Clarence Belnavis Receives Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award from Oregon State Bar

PORTLAND (March 5, 2020) – Fisher Phillips, a national labor and employment law firm representing employers, announced today that Clarence M. Belnavis, Regional Managing Partner of the firm’s Portland office, is the 2020 recipient of the Oregon State Bar’s Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award. The award is named after an esteemed member of the federal bench and honors a member of the bench or bar who exemplifies the highest personal and professional standards.

At Fisher Phillips, Clarence serves as Regional Managing Partner of the firm’s Portland office, leading strategic growth opportunities and client service initiatives for the firm’s Pacific Northwest presence. He is a trial attorney who defends his clients in all aspects of employment litigation, from disability and discrimination claims to wrongful discharge. When not in the courtroom, he focuses on preventing his clients from getting there. Clarence provides counseling and trainings on managing disability and return to work issues, updating employee handbooks and implementing termination policies and procedures.

Clarence is admitted to practice in Oregon and Washington and currently serves as the chair of the Labor and Employment Section for the Oregon State Bar. He has been listed in Chambers USA since 2006 and The Best Lawyers in America since 2009. Clarence has been recognized as a leader in his local communities, having been named Portland’s “Top 40 Under 40” by The Portland Business Journal and honored as a "Convocation on Equality Champion" by the Oregon State Bar for his work in advocating for a more diverse workforce across the country. He earned his undergraduate degree from Florida Atlantic University and his J.D. from Howard University School of Law.