Our Firm

	TODD TRIERWEILER Attorney/Owner toddtr@bankruptcylawctr.comTodd Trierweiler is the owner of Todd Trierweiler & Associates, a consumer and small business bankruptcy firm that he started in 1985.Currently employing six attorneys, his firm has represented over 25,000 clients over the past 24 years.He is licensed in both Oregon and Washington, and has handled cases from throughout Oregon and S.W. Washington.Todd earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1978, where he earned membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.His law degree is from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1985.Todd is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy at continuing legal education seminars, is a member of the Oregon State Bar’s Debtor/Creditor Executive Committee, and has authored revisions to both the Oregon State Bar reference works on Bankruptcy Law and Family Law.Other attorneys regularly consult with Todd regarding bankruptcy ramifications to their clients. Married with two children, Todd enjoys getting out of the office with the family to investigate frog habitats.
	STEPHEN GINDLING Attorney stephengi@bankruptcylawctr.comStephen received his Bachelors of Arts from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts and his Juris Doctor from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark in Portland, Oregon. He is admitted to the Oregon and Washington State bar.
	GERALD PEDERSON Attorney geraldpe@bankruptcylawctr.comGerald (Jerry) Pederson graduated from Wabash College with a degree in Ancient Greek and Philosophy. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Classical Languages and Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and took coursework towards earning a PhD in Ancient Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduate school, he worked for The Princeton Review for six years as a teacher, manager, and Regional Director for a five-state area. He then enrolled in law school at Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College, graduating in 1996. He is a member of the bar in Oregon and Washington, and has argued cases before the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit. Jerry worked for Todd Trierweiler and Associates from 1997 to 2003. He then served as Staff Attorney for Chapter 13 Trustee Karla Forsythe until that office closed in 2009. He rejoined the firm in November, 2009. Married with three children, Jerry stays busy coaching chess and sports. He is also an avid birder and volunteers with the Audubon Society of Portland.
	CATHERINE YARNES Attorney catherineya@bankruptcylawctr.comCatherine joined the firms Chapter 13 department in 2011. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Arizona in 2001 and she received her Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University in 2010. Catherine was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in October 2011. Prior to joining the firm Catherine was an attorney with the Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP) in the Portland office of Legal Aid Services of Oregon. Catherine volunteers for the VLP Bro Bono Bankruptcy Clinic and she is a member of the Debtor Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar. In her spare time Catherine enjoys spending time with family and friends and spoiling her dog.
	AMBER DAVIS Office Manager amberda@bankruptcylawctr.com
	STEPHANIE RIFE Paralegal stephutt@bankruptcylawctr.comStephanie Rife joined the firm in 2000 as a paralegal. Her duties include typing and signing the petitions with our clients. She graduated from Purdue University in fall of 2000. She received her bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and a minor in English Studies. Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband and kids. She is an avid sports fan and enjoys watching football.
	BRENDA ELKINS Paralegal brendael@bankruptcylawctr.comBrenda works directly with Stephen Gindling, our Chapter 7 Washington attorney. She assists our Washington clients with all aspects of their case including preparation for 341 Meetings with the Trustee, objections to claims, avoiding judgment and mortgage liens. She is also in charge of overseeing the Electronic Case Filing. Brenda enjoys her weekends keeping busy with her family and playing with her awesome wiener dog “Oskar”! Brenda has been with our firm since 2000.
	SUE BAILEY Paralegal sueba@bankruptcylawctr.comSue Bailey has 10 years experience as a bankruptcy paralegal. She currently works with our Oregon and Washington clients with the preparation and filing of Chapter 7s and 13s.
	JULANN MARTIN Bookkeeper julannma@bankruptcylawctr.comJulann is the bookkeeper for the office.
	NINA HAMMAN Client Manager/Paralegal ninaha@bankruptcylawctr.comNina joined our firm in 2010 as our Client Coordinator. Specializing in Client Care and Customer Relations, Nina is your liaison between your Attorney and your Paralegal assisting our clients with respect to answering questions, acquiring necessary documents and paperwork to discussing your short term and long term needs regarding your financial situation.
	DONNA J SMITHDonna graduated from Northwood University with a bachelors degree in business and received her law degree from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College. Donna was an associate with Todd Trierweiler & Associates from 2002 through 2006; she rejoined the firm in 2014. In addition to bankruptcy experience, her background includes a working knowledge of state court litigation and debt settlement practices. She is licensed in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. Married with grown children, Donna enjoys exploring Portland and the great outdoors with her husband and grandchildren.
	MIKE BLASKOWSKYMike has been an attorney since 1984,and since 1997 has been exclusively in bankruptcy law, both in private practice and as a legal analyst for the District of Oregon Bankruptcy Court. He has spoken at several continuing legal education seminars, speaks at the Canby High School “Credit Abuse Resistance Education” (CARA), and has coauthored a section of the Oregon State Bar’s treatise on Bankruptcy law. Mike earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) in 1981, and a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1984. Mike enjoys travels around Oregon and Washington with his wife, and tries to get outdoors for hiking and cycling as often as possible.