Heather Anne Marie Kmetz

Heather is a tax lawyer and Chair of the Sussman Shank LLP's Business Group. Heather assists individuals and businesses in establishing tax-sensitive wealth preservation plans and transactions and serves as outside corporate counsel for a variety of closely-held businesses, helping them to develop and transition their business.
 
Heather's professional practice is focused in the following areas:

• Taxation
• Estate and Wealth Preservation Planning
• Business Succession Planning
• Foreign Account Reporting (Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program)
• Trust and Estate Administration
• Nonprofit Organizations Law
• Corporate and Partnership Law

Heather earned a degree in journalism from Northwestern University and pursued a career in nonprofit development and public relations prior to receiving her law degree and a federal certificate in taxation from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College. She has authored several articles and is an active lecturer. 

Licensed to practice in Oregon and Washington, Heather is a member of the American Bar Association, the Oregon State Bar, the Washington State Bar Association and the Multnomah Bar Association. She is active in the work of regional civic organizations, including the Oregon Business Association, a non-partisan, statewide, business coalition that seeks to build Oregon's long-term economic competitiveness, the City Club of Portland, an education- and research-based civic organization dedicated to community service, public affairs and leadership development, and the New Progressive Network (dba Oregon Bus Project), a progressive, nonpartisan organization that develops and promotes positive public policy in the areas of education, environmental protection, equal rights, equality of economy, health care and election reform.  Additionally, Heather serves on the Northwestern University Alumni Admission Council.

Heather is married to Stan Cocke, who is a real-time energy trader with PacifiCorp. Heather and Stan are parents to Emilie Ann and they share their home with a rescued black kitty ("Lily"). Heather's recreational interests include sailing, skiing, ballet, biking, tennis, hiking and golf