Phone: 503-944-6969 Fax: 503-222-7261 Email: khobson@williamskastner.com V-Card

888 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 600 Portland, OR 97204-2025

Experience

Karen Hobson is a business and tax attorney in Williams Kastner's Portland office. Her practice focuses on business transactions, estate planning and tax planning. Ms. Hobson has experience with pre-formation planning, entity formation, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and contractual interpretation issues. She provides strategic tax and legal advice to help clients achieve their business goals. In addition, she regularly assists clients with their estate planning needs. She drafts all the necessary documents to implement a comprehensive estate plan and is experienced in estate and trust administration.

Ms. Hobson also advises on ERISA and employment issues. She is experienced in preparing employee benefit plan documents and summary plan descriptions to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. Ms. Hobson also defends employers against claims of discrimination, including responding to employee BOLI complaints.

During law school, Ms. Hobson served as a judicial extern at the Oregon Tax Court. While an extern in the Tax Court, Ms. Hobson worked on state and local tax issues in both the Regular and Magistrate Divisions.

Emerging Estate Plan Questionnaire

Professional Experience

Williams Kastner, Associate | 2011 - Present
Bullivant Houser Bailey, Associate | 2008 - 2011

Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Multnomah Bar Association
• Oregon State Bar (Business Law Section, Estate Planning Section and Tax Section)
• Oregon State Bar, Bar Exam Co-Grader (2010)
• University of Wisconsin Alumni Association - Portland Chapter, Board of Directors (2010 - Present)
• Multicultural Kidney Education Program (MIKE) Program, Board of Directors (2009 - 2010)
• Oregon State Bar, Pro Bono Committee (2009)

Articles and Publications

• Co-Author, "Death and Taxes are Certain, Both Addressed in Latest Tax Bill," Bullivant eAlert, December 2010.
• Co-Author, "Big Breaks for Small Businesses," Bullivant eAlert, October 2010.
• Co-Author, "Low Interest Rates Provide Taxpayers With Unique Opportunity To Avoid Estate And Gift Taxes," Bullivant eAlert, May 2010.
• Co-Author, "The End of the Estate Tax?," Bullivant eAlert, January 2010.
• Co-Author, "2010 Roth IRA Conversions," Bullivant eAlert, November 2009.
• Author, "Small Employers Take Note - AB 23 Provides Notice and Second Chance Opportunities for Certain Involuntarily Terminated Employees Under Cal-COBRA," Bullivant eAlert, May 2009.
• Author, "IRS Issues Additional Information on COBRA Subsidy Under ARRA," Bullivant eAlert, April 2009.
• Author, "New Model COBRA Notices Under ARRA's Federal Subsidy," Bullivant eAlert, March 2009.
• Author, "Employers Beware - New Mandatory COBRA Payment and Notice Requirements," Bullivant eAlert, March 2009.
• Co-Author, "R&R: Shining a Little Light on the Relief Provided by the Recovery Act," Bullivant eAlert, February 2009.
• Author, "Renewable Energy Projects Shine in the Federal Stimulus Act," Bullivant eAlert, February 2009.
• Author, "Hold On To Your Money! - Relief For Your Retirement Plan," Bullivant eAlert, December 2008.
• Author, "Immediate Tax Relief for Revitalization of Contaminated Property," Bullivant eAlert, December 2008.
• Co-Author, "The IRA Charitable Rollover - An Innovative Tax Benefit for You and Your Designated Charity," Bullivant eAlert, November 2008.

Media Coverage

• “Avoid Estate Planning Miscues,” Portland Business Journal, March 16, 2012.
• “Pro Bono Spotlight – Karen E. Hobson,” Multnomah Lawyer, December 2011. (Reprinted with permission, Multnomah Bar Association)

Seminars and Presentations

• Co-Presenter, "Thrive: Living the Life, Leaving the Legacy,"  Portland, OR, April 26, 2012.
• Co-Presenter, "Thrive: Living the Life, Leaving the Legacy,"  Portland, OR, October 20, 2011.
• Presenter, "Sustainability and the Law," Seattle University, 2009.
• Co-Presenter, "Green Building: Advantages and Risks," Construction Financial Management Association, April 23, 2009.