Page Tag: Attorneys

Alexis Weyers is an associate attorney whose practice focuses on tax controversy and estate planning. She has represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service and state and local tax authorities and has experience with a variety of taxation matters including audits, appeals, and penalty relief requests. Her practice emphasizes clear legal analysis, and efficient resolution of client issues.

Alexis received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law after receiving her Bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary.  Ms. Weyers was a law clerk to judges of the Virginia Beach Circuit Court and was named a C.V. Starr Lecturer of Law Fellow at Peking University School of Transnational Law, teaching legal research and writing in Shenzhen, China.

In her spare time, Alexis enjoys rowing crew and hiking.

Connor Moran is an award-winning leader and recognized expert in the Oregon tax community with over a decade of experience, including both work in private practice and as an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service – Office of Chief Counsel.  His wide range of experience includes all areas of tax, as well as the law governing business organizations, nonprofit organizations and other exempt entities, trusts, and estate planning.

Connor assists clients of all kinds in resolving tax liability and tax collection issues with the Internal Revenue Service, Oregon Department of Revenue, Washington Department of Revenue, and Portland Revenue Division, resolving cases administratively and litigating when needed before the United States Tax Court, Oregon Tax Court, Washington Board of Tax Appeals, Portland Revenue Division Appeals Board and others.

He has tackled tax controversies and compliance issues for individuals of all income levels, nonprofit organizations, and businesses ranging from single-member LLCs to billion dollar corporations.

Connor also advises numerous nonprofit organizations on tax and governance issues, assisting with formation of new organizations, the seeking of and maintenance of 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, as well as novel structures to support unique approaches to doing good in compliance with tax and other applicable law. His nonprofit clients have included organizations litigating for the public benefit, churches, behavioral health clinics, sober housing facilities, and brand new organizations.

Connor’s many hobbies include taking care of his backyard chickens, playing numerous musical instruments, and crochet.

Adriana G. Cunha is an associate attorney at Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP. She represents clients in a wide range of domestic relations matters, including divorce, custody and parenting time modifications, and prenuptial agreements. Adriana brings a calm, strategic approach to complex legal issues, guiding clients through emotionally charged situations with clarity and care. She has served as both lead and second-chair counsel at the trial level, helping clients achieve favorable results in and out of the courtroom.

Adriana earned her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School, where she was awarded the 2018 Federal Circuit Bench & Bar Scholarship and took first place in the 2020 Davis Wright Tremaine International Law Writing Competition. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Earth Systems Science from the University of California, Merced.

A fluent Spanish speaker, Adriana is committed to accessible and inclusive legal services. She supports these initiatives through her service on the boards of the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association and the Oregon New Lawyers Division Member Services Committee. She is also on the board of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, which supports the Foundation’s mission to raise and contribute funds for programs and services that improve public safety throughout Washington County, especially those not covered by the regular Sheriff’s Office budget. The Foundation also provides support for the care of retired K9 officers.

Outside of the office, Adriana enjoys spending time with her husband and their three cats.

Brandon Torkelsen is a focused and talented tax and business attorney, providing a specialized and individualized approach to issues in tax, business and estate planning. Because legal circumstances or objectives can be complicated, he focuses on breaking down complex problems into manageable pieces with achievable outcomes.

Brandon attended the University of Oregon School of Law, participating in the business law clinic and earning certificates in business transactions and estate planning.  Brandon holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law and is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Washington.  He was recognized as a Rising Star in rankings of Oregon Super Lawyers in 2025.

Outside of work, Brandon enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Jessica McConnell submerges herself in the world of tax and bankruptcy law. Her tax practice focuses on federal, state, and local tax controversies, including both the determination and collection of tax liabilities. Her debtor-creditor practice focuses on representing debtors in all matters relating to insolvency. She has helped hundreds of businesses and individuals efficiently resolve major tax and financial problems. Ms. McConnell has been admitted to the Oregon State Bar, the U.S. District Court – District of Oregon, as well as the U.S. Tax Court.

Well-versed in all areas of tax controversy, Ms. McConnell excels in her practice. She often handles matters regarding complex tax audits, employment tax liabilities, trust fund recovery penalties, and third party tax liabilities such as successor in interest, alter-ego and transferee liability claims. She regularly represents businesses, individuals, and estates with unfiled tax returns, compliance problems, and those with unpaid tax liabilities that are experiencing unwanted and unexpected tax collection. Ms. McConnell assists clients in resolving outstanding tax liabilities with penalty abatements, offers in compromise, installment agreements, collection holds, and discharging taxes in bankruptcy.

