Of Counsel : Ralph Saperstein

Ralph Saperstein, Of Counsel, received a gift from his parents as a toddler that shaped his personal and professional life - a set of Lincoln Logs, which sparked his fascination with the vast forests of the Pacific Northwest.

A forestry degree from the University of Washington led him to managing forests in Oregon.  As forestry issues became more complex, getting back to the pickup truck at the end of the day was no longer the biggest challenge Ralph faced. The onset of the Spotted Owl/Old Growth Wars led him from ground zero (Roseburg, Oregon, the Timber Capital of the Nation) to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ralph served the forest products industry as an advocate, spokesperson and chronicler of the legal battles, which became synonymous with the spotted owl and related endangered species issues affecting timber harvest levels.  

From representing forest industry organizations, Ralph moved on to the intense duties of representing individual forest product companies in Salem at the Oregon Legislature.  Ralph loves baseball and has witnessed numerous record-breaking plays at stadiums across the country.