Divorce Law Maven Faces Own Breakup
July 12th, 2005, The Portland Tribune

Could there be a divorce in the works for the well-known family relations law firm of Stahancyk, Gearing, Rackner & Kent?

Seems there's been an exodus of 10 lawyers and support staff at the Portland-based firm, including two of the partners listed in the firm's name. Laura Rackner, David Gearing and three other lawyers in the firm's office recently left and formed the new firm of Gearing, Rackner & Engel LLP. Three administrative staff members left to work for the new firm.

Rackner said there were "philosophic differences and we decided to leave. We're hoping to break off with good, amicable feelings."

Firm founder Jody Stahancyk, who has earned a reputation as a barracuda for her wealthy divorcing clients, said the departures were "something that was not unplanned."

"These people are still my friends, but they wanted to practice law in a different way. Doing things like feeding the Lincoln High football team before games was not what they wanted," she said. "They wanted to practice law in a traditional way."

Two others also recently headed out the firm's revolving door, including lawyer Tiffany Minus-Martinez, who now works for the Lake Oswego firm of Buckley LeChevallier PC.

Stahancyk, whose new firm is Stahancyk, Kent, Johnson & Hook, said she still would make referrals to her former colleagues, and was looking forward to the courtroom comptetition. "We've played doubles for so long it will be good to face someone new across the net."