Experience

A partner in the Real Estate Section of the firm's Development Law Group, Mark works with owners of real estate, development entities and public bodies purchasing, developing, financing and leasing commercial real estate and natural resources. He also works with numerous companies, including US, Japanese and Canadian entities, which own or occupy real estate in connection with their general business operations.

Mark served six years as a Rear Admiral, culminating a 35-year career in the United States Navy in active and reserve capacities. Mark served as the commander or director of eight military organizations with as many as 3,000 personnel, and served extensively with the U.S. Submarine Force and joint military commands.

Representative Work

Purchase and Finance

• Represented Brookfield Asset Management in connection with the acquisition of Longview Fibre Company. Coordinated legal team due diligence for 600,000 acres of timberlands in Oregon and Washington. Negotiated real property and timberland aspects of $1.2 billion in short-term acquisition financing, and $1 billion in long-term secured financing. Coordinated transfers of all timberlands to newly formed subsidiary.
• Led US legal team support for Knorr Foods Co., Ltd., in connection with the structuring, negotiation and closing of the acquisition by stock purchase of New Season Foods, Inc., a food processing operation in Washington County, Oregon.
• Assisted private owner in the purchase and financing of various Joe's (formerly GI Joe's) big box retail properties.

Real Estate Development

• Worked with Downtown Vitality Partners and The Columbian Publishing Company to acquire and redevelop six blocks of downtown property. Included construction and leasing of a six-story headquarters building and Class A office space. Coordinated transfers of land and negotiation of covenants and development agreements to facilitate City development of new Hilton Hotel and Conference Center.
• Negotiated long-term ground lease and transfers of city vacated property for development of a five-story, Class A office building on a gateway I-5 interchange to Vancouver, Washington.

Public Entity, Private Entity Development and Negotiation

• Represent the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District in the development of a 90,000 square foot main library facility, as part of a four block, high-rise redevelopment with public parking facility in Vancouver, Washington. Worked with District to acquire and develop two additional library facilities.
• Assisted the Lake Oswego Corporation, the owner and operator of Oswego Lake, in the negotiation of easements and other agreements with the City of Lake Oswego for the City's proposed $90 million, buoyant sewer interceptor through Oswego Lake.

Professional Honors & Activities

• Member, Washington State Bar Association
• Member, Oregon State Bar Association

Civic Activities

• Chairman and Member, Board of Directors, Columbia Economic Development Council
• President and Director, Community Foundation for Southwest Washington
• President and Board Member, Southwest Washington Independent Forward Thrust
• Chairman, Clark County United Way Campaign
• Member, Board of Directors, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette (four-county area)

Publications

• "Temporary Regulation Implements Oregon's 2008 Tax Withholding Statute for Real Estate Transactions—and a Reminder About Other Withholding Requirements", Stoel Rives Development Law Group -- Real Estate, Land Use & Construction Lawyers Legal Update, Sep. 18, 2008

Education

• University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1978
• Northwestern University, B.A., 1970, with honors
  Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

• Oregon
• Washington

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