Ana B. Tinker-Colwell

Attorney Profile

Ana B. Tinker Colwell

EDUCATION

• University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., with a concentration in Environmental Law
• Northern Arizona University, B.A. Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Personal Background

I was born in Korea and raised in Japan, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico. Growing up around the world gave me an extraordinary opportunity to experience diverse cultures, learn new languages, and enjoy an incredible variety of cuisines. Most importantly, however, it allowed me the invaluable gift of living amongst people of many nationalities. Those experiences taught me to appreciate different perspectives and deepened my understanding of how we are all connected through our shared humanity.

I eventually settled in Phoenix, Arizona where I married and raised my family of three daughters.

As a citizen of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, I had a strong desire to advocate for tribal communities though the practice of Indian law, natural resources protection, and environmental law. In 2017, my family and I moved to Eugene so that I might attend the University of Oregon School of Law and pursue that goal.

After graduating, we realized we didn't want to return to the Arizona desert. Instead, we preferred to make the Pacific Northwest our home. After so much travel, I finally found a true sense of belonging here, surrounded by the region's beautiful coasts, rain, forests, and welcoming communities.

I am the newest attorney at Strohman Ford and feel very fortunate to have been accepted by this incredible group of people who work hard every day to ensure our clients have an experience where they feel valued and know that their wishes will be respected. Although I am new to estate planning, I have the privilege of learning from Mr. Strohman and Mr. Ford, whose mentorship is providing me with a strong foundation in this area of law.

Even in my short time with the firm, I have had the opportunity to meet many of our clients and have been reminded of a lesson that has stayed with me throughout my life: regardless of where we come from, people want to be seen, heard, valued, and treated with respect.

I hope to bring those values to every client I have the privilege of serving.

Professional Background

Before attending law school, I worked as an HR generalist for a small company, where I developed a strong foundation in workplace relations and organizational operations. During law school, I was awarded the prestigious Wayne Morse Environmental Law Fellowship, which allowed me to work for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. During my time with the ODFW, I helped the agency navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding Tribal treaty hunting and fishing rights on Oregon lands.

After graduating from law school, I served as a judicial clerk at the Lane County Circuit Court. In that role, I observed a broad range of criminal and civil proceedings, assisted with jury trials, and conducted legal research on a variety of issues for the judges' chambers. This experience provided valuable insight into the judicial process and strengthened my legal research and writing skills.

Following my clerkship, I worked as a public defender for more than a year. In that role, I zealously advocated for my clients by negotiating plea agreements with district attorneys and representing clients in court through hearings and trials. The experience sharpened my courtroom advocacy, negotiation, and client counseling skills while reinforcing my commitment to ensuring every client received dedicated and effective representation.