Kell Alterman & Runstein, LLP

	Firm history


	Kell, Alterman & Runstein: A Portland Institution Few Portland firms have as rich a history as Kell, Alterman & Runstein, which celebrated its 75th anniversary on May 17, 2004. The firm helped pioneer public power in Portland, helped conceive and create the TriMet mass transit system, and represented many of Portland's longest-tenured businesses. And though Kell, Alterman & Runstein has evolved through the years into a general-practice firm, it is still influenced by the outsized personalities of its founders. Kell, Alterman & Runstein traces its roots to 1929, when Gus Solomon established a practice in downtown Portland, relying on business from friends, acquaintances, and word of mouth. Solomon, a graduate of Stanford Law School, cultivated a varied clientele but counted public power as a pet project. The community-minded Solomon actively supported the creation of a public-utility district in Portland, along with the development of the Columbia River hydrosystem. In 1939, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) was created, and Solomon became the liaison between the public-power movement and the BPA. The BPA's primary mission was to deliver electric power to underserved rural and urban areas. In 1940, Solomon met Ray Kell, a graduate of Harvard Law School and member of the BPA legal staff. The like-minded lawyers quickly bonded, and after war service in the Navy, Ray Kell joined Solomon in April 1946. Renaming the firm Solomon & Kell, they centered their practice on public power and a local farmer's union, the Oregon Grange. Over the ensuing years, the firm underwent several changes. In 1949, President Truman appointed Solomon as a U.S. District Court Judge. Ray Kell continued to work in the public power and Grange circles, while also actively supporting a number of community initiatives. Cliff Alterman joined Ray Kell in 1955, and the firm was renamed Kell & Alterman. Alterman was known for his intellect and near-photographic memory, and his personal skills contributed to the firm's growing stature. In the following years, the two-person firm cultivated an impressive list of clients, including the Port of Portland and the Columbia River Pilots, in addition to Portland's mayor and most of the City Council. In 1968, Ted Runstein, a trial lawyer with experience at the U.S. Department of Justice and Oregon Legal Aid, joined the firm, bolstering its litigation capacity. Lee Kell, Ray's son, joined shortly afterward, bringing with him an accounting and business background. In 1969, Kell & Alterman helped create TriMet out of the city's crumbling half-private/half-public mass transit system. The pair, who had earned a reputation as devoted community advocates, helped conceive a streamlined, more efficient bus system. Current partners Charlie Williamson and Bill Dickas joined the firm in the mid-'70s as litigation specialists. Williamson left in 1978 to serve in elected office as a Metro councilor but rejoined the firm in 1988. In 1981, Eric Sogge, Wayne Palmer, and Gary Compa brought their respective business, litigation, and taxation expertise to Kell, Alterman & Runstein, further broadening the firm's general-practice reputation. It now includes such practice areas as domestic relations, personal injury, and family law, along with its traditional business and litigation focus. The practice of Kell, Alterman & Runstein has continued to grow, and still boasts a proud community focus as a supporter of Oregon Legal Aid and a host of other organizations. The firm's lawyers are on the boards of such local associations as the Oregon Red Cross, Oregon Advocacy Center, Mt. Hood Community College, the American Cancer Society in Clark County, and the Oregon Health Forum. Kell, Alterman & Runstein is located in the historic Pacific Building near Pioneer Courthouse, a distinguished space befitting a firm that helped contribute to the landscape of the city. Back to top of page