EXHIBIT 5.1
Perkins Coie LLP
1120 NW Couch Ave, 10th floor
Portland, OR 97209
PHONE: 503-727-2000
FAX: 503-727-2222
www.perkinscoie.com
February 28, 2013
Columbia Sportswear Company
14375 NW Science Park Drive
Portland, Oregon 97229
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Shares of Common Stock of Columbia Sportswear Company (the Company)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to you in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the Registration Statement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act), which you are filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to up to 1,500,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the Shares), which may be issued pursuant to the Companys 1997 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the Plan).
We have examined the Registration Statement and such documents and records of the Company as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of this opinion. In giving this opinion, we are assuming the authenticity of all instruments presented to us as originals, the conformity with originals of all instruments presented to us as copies and the genuineness of all signatures.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that any Shares issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan, upon registration by its registrar of such Shares and the issuance thereof by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and the receipt of consideration for such Shares in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Perkins Coie LLP