Stoel Rives announces executive shifts

Christopher Pooser

Nicole Hancock

Stoel Rives LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm, announced that Christopher Pooser has been named office managing partner of the firm’s Boise office. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the office, supporting its business activities and recruiting efforts. In his new role, he succeeds Nicole C. Hancock, who was appointed to Stoel Rives’ Executive Committee on January 1, 2021.

Pooser, who joined Stoel Rives’ Boise office in 1998, has built a practice representing clients in commercial litigation matters in federal and state appellate courts. He argues before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Idaho Supreme Court and advises Stoel Rives attorneys on creating appellate arguments in California and the firm’s other offices. He is the co-founder and past chair of the Idaho State Bar’s Appellate Practice Section and was an editor and contributor to the Idaho Appellate Handbook (6th ed. 2019). He serves as an appellate lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and is a member of the Idaho Supreme Court’s Appellate Rules Advisory Committee. As office managing partner, he will be involved in planning for the return of Stoel Rives’ attorneys and support personnel in Boise to the office post-pandemic, optimizing efficient use of the firm’s office space to provide a safe work environment for all staff.

Hancock joined the firm in 2003. She is a partner in Stoel Rives’ Litigation practice group, and will continue her practice as a trial attorney, in addition to her new role on the Executive Committee. A litigator who has first-chaired trials in federal and state courts, arbitration, and regulatory actions, she also serves as outside general counsel for companies, using her prior experience as in-house counsel for a global seed company to provide legal services that mitigate against corporate risk and exposure. She served as Boise Office Managing Partner from 2015 to 2020. The seven-member Executive Committee provides strategic leadership and direction for Stoel Rives, delegating operational management to the firm managing partner, Melissa Jones, and making all operating decisions and policies for the partnership.