Stacy Linden Stacy Linden

Stacy Linden of the American Petroleum Institute is joining Stoel Rives as a partner in the firm's Washington, D.C., office.

Linden was vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at API. She formally joins Stoel Rives on July 15.

“I've had an amazing 12 years [at API], but among the many things that drew me to this firm was the extraordinary caliber of its professionals,” Linden said.

Linden said she entertained other opportunities—such as going in-house at energy companies and other law firms. But she said she'd worked with lawyers at Stoel Rives as outside counsel for close to 10 years and saw their camaraderie firsthand.

Among other matters, Portland-based Stoel Rives has handled a lawsuit for API challenging the federal government's application of the Endangered Species Act that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices declined to hear that case last year.

Linden's practice involves federal and state rulemaking work, litigation, compliance, and energy and environmental regulation. She said she expects to continue working with API, but now was the right time to make a move because she was ready for a change.

“I reached a point where I began to question whether there's more that I could do,” Linden said.

She joined API in 2007 after nearly a decade in Big Law, became managing counsel in 2009, and was named GC in 2014. She was previously an associate at then-Hogan & Hartson from 2004 to 2007; an associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft from 2002 to 2004; and an associate at Jones Day from 1999 to 2002.

“Stoel Rives is committed to building a law firm that attracts bright, motivated, like-minded attorneys who enjoy working together as a team to solve our clients' challenges,” said Jim Torgerson, the firm's managing partner, in a statement. “Adding a professional of Stacy's caliber to our energy and natural resources team strengthens our well-established capabilities supporting clients nationwide.”

The firm's Washington office has four lawyers, not counting Linden, according to its website.

Linden is not the only API alumnus on the move in D.C. in recent weeks. Erik Baptist, former senior counsel at API, left the upper ranks of the Environmental Protection Agency for Wiley Rein in a move announced earlier this month.