Land use issues have been at the core of my practice ?for more than 13 years. I am often sought out for ?my in-depth knowledge of the unique challenges ?faced by Oregon's commercial, residential, and ?institutional developers in obtaining land use ?approval.?Prior to joining Schwabe, I worked in local government as an ?Assistant Legal Counsel for Deschutes County in Bend, Oregon, and ?Deputy County Attorney for La Plata County in Durango, Colorado. ?While with Deschutes County, I managed the county's land use ?appeal docket and gained valuable experience bringing numerous ?cases before the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, the Oregon ?Court of Appeals, and Deschutes County Circuit Court. In addition, I ?have significant experience with ad valorem property tax appeals, ?code enforcement litigation, and policy issues involving natural ?resources, water law, Federal Public Lands, oil and gas, and tribal ?matters.?Before attending law school, I was a mechanical engineer and a ?Captain in the U.S. Air Force.?

Bar Admissions

• Oregon State Courts
• Washington State Courts

Education

• University of Colorado School of Law, Juris Doctor degree (2008)
• St. John's College, Master of Arts degree, Liberal Arts (2005)
• United States Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science degree, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (2001)

Significant Accomplishments

• Defended a local legislative text amendment before the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) and Oregon Court of Appeals, ensuring compliance with the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person Act.
• Managed over 70 land use cases before LUBA and the Oregon Court of Appeals.
• As lead land use attorney for two local governments, provided legal representation and advice to numerous Board of County Commissioners, Planning Commissions, Hearings Officers, and Planning staff regarding quasi-judicial land use matters, legislative text amendments, proposed and adopted statutory changes, policy issues, building code interpretations, and numerous day-to-day land use matters.
• Represented a local government assessor in ad valorem property tax appeals in Oregon Tax Court's Magistrate and Regular Divisions.

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