Olivia Schneider Grabacki

Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP

The Oregon State Bar (“OSB”) Taxation Section Award of Merit recognizes tax attorneys who exemplify professionalism in the practice of tax law in Oregon, honoring those tax attorneys who serve as role models for other lawyers and whose reputation, conduct, leadership, and public service is truly exceptional.  The Honorable Jill Tanner embodies each of these qualities.

Judge Tanner has paved the way for women in the law, and more specifically, in tax law, for over 35 years.  She worked in private industry, as both an attorney and certified public accountant, implementing domestic and international transactional tax strategies, leading domestic and international due diligence teams, and educating and informing others in legislative working groups at both the federal and state levels.  By serving on the Oregon Tax Court for nearly two decades, including as presiding magistrate judge, she opened doors for other women to pursue a legal career in tax, setting forth an example of integrity and grace on the bench and in the OSB.  This leadership and service are just some of the many reasons the OSB Taxation Section chose Judge Tanner as the recipient of the 2017 OSB Taxation Section Award of Merit.

Judge Tanner has been recognized for her exceptional professional contributions and leadership on many other occasions as well, including the Oregon Women Lawyers Betty Roberts Leadership Award, the Achievement Award from Oregon Commission for Women, the Oregon State Bar President’s Membership Service Award, and the Tax Court Judge of the Year award from the National Conference of State Tax Judges (an organization for which she chaired its annual conference in 2012 as the first woman to do so in thirty years).

After retiring from the bench at the end of 2015, Judge Tanner continues to augment her reputation as a dedicated public and community servant through board positions with local nonprofit organizations, such as the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation, and through her work with the Legal Aid Services of Oregon.

Judge Tanner is an accomplished and well respected member of the OSB, who embodies professionalism for women in the law, and has worked tirelessly to mentor new lawyers and advance opportunities for other women within the profession.  She has shown exemplary leadership and service to the state of Oregon, to the OSB, and to the community in general, and no doubt will continue to do so for years to come.