11 reorganizations, workouts, and related insolvency proceedings.
• Consumer Bankruptcy Legal representation for individual consumers navigating Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings.
• Employment Law Counsel on employment law matters including workplace policies, disputes, non-compete agreements, and employer compliance.
• Health Care Legal Services Legal services for health care providers including regulatory compliance, transactions, and litigation support.
• Litigation Full-service litigation including trial and appellate representation, dispute resolution, and strategic trial-readiness for complex commercial matters.
• Real Estate and Land Use Representation in real property transactions, land use entitlements, zoning matters, and commercial leasing.
• Tax Tax planning and controversy representation including corporate tax, succession planning, and tax issues arising in bankruptcy.
• Trusts and Estates Estate planning, probate, guardianship, and trust administration services for individuals and families.
• Agribusiness Legal Counsel Specialized legal counsel for agricultural businesses managing cyclicality, environmental factors, and regulatory compliance unique to the farming sector, including credit, collections, contracts, and agricultural service liens for cooperatives.
• Banking and Finance Legal Counsel Legal services for financial institutions and borrowers including lending transactions, regulatory matters, and creditor/debtor rights.
• Construction Industry Legal Counsel Comprehensive legal support for construction industry clients covering contracts, liens, bond claims, payment disputes, and project documentation.
• Privately Held and Family-Owned Business Counsel Counsel addressing the intersection of business law and family dynamics, including succession planning, ownership transitions, and governance for family-owned and privately held businesses.
• Railroad Legal Counsel Legal representation for railroad operators and related businesses on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Recognized as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in Oregon for 20 consecutive years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Mackrell InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSussman Shank LLP is a proud member of Mackrell International, one of the world's premier networks of independent legal firms. The membership enables the firm to provide clients with efficient access to high quality law firms throughout the world. With 90 firms in 170 offices and 60 countries, Mackrell provides access to more than 4,500 lawyers worldwide. The firm is the Oregon member of Mackrell, recognized by Chambers ranking for 10 consecutive years.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lane Powell PC: Pacific Northwest law firm with Portland and Seattle offices providing business, litigation, real estate, and trusts/estates services — overlapping practice areas with Sussman Shank and serving similar mid-market Pacific Northwest clientele.
• Stoel Rives LLP: Pacific Northwest-founded full-service law firm with Portland office offering business, litigation, real estate, energy, and employment law — comparable practice breadth to Sussman Shank but at a larger scale (~200+ attorneys).
• Tonkon Torp LLP: Portland-based full-service business law firm of similar mid-market size serving Oregon and Pacific Northwest clients across corporate, litigation, real estate, and employment practice areas — directly comparable to Sussman Shank in scale, geography, and service mix.
• Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt: Portland-headquartered Pacific Northwest law firm offering full-service business, real estate, litigation, and intellectual property law — directly comparable in geography and full-service model, though slightly larger bench.
• Miller Nash LLP: Portland-based Pacific Northwest law firm with similar mid-market positioning, offering business, litigation, real estate, and employment law — closely comparable to Sussman Shank in size and target client profile.

Others

• Davis Wright Tremaine LLP: National law firm with strong Pacific Northwest presence offering business, litigation, regulatory, and IP services — overlaps with Sussman Shank's practice areas but serves larger national and international clients.

Broad incumbents

• Holland & Knight LLP: Major U.S. law firm with Portland office offering corporate, litigation, real estate, and government services — competes with Sussman Shank for Oregon mid-market and enterprise clients but operates at national scale.
• K&L Gates LLP: Global law firm with Portland and Seattle offices providing full-service corporate, litigation, and regulatory counsel — overlaps with Sussman Shank's practice areas but at much larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• Perkins Coie LLP: Major Pacific Northwest-founded national law firm with broad full-service capabilities across corporate, litigation, IP, and real estate — competes with Sussman Shank for larger Pacific Northwest clients but operates at significantly greater scale (1,000+ attorneys).

Regional players

• Barran Liebman LLP: Portland-based Pacific Northwest law firm specializing in employment law and business counsel — geographically comparable to Sussman Shank and overlapping on employment and business practice areas, but more focused than full-service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sussmanshank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sussman-shank-llp
• Instagraminstagram.com/sussmanshank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sussman Shank LLP