Our Attorneys Joseph J. Leahy . . . joined the firm in January 1976. He serves as a City Attorney for the City of Springfield and as legal counsel for Springfield Utility Board (SUB). His expertise includes all aspects of public law. His private practice focuses on real estate and land use.
Before joining the firm, Joe served in the U.S. Army (Vietnam), was a trial attorney in the Land and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice, and the Lane County Office of Legal Counsel.
Joe grew up in Astoria, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon, and his law degree at the University of Notre Dame. He is admitted to the Oregon State Bar and District of Columbia Bar.
Joe is a member of the Lane County Bar Association and the Oregon State Bar Association.
He currently serves on the Board of the Emerald Empire Art Association. He also has served on the Boards of United Way of Lane County, Lane County Legal Aid Service, University of Oregon Alumni Association, SMART, and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
Bill Van Vactor . . . joined the firm in January 2008. His practice focuses on municipal law, rural land use, and public labor and employment law. Before joining the firm, Bill served as Lane County Counsel and then Lane County Administrator. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon and law degree at Willamette University. He is a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar and a member of the Real Estate and Land Use sections as well as the Employment Law section of the Oregon State Bar; he also is a member of the Oregon Cities Attorneys Association. Bill is a past member of the Pleasant Hill School Board and Budget Committee, Lane County Metropolitan Partnership, and Convention and Visitors Association of Lane County (CVALCO).
Bill is also the past president of the Oregon County Counsels Association and the National Association of County Administrators, Oregon Chapter.
Matthew J. Cox . . . joined the firm in May 2004. His practice focuses on civil litigation, real estate, and contract law. Before joining the firm, Matt was an Assistant District Attorney in Lane County for the Criminal Division.
Matt earned his law degree in 1998 at the University of Oregon, and is a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar.
Mary Bridget Smith . . . joined the firm in July 2007. Her practice focuses on real estate, land use, and municipal law. She previously worked as an assistant City Attorney for the City of Yakima, Washington.
Before practicing law Mary Bridget worked as a navigation officer aboard merchant cargo vessels in the Mediterranean Sea and off the west coast of the United States.
Mary Bridget earned her law degree at Seattle University, and is admitted to both the Oregon State Bar and the Washington State Bar.
Mary Bridget is a member of Oregon Women Lawyers, American Bar Association, and Lane County Bar Association. She also volunteers with assisting foster children in Lane County through the Junior League of Eugene.
Kay Hyde-Patton . . . joined the firm in April 2008. Her practice focuses on estate planning including wills and trusts, and estate administration including probate, conservatorships, and guardianships. Kay also works on business entities, contracts, and trademarks.
Kay previously was a sole practitioner practicing law in Eugene, Oregon. Kay earned her law degree at University of Oregon School of Law. She was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 2003. Before practicing law Kay was in high school education.
Kay is a co-chair of Lane County Bar Association New Members Committee; member of the Oregon State Bar, American Bar Association, and Oregon Women Lawyers. Kay is active in Partners to Improve End-of-Life Care, Rotary, and Business Networking International. She serves on the School Advisory Council for O'Hara Catholic School.
Our Legal Support Team Linda J. Craig, Legal Assistant, 19 years experience Robyn Green, Litigation Legal Assistant, 17 years experience Lisa G. Lowder, Probate Legal Assistant, 11 years experience