June 1, 2009 - Foster Pepper PLLC, a full-service law firm since 1904 and headquartered in Seattle, WA, with a branch office in Spokane, WA, and Foster Pepper LLP, an independent but affiliated business law firm located in Portland, OR, today announced the termination of their affiliation relationship. The Portland firm has changed its name to Roberts Kaplan LLP, effective June 1, 2009.

The 21-year relationship has ended amicably, with a difference in business philosophies the basis for the decision, according to Robert Kunold, Jr., Foster Pepper PLLC’s Executive Committee Chair. “We have been affiliated for many years and have appreciated our relationship with the Roberts Kaplan attorneys. We wish our friends at Roberts Kaplan well. We will continue to serve our mutual clients through a combination of Foster Pepper and Roberts Kaplan attorneys.”

Roberts Kaplan Managing Partner, Joel Kaplan, said, “Over the years the practices of our two firms have changed and it became clear we were moving in different directions, and so we made the decision to part ways. We have enjoyed the relationships we’ve built with Foster Pepper attorneys and hope to continue them. We wish our former Seattle and Spokane colleagues continued success.”

Roberts Kaplan’s 26 attorneys provide legal services to businesses, including corporate transactions, banking, commercial litigation, private equity funds, estate planning, and cooperative law. Kaplan said “We are a new law firm 20+ years in the making. You’ll find the same attorneys and our continuing commitment to help our clients find business solutions. We’re very excited about the launch of our new website at www.robertskaplan.com.” Kaplan also noted that Roberts Kaplan will continue to serve its Washington clients through their lawyers who are licensed in that state.

Foster Pepper remains one of the largest full-service firms in Washington, with a variety of strong local, regional and national practices, including in real estate, land use/environmental, corporate/M&A, private equity, banking, bankruptcy, litigation, employment and labor, municipal/public finance and health care.