The Agricultural Law Section elects new executive members each year at its annual meeting. Listed below are the current members of the executive committee for 2026.
Immediate Past Chair Nellie McAdams grew up part time on her family’s hazelnut farm in Gaston, which she is training to take over as the third generation. She is Executive Director of the Oregon Agricultural Trust, a statewide, agricultural land trust that helps Oregon farmers and ranchers protect their land and pass it on to future generations while keeping it in production. She also serves as the Board President of 1000 Friends of Oregon and as a board member of Housing Land Advocates.
Chair Abby Fitts is a partner at Barran Liebman LLP. She represents agriculture employers across Oregon in litigation and transactional needs. She and her family live outside Independence on beautiful river bottom farmland that has been growing filberts, row crops, grass and mint – as well as several generations of Fitts kids – for nearly 80 years. Before becoming a lawyer, Abby served as a linguist in the Navy for 10 years. She graduated magna cum laude from Willamette University in 2016 and has been advising and representing farmers, ranchers, seed companies and vineyards in their employment needs ever since.
Chair-Elect Steven Cade has a passion for nurturing life, whether it be plants, animals, or people. A partner at Sussman Shank in Portland, his litigation and appellate practice encompasses a wide variety of agricultural topics, including lien law, property rights, water rights, succession planning, bankruptcy, and lender litigation. He works with farmers, ranchers, and suppliers to help them resolve disputes, and plan ahead to avoid future conflicts. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Steven served with the 101st Airborne for three years. In 2010, Steven graduated with honors from the University of Oregon School of Law.
Secretary Aaron Bell grew up on a farm that became a nursery, and his first entrepreneurial experience was owning his own sheep-shearing business. He drove a mint combine, moved irrigation pipe, and hauled hay before starting law school at Willamette University College of Law. Aaron is a Shareholder at Buckley Law and has more than 35 years of experience representing businesses of various sizes and lenders. Licensed to practice law in Oregon and Washington, Aaron is well versed in the unique challenges in the agricultural industry. He regularly represents farmers, nursery owners, processors, suppliers, and lenders.
Treasurer Shawna Pederson has been serving individual and business clients since 2002. Born and raised in Weiser, Idaho, she benefits from deep family roots in farming and small business. She graduated magna cum laude from Gonzaga University and the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College. At S Peterson Law, LLC, Shawna focuses her practice on estate planning, estate administration, and advising businesses in Oregon and Idaho. Shawna also serves as Executive Director of the Eastern Oregon Economic Development Board. She lives in Ontario with her husband and their three children.
Kathryn “Cassie” Peters founded Cassie Peters Legal, a transactional business law practice based in Eugene, in 2015. Cassie represents a wide variety of businesses in the Willamette Valley and throughout Oregon, including small farms, cannabis businesses, restaurants, retailers, and others. In addition to her transactional work, she helps her cannabis clients navigate the complex licensing and compliance issues inherent in a rapidly evolving and highly regulated industry, and she frequently represents landlords or tenants in lease negotiations and drafting. She is an avid gardener and loves being outside as much as possible.
Scott Barbur Scott is partner at Barbur Law LLC, a firm specializing in estate planning, real property and business law with offices in Milwaukie and Tillamook, Oregon. Scott started his practice in Milwaukie in 2012 and expanded into Tillamook in 2020. He joined forces with his law partner Laura Laskey in 2021 and the firm adopted its current name in 2024. Scott practices in real property, estate planning, and probate and trust administration for the firm. Scott’s practice includes assisting clients with selling, purchasing, and leasing of agricultural lands and assisting with the governance of agricultural businesses. Scott also serves as a board member of the Tillamook County Sheriff’s Foundation and Robert Riggert Family Foundation in Tillamook and as an advisor to the board of directors of the Milwaukie Historical Society.
Chris Criglow is a partner and current chair of the Real Estate and Construction Practice Group at Stoel Rives LLP. Chris focuses his practice on real estate and business transactions and counseling across industries and asset classes focusing particularly on agricultural lands and investment(e.g., permanent and row crop), timberlands investment, renewable energy project development (e.g., solar, wind, and storage), infrastructure development projects (e.g., RNG), and complex project development (e.g., manufacturing, distribution, etc.) including “greenfield” development and “brownfield” re-development projects.
Courtney Moran
William Fig
Sarah Freifrau Von Banhans
Elise Balin Hill is an associate attorney at Falen Law Offices whose practice focuses on natural resources, public lands, oil and gas, water, and agricultural law. She developed a passion for agriculture and natural resources while growing up on her family’s fourth-generation potato, hay, grain, and cattle operation in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Elise represents landowners, farmers, and ranchers in negotiating and developing oil, gas, geothermal, pipeline, grazing, and crop contracts. She holds a Master of Environmental Law and Policy and has substantial experience with Endangered Species Act matters, including Habitat Conservation Plans and Conservation Benefit Agreements. Recognized for her scholarship in western water law, Elise brings a practical, production-focused perspective to her practice. Elise practices in both Oregon and Wyoming.