FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTLAND, ORE. (December 6, 2012) – Port of Portland Taps Krista Koehl as New General Counsel

Port of Portland Executive Director Bill Wyatt has named environmental and land use attorney Krista Koehl as the Port’s new general counsel. She will replace Carla Kelley who is retiring from the Port on January 3, 2013.

Krista Koehl

Koehl has been with the Port since 2004, first serving as assistant general counsel and most recently as general manager of the Portland Harbor Environmental Program.

“Krista is a proven leader with a well-rounded legal and managerial background and a deep understanding of Port issues, said Port Executive Director Bill Wyatt.” Her experience as a lawyer, client, program manager and supervisor has given her the ability to see the big picture while having a steadfast attention to detail that will make her a valuable addition to my management team.”

Prior to joining the Port, Koehl served as an associate attorney at Stoel Rives where she represented clients in administrative and civil litigation involving environmental citizen suits, agency enforcement actions, insurance cost recovery and water rights applications.  She also led complex regulatory projects in the areas of clean-up, Clean Water Act permits and hazardous waste compliance. Since joining the Port, Koehl has broadened her experience to include public contracting and land use. 

Koehl has a B.S. in Environmental Policy from Ohio University and received her law degree from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College.

Koehl is a founding board member and chair of the education committee of Women in Environment which fosters networking, mentoring and education for women professionals in the environmental field. She also serves on the governing committee of Regional Arts and Culture Council’s Right Brain Initiative.

Carla Kelley has served as general counsel of the Port of Portland since February 2002 managing a team of seven attorneys, seven support staff and several law student interns. After retiring from the Port, Kelley plans to join the Portland law firm of Miller Nash. 

“Carla has created a very strong in-house legal team able to serve the diverse needs of the Port’s business lines and activities,” said Wyatt.  “From the legal aspects of the Lower Willamette Superfund site and the deepening of the Columbia River navigation channel to bond financings, leases, litigation and legislation, Carla has served the Port well and we wish her all the best in this next, exciting chapter of her life.”