Experience

• Represented high-tech company in manufacturing plant expansion projects including delay, productivity, and defect claims arising from facility construction (Oregon and Arizona) and in preparing contract forms for international use.
• Represented major trade subcontractor in delay and impact claims on natural gas compressor station upgrade (California).
• Represented municipality regarding CMGC contract forms and delay and impact claims on sewage treatment plant expansion (Oregon).
• Represented public airport owner on runway and taxiway installations, terminal upgrades and related projects, including procurement documents, bid protests, construction and design contracts, and claims (Oregon).
• Represented largest Oregon county on CMGC contracting issues and claims on bridge projects (Oregon).
• Represented EPC prime contractor in litigation involving design and construction of ethanol plant (Oregon).
• Represented EPC prime contractor in litigation involving design and construction of wine bottle manufacturing facility (Washington).
• Defended national prime contractor against environmental penalties levied by municipality arising out of accidental water line break (Oregon).
• Represented product manufacturer in major equipment refurbishment contracts to upgrade manufacturing process (Nevada).
• Represented design firm in contract negotiations with design build prime contractor on sport stadium project (Oregon).
• Represented design firm in contract negotiations and disputes over public library and school district projects (Oregon).
• Represented transportation district in expansion of light rail (multiple projects, Oregon).
• Represented developer/owner in 45-party litigation matter involving defects in 500-unit apartment complex (Colorado).
• Represented developer/owner in commercial high-rise project in Portland (Oregon).
• Represented developer/owner in multiple contracts and litigation matters for western states hospitality developer/owner (California, Oregon, Washington).
• Represented developer/owners in multiple contracts and litigation matters for several national multifamily developers (multi-state).

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

• Named by Best Lawyers^® as Litigation – Construction “Lawyer of the Year,” Portland, 2021; and Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Portland, 2015 and 2018
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (currently: Construction Law, Litigation – Construction), 2007–2022
• Chair, Oregon Construction Claims Task Force (appointed by Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services), 2007–2008
• Listed in Oregon Super Lawyers^® (Construction Litigation, Real Estate), 2006, 2008–2013, 2015–2022
• Member of practice group nationally ranked by U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® “Best Law Firms,” 2010–2022
• Selected as one of Oregon Business Journal’s Top Forty Under 40 (Oregon’s Top Professional and Business Leaders)
• Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
• Past lead counsel to the Board, past chair of the Legal Committee, Associated General Contractors
• Past member of the Board of Directors, Oregon State Bar Construction Law Section
• Member: Construction Industry Forum Committee, Public Contract Law Section and Litigation Section of the American Bar Association; and Real Estate, Construction and Government Law Sections of the Multnomah Bar Association

Civic Activities

• Participating attorney and past Program Manager, MCLAS Pro Bono Clinic
• Received Pro Bono Award, Multnomah County Legal Aid Service, 1997
• Member of the Board of Directors, March of Dimes, Lewis & Clark chapter, 2002–2006
• Top Individual Fundraiser for March of Dimes (multiple years)
• Board Member and Vice Chairman, Valley Catholic Schools, 2016–2019
• Volunteer Basketball Coach, 2008–2018

