Top Rated Estate Planning and Probate Attorney in Portland, Oregon
Meet Shawn Menashe
Meet Shawn Menashe
More In This Category
View Transcript
So mentors in the practice—I was a huge beneficiary of quite a few mentors in our firm, from Ron Gtz to Eric Larson to my father, Albert Manashi. They all taught me different things, but what stands out to me the most is a lesson my dad taught me early on: we’re in the people business. He asked me, “What’s your job as a lawyer?” and I naively said, “To win—to win cases.” He looked at me and smiled and said, “It’s to create a happy client.” That really stuck with me. I thought, “Well, that makes sense,” and he explained there are three basic pieces to creating a happy client in the service business.
One is creating an incredible experience. Second is getting incredible outcomes. And third is providing a reasonable price. He reminded me that while you have less control over the outcome, you have complete control over the service and experience. Our firm has always considered itself the Blue Ribbon standard in providing high-level service to ensure the client has as little fear of the unknown as possible and is well-educated to make informed decisions.
One consistent piece of advice I give clients throughout the process—considering how emotionally charged and difficult it is, and how personal it feels—is that it’s not just where you end up, but how you get there that’s critically important. It’s easy to go down to the lowest common denominator and do things you’d regret later. I often remind clients, because I’m usually working with great people going through a tough time, that we want to get through this process with grace and integrity. At the end of the day, you want to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of how you got there—not just that you got there.
This is even more important when you have kids and are thinking about future moments, like sitting at graduations or volleyball games together. I feel like I’m always reminding clients of that one key piece: integrity and grace, being proud of how you got there—not just that you got there.
Portland, OR family law attorney Shawn Menashe talks about his mentors in the practice and shares his most common piece of advice to clients. Mentorship has played a pivotal role in his practice. He was fortunate to have several mentors within the firm, including Ron Gtz, Eric Larson, and his father, Albert Manashi. Each mentor taught him valuable lessons, but one that stands out most is a principle his father instilled early on: they are in the people business. His father once asked, “What’s your job as a lawyer?” and he initially responded, “To win—to win cases.” His father smiled and clarified, “It’s to create a happy client.” This idea resonated deeply, and his father went on to explain that in the service business, there are three essential components to creating a happy client.
First, it’s about creating an incredible experience; second, achieving excellent outcomes; and third, offering a reasonable price. His father also reminded him that while the outcome is not always fully controllable, the level of service and the client experience are entirely within their control. The firm has always considered itself the Blue Ribbon standard in providing high-level service, ensuring clients experience minimal fear of the unknown and are well-informed to make empowered decisions.
A consistent piece of advice he offers clients, especially considering how emotionally charged and personal the legal process can be, is that it’s not just about where one ends up, but also about how they get there. It can be tempting to fall to the lowest common denominator and make decisions that might lead to regret later. He often reminds clients, particularly those navigating tough situations, to move through the process with grace and integrity. Ultimately, he emphasizes the importance of being able to look in the mirror and feel proud of how they handled the journey, not just that they reached the destination.
This perspective is even more crucial for clients with children, as it shapes future moments like sitting together at graduations or sporting events. He continually reminds clients of this key aspect: to uphold integrity and grace, and to be proud not only of where they arrived but also of how they got there.
