Ransom Blackman and Boise Matthews

In 1977, Marc Blackman and John Ransom, along with a third former Assistant United States Attorney, founded what would become known as Ransom Blackman LLP.

For 36 years, Marc and John practiced together and were known as lions of the Oregon criminal defense bar. Both Marc and John were recognized in the original edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in 1983 and listed every year thereafter.

Marc Blackman headed west the day after his last exam at Yale Law School to clerk for Chief Justice Kenneth O’Connell of the Oregon Supreme Court and, later, serve as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. Marc’s private practice quickly evolved from straight-forward criminal defense to representing people who, more broadly, had a lot to lose. Whether a person was being criminally investigated or learned that a governmental entity such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Oregon State Bar, or the Oregon Medical Board was conducting an inquiry that could end their career, Marc was the lawyer they wanted in their corner.

Marc was an active leader in the legal community, serving as the President of the Multnomah Bar Association, Chair of the Oregon State Bar Bar-Press Broadcasters Council, President of the Gus J. Solomon American Inn of Court, and on numerous committees of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon and the Oregon State Bar. Marc passed away on January 1, 2014. His contributions to the Oregon legal community at large, and Ransom Blackman LLP in particular, were immeasurable. He is greatly missed, but never forgotten.

John Ransom began his career in Washington, DC (first with the Office of Chief Counsel for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, then the D.C. Corporation Commission and, finally, as an Assistant United States Attorney). In 1973, he moved to Oregon, becoming an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

From the outset of his criminal practice, John handled a broad range of white collar defense matters, including federal and state environmental enforcement actions, tax matters, federal food and drug administration proceedings, federal securities law matters, mail and wire fraud actions, criminal investigations and actions under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO), as well as more traditional crimes. Through the years, John had many high-profile cases, representing Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, people the government alleged were part of terrorist organizations, and prominent members of Portland’s business community. Whether his clients were high profile or low, John provided the same fierce advocacy and steady guidance to everyone he represented.

In 2017, John received the James M. Burns Federal Practice Award (Criminal), which is awarded to an attorney who demonstrates the highest standard of professionalism in their work as a criminal law practitioner in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. John passed away on July 4, 2021. He is greatly missed as both a friend and a mentor.

Kendra M. Matthews joined Marc and John’s practice in 1998 following a two-year clerkship with the Oregon Court of Appeals. In Marc and John, she found mentors, role models and friends. She learned how to be a lawyer from the very best, becoming their partner in 2005. One focus of her practice was appellate litigation—representing individuals before the Ninth Circuit, the Oregon Supreme Court, and the Oregon Court of Appeals. Kendra was first selected for The Best Lawyers in America® for her appellate practice in 2013, and then her criminal practice 2018. In 2019 and 2023, through Best Lawyers, her peers recognized her as Lawyer of the Year for General Practice Criminal Defense in Portland.

Kendra devoted a significant part of her practice to serving the legal community. At different times, she served as the President of Oregon Women Lawyers, and President of the Gus J. Solomon American Inn of Court, Chair of the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners, and co-chair of the Women in White Collar Defense Association. She also regularly presented at continuing education programs and taught classes at Lewis & Clark Law School. In 2023, the Oregon State Bar awarded Kendra the OSB President’s Special Award of Appreciation for her years of service to the Oregon legal community.

Whitney P. Boise began his criminal defense practice in 1987. He counted Marc and John among his closest professional colleagues. He mentored Kendra in her early years and came to think of her as a colleague as well. In 2015, he joined John and Kendra as a partner. In 2016, in recognition of the evolution of the firm, Ransom Blackman LLP became Boise Matthews LLP. In a decade of partnership, Kendra and Whitney carried on the Ransom Blackman commitment to excellence. Outstanding attorneys, Josh B. Ewing, Laney B. Ellisor, and Bridget M. Donegan, all spent time at the firm.

In September 2025, Kendra took a position within the Oregon judicial department allowing her to focus more of her daily practice on public service.

Conor Huseby spent nearly two decades honing his litigation skills as a public defender at first the state level and then at the Oregon Federal Public Defender’s Office.

In September 2025, Whitney and Conor then formed a partnership, Boise Huseby LLP. The firm’s core principles remain the same as they were when Marc and John hung their first shingle in 1977: Success comes from not only having an in-depth understanding of the facts and the law, but from having an equally deep understanding of your client. No matter the client’s circumstances, that client knows that the firm is committed to providing them with the best possible representation.

Whitney and Conor take pride in the firm’s outstanding roots and they pride themselves on their decades of work demonstrating the same high standards.