SEATTLE, Sept. 22, 2017
/PRNewswire/ -- Stoel Rives LLP is pleased to announce that partner
Alan R. Merkle has been made
Chevalier de l'Ordre Nationale du Mérite
(Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the French government.
San Francisco Consul General Emmanuel
Lebrun-Damiens conferred the honor on Merkle in recognition
of his role in enhancing business and cultural connections between
France and the American Pacific
Northwest over the last 20 years.
"Each time I come here, I can see firsthand the density of the
economic relations between France
and Washington State,"
Lebrun-Damiens said during the award presentation on Sept. 15. Merkle played "a key role in the
construction of this deep and mutually beneficial relationship,"
Lebrun-Damiens continued.
First established in 1963, the National Order of Merit is
awarded by the president of France
to French citizens or foreign nationals in recognition of at least
10 or more years of distinguished military or civic contributions
to French society.
Lebrun-Damiens noted that Merkle has been involved with the
French-American community for more than two decades. Merkle served
as a board member of the French-American Chamber of Commerce of the
Pacific Northwest for 12 years before becoming its president in
2009. He also serves as Executive Vice President of the U.S.
French-American Chamber of Commerce, which creates strategic
initiatives to enhance business and cultural connections between
France and the United States.
On behalf of Washington Gov.
Jay Inslee, Schuyler Hoss, Director of International
Relations and Protocol, noted that Merkle has been a trusted
advisor to several Washington
governors and has played a key role in establishing mutually
beneficial economic relations with French companies in the state of
Washington.
About Stoel Rives LLP: Stoel Rives is a
leading U.S. corporate and litigation law firm. One of the largest
national firms focused on energy, natural resources, climate change
and the environment, Stoel Rives
also serves the agribusiness, food and beverage, health care, life
sciences, and technology industries. With more than 350 attorneys
operating out of 10 offices in seven states and the District of Columbia, Stoel Rives is a leader in regulatory and
compliance matters, and business, labor and employment,
intellectual property, land use, and real estate development and
construction law.
Contact Stoel Rives LLP: Jasmine Trillos-Decarie, Chief
Business Development Officer, 206.386.7637
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SOURCE Stoel Rives LLP