Sample Speaking Engagements / Articles

• “The Infrastructure Boom is Coming—Are You Ready?” (presenter & co-chair), 26th Annual Oregon Construction Law Seminar, The Seminar Group, September 2021
• “Preventing and Resolving Disputes Generated by Defects and Failures,” HalfMoon Seminar, April 8, 2021
• “Adopting Practices that Reduce Defects and Failures” HalfMoon Seminar, April 8, 2021
• “Why Early Mediations Often Fail, and Possible Remedies,” Daily Journal of Commerce, December 22, 2020
• “Owners Are People, Too” (presenter & co-chair), 25th Annual Oregon Construction Law Seminar, The Seminar Group, September 2020
• “A Glimpse at the Next 12 Months of Construction,” Portland Business Journal, May 22, 2020
• “The 10 Things I (the Owner) Hate About You (the Contractor)” (presenter & co-chair), 24th Annual Oregon Construction Law Seminar, The Seminar Group, September 12 & 13, 2019
• “Sizing up Your Seismic Risk,” “How to Prepare for the Next Wave of Construction and Development Litigation,” The New Normal: Preparing for Portland’s New Development Trends, Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, OR, October 24, 2018
• “Owner Issues in Advanced Construction Contracting” (presenter & co-chair), 23rd Annual Oregon Construction Law Seminar, The Seminar Group, September 27 & 28, 2018
• “Effectively addressing changes during a fast-paced job,” Daily Journal of Commerce, September 21, 2018
• “Know the risks of cross-laminated timber before beginning your project” (co-author), Portland Business Journal, September 11, 2018
• “Crane Swingway Easements,” The Seminar Group: Easements in Oregon, February 10, 2017
• “21st Annual Oregon Construction Law” (co-chair), The Seminar Group, September 22 & 23, 2016
• “Self-Imposed ADA Audits: The Developer’s Best Option,” Daily Journal of Commerce, September 16, 2016
• “The Trend Towards Liability Waivers in Design and Construction,” Daily Journal of Commerce, September 19, 2015
• “Construction Projects and ADA Accessibility Compliance,” Strafford Publications, Inc., May 21, 2013
• “ADA Claims: The Buck Stops with Developers,” Daily Journal of Commerce, November 23, 2012
• “Evolving Concepts of ‘Fairness’ in Construction Contracts,” Daily Journal of Commerce, May 17, 2012
• “The Increasing Presence of Special Purpose Entities,” Daily Journal of Commerce, November 17, 2011
• “Competitive Bidding in Oregon,” The Seminar Group, March 31, 2011
• “Public Contracting for Construction - A Survival Guide for Oregon Public Agencies,” Stoel Rives LLP, March 3, 2011
• “Do You Want the Cheapest Contractor, or the Best Contractor?” Oregon County Counsel Association, November 18, 2010
• “Green and Sustainable Design and Construction,” The Seminar Group, September 23, 2010
• “Doing Business With the Government” (coauthor), Advising Oregon Businesses, 2009 supplement
• “Green Building/Key Contract Clauses,” Oregon District Attorneys Association, 2009
• “Counseling Green,” Urban Land Institute, 2009
• “Ten Ways to Mitigate Risk When Going Green,” National Expositions, 2009
• “Developers Must Think Carefully When Creating LLCs,” Daily Journal of Commerce, 2008
• “The Tension Between ‘Collaboration’ for Success and ‘Liability Allocation’ Upon Failure,” The Seminar Group, 2008
• “Green and Sustainable Design and Construction,” The Seminar Group, 2008, 2009
• “Top Ten Clauses to Get Right in Your Design and Construction Contracts,” Oregon District Attorneys Association, 2008
• “Owners and Developers Construction Tips & Traps,” Stoel Rives LLP, 2008
• “The Policy & Politics of Change,” NEBC, 2008
• “Legal Issues Regarding Green Building,” Lorman Education Services, 2008
• “Struggling Condos Present Takeover Issues,” Daily Journal of Commerce, 2007
• “State of Oregon’s Construction Claims Task Force Brings 11 Recommendations to Legislature,” Daily Journal of Commerce, 2007
• “Public Construction in the New Era,” Oregon District Attorneys Association, 2007
• “Assume Too Much and A-Team’s Work Ends Up an F,” Daily Journal of Commerce, 2006
• “Product Warranties Do More Harm Than Good,” Daily Journal of Commerce, 2006
• “Construction Defects, Water Intrusions and Other Calamities,” The Seminar Group, 2006
• “Understanding the Construction Process from the Developer’s Perspective in Oregon,” Lorman Education Services, 2005, 2006
• “Top 10 Developer Insurance and Risk Traps,” Urban Land Institute, 2005, 2006
• “Developer/Contractor Licensing,” NAIOP, 2005
• “Today’s Endorsement May Spell Tomorrow’s Disaster,” Daily Journal of Commerce, 2005
• “Using AIA Contracts on Public Improvement Projects,” OSB Government Law Section, 2005
• “Oregon State Procurements,” The Seminar Group, 2005
• “Public Contracting Approaches,” The Seminar Group, 2004
• “CMGC and Design/Build AIA Forms,” Lorman Education Services, 2004
• “Solving Water Intrusion and Mold Problems in Oregon,” Lorman Education Services, 2002, 2003, 2004
• “The Mold Epidemic,” The Seminar Group, 2003
• “Performing a Fungal Assessment—Legal Issues,” NEBC, 2003
• “Construction Contracting for Public Agencies in Oregon,” Lorman Education Services, 2002
• “Technology and Construction,” Stoel Rives LLP, 2001
• “Federal Bid Protests,” Lorman Education Services, 2000
• “CMGC, Design-Build and Other Alternative Approaches to Construction,” Lorman Education Services, 2000
• “State and Local Bid Challenges,” OSB Public Contracting CLE, 2000
• “Four Steps to Mastering AIA Form Contracts,” OSB Annual Meeting, 2000
• “CMGC, Design-Build and Other Alternative Approaches to Construction,” Law Seminars International, 1999, 2000
• “CMGC and Other Exemptions from Competitive Bidding” and “Oregon Bid Protests and Recent Developments,” Law Seminars International, 1998
• “Oregon Construction Law,” American Bar Association CLE sponsored by the ABA Design and Construction Contracts Committee, 1997
• “Contractor Licensing and Registration,” Oregon Construction Law CLE, 1997 Edition
• “Challenges to Public Contract Award,” Oregon Law Institute, 1997
• “Threshold Issues in Public Construction Projects,” Oregon County Counsel Conference, 1997
• “Oregon Bid Protest Law,” Law Seminars International, 1997
• “High Technology Marketing for Contractors,” AGC Annual Retreat, 1996
• “Theories of Liability and Defenses,” The Cambridge Institute, 1994
• “The Basics of Bid Disputes,” The Cambridge Institute, 1993
• “The Americans with Disabilities Act,” Portland State University, 1993

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