Best Lawyers, the country’s original and most well-respected lawyer-rating directory, is pleased to announce that it will honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Kenneth E. Jernstedt and Lester V. Smith, Jr. of Bullard Smith Jernstedt Wilson during its 25th Anniversary Event in Atlanta, Georgia, in April 2009. The Event will be celebrating the distinguished careers of the 1,397 lawyers who have been listed in the publication since it began rating lawyers in 1983.

Ken Jernstedt grew up in Hood River, Oregon, and then migrated to Stanford University for undergraduate work (History AB, 1966) and to the University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall) for law school (JD, 1969). Since 1970, he has practiced labor and employment law in Portland. He has devoted all of his career to representing employers in labor and employment law matters. His practice has focused on collective bargaining, labor contract administration, personnel administration, union organizing campaigns, and National Labor Relations Board proceedings, as well as less frequent labor and employment litigation. His practice has included the negotiation of more than 700 labor contracts.

Les Smith was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Les is a senior partner at the firm. He was a trial attorney with the National Labor Relations Board in 1965 and from 1969-1973. Les served as a Troop Commander and JAG Officer in the U.S. Army during 1966-1969. He was formerly a Chairperson of the Oregon State Bar Section on Labor Relations. Les has devoted his career to collective bargaining, labor contract administration, union organizing, personnel administration and National Labor Relations Board proceedings.

One of the Bullard Law firm’s executive committee members, Fran Barnwell, reinforced the significance of the accomplishment: “Our firm could not be more appreciative of the well deserved recognition by Best Lawyers of Ken and Les’ remarkable careers. They both embody the qualities of outstanding blue-chip labor and employment lawyers – hard working, tough, honorable and practical. Plus they have been, and continue to be, great colleagues and mentors.”

In addition to Ken Jernstedt and Les Smith, Best Lawyers also recognizes outstanding Bullard Smith Jernstedt Wilson attorneys Dave Wilson, Kathy Hindman, and Maryann Yelnosky for Employment and Labor Law and Tom Kramer for Employee Benefits/Erisa.

The Event, to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 23 to April 25, will celebrate thedistinguished careers of the 1,397 lawyers who have been listed in the publication since it began rating lawyers in 1983. It will open with a gala at the Georgia Aquarium on Thursday April 23rd, with remarks by Carolyn Lamm, President-Elect of the American Bar Association. On Friday, April 24th at the St. Regis hotel, attendees will engage in panel-led discussions about changes in the legal profession and legal education over the last 25 years. David Boies, one of the country’s most prominent attorneys, will speak at a luncheon.

All proceeds generated by the event will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"We are so pleased to honor Kenneth E. Jernstedt and Lester V. Smith, Jr. as two of the lawyers who have been with us from the start," says Steven Naifeh, President and founder of Best Lawyers. Naifeh is a Harvard Law School graduate as well as a Pulitzer-Prize-winning author.

Best Lawyers, which published its first directory in 1983, is the oldest lawyer-rating publication in the U.S. The company compiles its listings of outstanding attorneys through exhaustive peer- review surveys. Every year, thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers and Best Lawyers tabulates more than 2.5 million votes. Its annual publication, The Best Lawyers in America, which continues to be the only advertisement-free referral guide to the legal profession, now includes 36,126 attorneys in 78 specialties, covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Best Lawyers now also evaluates lawyers worldwide and publishes its global lists online at http://www.bestlawyers.com/.

“The Atlanta event provides an extraordinary opportunity to recognize the careers of the 1,397 lawyers who have been listed in Best Lawyers from its beginning,” says Naifeh. “They have not only contributed in an exceptional way to the legal profession but most of them have also played important civic roles in their communities. Between them, they represent more than 25 millennia of legal experience. Because their insights into the changes in the legal profession are invaluable, we have focused the panel discussions on the changes in the legal profession during their professional lives. That’s also why we have asked each of them to bring a younger partner and a client to this event, so that they can share their collective wisdom with the next generation of preeminent lawyers.”