Ms. McConnell is an experienced debtor-creditor attorney. She handles a variety of insolvency and bankruptcy matters; a majority of which have tax complexities. Ms. McConnell assists businesses and individuals experiencing financial distress through business liquidations, creditor negotiations, bankruptcy, and by offering financial and operational advice to limit risks or reduce claims against the business and its officers. Ms. McConnell assists creditors with claim protection and collecting judgments.

Ms. McConnell was recognized as a Rising Star in the area of tax law by Oregon Super Lawyers. The annual Rising Stars list identifies the best attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for ten or fewer years. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state receive the honor.

A natural leader, Ms. McConnell works closely with the Oregon State Bar. Dedicated to the practice of law, and sharing her knowledge of her field, Jessica plans and regularly presents educational seminars, serves on legislative work-groups, and pens articles about developments in the law. She volunteers at the Bar’s bankruptcy clinic and provides legal assistance through other pro bono opportunities.

A focused and driven attorney, Walker Clark believes in working directly with his clients to best meet their needs. Walker assists his clients in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, taxation, and business planning. He has been recognized by Oregon Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2018-2025. Walker has been admitted to the Oregon and the Washington State Bar.

After graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in Political Science, Walker spent two years working for a local law firm. There he assisted with pleadings, hearings, and trial prep on a day to day basis. He went on to earn his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. Between his second and third year of law school, Mr. Clark clerked for Federal Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta. Mr. Clark received a pro-bono certificate for his work for Judge Acosta. During his third year he not only received certificates of mastery in taxation and estate planning, but also participated in a non-profit clinic. There he reviewed bylaws and worked directly with the board of a nonprofit to assess the board’s governance. After completing his law degree, Walker obtained an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law.

Outside of work, Walker enjoys spending time with his family and is an avid supporter of the Portland Trail Blazers and Oregon Ducks.

Victoria Blachly is a fiduciary litigator. She is a trial attorney, representing individual trustees, corporate trustees, beneficiaries, and personal representatives in often difficult and challenging cases. Blachly’s cases including trust and estate litigation, will contests, trust disputes, undue influence, capacity cases, claims of fiduciary breach, financial elder abuse cases, and petitioning for court instructions, as well as contested guardianship and conservatorship cases. Since moving on from her state and then federal clerkships in the 1990’s, she found reward in helping her clients with complex family situations. Blachly is licensed in both Oregon and Washington.

Recognized by her peers and her clients.

Since 2014, she has been recognized as an Oregon Super Lawyer in the areas of Trust and Estate Litigation. Only 5 percent of Oregon attorneys are selected by Super Lawyers; these attorneys have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Since 2018, she has been included in Best Lawyers in America ©, for trust and estate litigation. In 2014, she was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services, in 2016, Blachly was appointed to the Uniform Law Commission. The ULC works on nonpartisan proposed legislation to “bring clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law.” She was named a 2015 Portland Business Journal “Woman of Influence.” In addition, Blachly was “described by a peer as ‘very thorough,’ and is well known in the Oregon legal community for her expertise in fiduciary litigation,” in the Chambers High Net Worth 2016 publication.

A national speaker.

Blachly has been writing for and lecturing at national and state legal seminars pertaining to trusts and estates since 2001, and she has engaged in state and national lobbying for updating laws for fiduciaries and vulnerable adults.

Eric Wieland puts his mastery of tax law and sharp attention to detail to work in his practice. He focuses on the areas of Estate Planning, Business Planning, Taxation, Qualified Retirement Plans, ERISA Compliance, and Trust and Estate Administration. The belief that no two clients are alike­ and no set of legal circumstances or objectives are the same ­ is at the heart of his specialized, individual approach.

After graduating with honors from the University of Portland with a degree in Business Administration, Wieland earned a Master of Arts in Teaching while participating in the Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education volunteer program associated with AmeriCorps and spent two years as a high school and middle school teacher and coach. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law where he was awarded the Order of Barristers. Wieland then achieved a LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Oregon, Washington, and Missouri.

Wieland honed his skills as an attorney at the University of Washington’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. There, he represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service in examinations, administrative appeals, and collection proceedings.

Because he has personally benefited greatly from his mentors, Wieland believes in the good of giving back. He combined his still present love for teaching with his love for the law as an adjunct professor at Lewis & Clark Law school. Wieland is a member of the Estate Planning and Administration Section Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) and serves as its Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Chair. Wieland welcomes the opportunity to mentor young lawyers, and pass on the knowledge he has gleaned through his own experiences and through his peers. When not giving back to his legal community, Wieland stays involved and active with his local community as the Chair of his neighborhood association and frequent volunteer with local charities and his church.

Outside of work, Eric enjoys spending time with his family. He coaches his son’s baseball and soccer teams, cooking and baking with his daughter, and indulges in wine tasting with his wife (when they can find the time).