An experienced litigator and dedicated advocate for public education in her community, Carol Reese Orton is Of Counsel to the Firm. During the 1980’s and 1990’s, Carol spent fifteen years engaged in business, commercial and insurance coverage litigation, trying cases large and small, and representing a variety of corporate and individual clients.

Carol graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University in 1978, and earned her J.D. degree from Indiana University School of Law in 1981. She began her legal career at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, and then practiced law for ten years at the San Francisco office of Gordon & Rees, where she became a partner.

In 1995, Carol gave up her partnership at Gordon & Rees to devote more time to raising her two young children. Since then, in addition to working for a time as a legal writing instructor at Stanford Law School, Carol has been active in advocating for public schools in her community. Carol was on the board of the Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation from 1996 through 2002, serving as its president in 2000-01. During her tenure as president, the Foundation raised and contributed almost $1 million dollars to the local elementary school district. Carol also has served on the board of the Foundation for the Future, Menlo-Atherton High School (2005-2007).

Carol completed a four-year term on the Menlo Park City School District Board of Trustees (2002-2006). She served on the Steering Committees of two successful school finance measures to benefit the Menlo Park City School District: The Committee for YES on Measure A (1999-2000), and The Committee for Excellence in Education: Yes on A and B (2003).

Carol is married to Luther Orton. She has two children and three stepchildren, and lives in Menlo Park.