Martha Pagel, a widely respected water and natural resources lawyer and shareholder at Northwest law firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, was recently named recipient of the Oregon State Bar’s Environmental and Natural Resources Section Award. The award recognizes attorneys who demonstrate leadership, service, and outstanding contributions in the areas of environmental and natural resources ‎law in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest Region. Pagel practices out of Schwabe’s Portland and Salem, Ore. offices.

“Martha is extremely deserving of this distinction,” said Mark Long, managing partner at Schwabe. “Her entire career is marked by leadership and outstanding contributions in her field of practice. She is great lawyer and a great colleague.”

As a former Director of both the Oregon Water Resources Department and Department of State Lands, Pagel focuses her law practice on water law and policy. Her clients include farmers, ranchers, nurseries, vineyards, mining operations, resorts and golf courses, municipal water suppliers and many other types of landowners. She has been active for many years in policy development through the legislative and rulemaking processes.

Pagel currently serves as chair of the Attorney Advisory Committee for the Western Resources Legal Center and she is a fellow of the prestigious American College of Environmental Lawyers. She is consistently listed among The Best Lawyers in America and has been recognized by Oregon Super Lawyers for her work in water and natural resources law.

A graduate of San Diego State University and the Willamette University College of Law, Pagel is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.