Steven B. Ungar

Shareholder | Portland | 503.778.2064 | ungars@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Steven Ungar specializes in governmental investigations, white collar defense, corporate governance, subpoena response and crisis management. He has handled high-profile matters for major corporations and Native American tribes, and is recognized for mitigating damages for businesses and individuals facing complex legal problems.

Clients seek him for his expertise in:

Advising Boards of Directors for corporations and nonprofits on strategic and compliance issues.
Functioning as special counsel to Native American tribal elders.
Navigating through complex governmental investigations and prosecutions.
Coordinating civil litigation with governmental investigations and prosecutions.

Steven is chair of the Oregon State Lottery Commission, serving by gubernatorial appointment since 2005.

Compliance and Investigations

Steven has extensive experience helping clients address matters of corporate compliance, governmental investigations and prosecution related to:

Securities fraud, insider trading, tax evasion
Broker-dealer issues, bank and bankruptcy fraud
Computer crime and Internet-related investigations
Environmental regulations and compliance
Obstruction of justice and perjury

His familiarity with governmental agencies, investigators and prosecutors frequently translates into favorable rulings and dispositions for Lane Powell clients facing complex matters.

Crisis Management

Steven has decades of experience representing and assisting individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations in managing crises. This experience encompasses formal legal representation, public and media relations, internal investigations and coordination with government investigations.

Native American Legal Affairs

Steven for years has been an effective special counsel to Northwest tribes on jurisdictional and economic matters. He is associated with the Northwest Intertribal Court System (NICS) to provide legal assistance to Tribal boards and councils, focusing on:

Tribal Governance
Bureau of Indian Affairs matters
Financial restructuring
Personnel matters
Crisis management

In another highly innovative arrangement, he is collaborating with other nationally recognized attorneys associated with Native American tribes to help them take advantage of new federal allocations for renewable-energy projects on tribal lands.

Admitted to Practice

Oregon
Washington
U.S. Supreme Court
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon

Academics

University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri (J.D., 1979)
Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (B.A., 1975)

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

Co-Chair, White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Compliance and Special Investigations Practice Group
Health Care
Litigation
Long Term Care and Seniors Housing Client Service Team
Native American Affairs

Representative Matters and Clients

Crisis management and public relations coordination for numerous corporate and individual clients.
Special counsel to Indian tribe, focusing on governance, financial restructuring, personnel matters, negotiations with BIA and other federal agencies, crisis management.
Conduct internal investigation for several health care provider clients, each under investigation by HHS-Office of Inspector General, arising from allegations of former employee/whistleblower.
Special Counsel to Christian church whose belief in faith healing were under attack by local prosecutors alleging their illegality.
Law firm specializing in taxation arising out of tax shelter opinions given on behalf of clients who became targets of a federal criminal investigation.
National account executive accused of IP theft, computer crime and related violations in federal investigation fueled by a former employer.
Special Compliance Counsel for operator of various nursing home and assisted living facility operators.
CEO of Oregon Port Authority in EPA/DEQ civil and criminal task force investigation by multiple state and federal regulators and prosecutors.
Regional law firm and member lawyers under criminal investigation and state bar investigation for alleged conspiracy and fraud in the procurement of government funds.
Bank holding company’s Board of Directors, consulting with general counsel on as-needed basis, addressing fraud audits, employee fraud, ID fraud, Patriot Act and related structuring issues. Emphasis on coordinating with multi-agency task force investigations and government regulators (state and federal).
Broker of Fortune 100 Company facing grand jury investigations into conspiracy, tax fraud and money laundering.
Former Vice President of Technology at Enron Broadband, Inc., witness in ongoing Enron Task Force investigations and prosecutions.
Former CEO/CFO of public company facing indictment by the DOJ alleging Sarbanes-Oxley violations, accounting fraud and securities fraud.
Commercial lender under parallel investigations by state Attorney Generals and the FTC for fraud and deceptive trade practices by its alleged participation in a Ponzi scheme.
Pastor of “mega-church” facing civil, criminal tax and securities violations.
IRS criminal investigation for alleged conspiracy to commit tax fraud and money laundering for alleged off-shore banking and tax violations.
Individuals and entities under investigation for antitrust violations by the United States Department of Justice investigating international trade cartels.
Securities broker with major mutual fund under investigation by SEC and New York Attorney General, alleging “market timing” and after-hours trading violations.
Real Estate developer and appraiser prosecuted for SBA, HUD and bankruptcy fraud.
Internet gaming company targeted in SEC and parallel criminal fraud investigation.

Awards and Honors

Peer Review Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell
Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, 2005-2011
Named as an Oregon “Super Lawyer,” Oregon Super Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White Collar, 2006-2009
Named one of Portland’s Best Lawyers by Portland Monthly, 2006-2008
American Civil Liberties Union (Montana), Special Commendation for 10 years service as President (1994)

Professional and Community Activities

Chairman, Oregon Lottery Commission, appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski
Member, Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of Portland’s Community Relations Committee (since 1998)
Governor’s Judicial Screening Committee, interviewing judicial candidates for vacancies and other appointments, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
American Bar Association, White Collar Crime Committee
Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), New York City – National Board of Directors (2001 – 2008)
Stanford Jazz Workshop, instruction and performance (drums) (1978-Present)