With over 40 years of experience advising large, midsize, and small businesses, my practice focuses on agricultural and food processing clients throughout the Washington and Oregon area. As a seasoned advocate, I provide counsel on corporate and commercial matters, real estate transactions, estate law, and estate planning. My decades of service as a legal counsel to major food producers and manufacturers allow me to have a deeper understanding of the dairy, fruit, vegetable, and meat industries.I negotiate, draft, and review contracts as well as industry-specific matters such as liens, financial reorganizations, and contracts with customers, vendors, and suppliers. I also have experience in commercial transactions involving crops and livestock, food products, and heavy equipment.

Bar Admissions

• Oregon State Courts
• Washington State Courts

Education

• Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College, Juris Doctor degree, cum laude (1981)
• University of Denver, Bachelor of Arts degree (1978)

Significant Accomplishments

• Experience with commercial transactions involving the manufacture, distribution, and sale of finished consumer goods, in particular food and crops.
• Experience with food product recalls and class action lawsuits for food and agricultural products. Helps limit liabilities while minimizing business constraints.
• Negotiates, drafts, and reviews contracts and related documents in general business matters and industry-specific areas, such as food processing and equipment manufacturing.
• Assists with regulatory issues, notably compliance with workplace safety.
• Represents clients before many government agencies, including Federal Wage and Hour Division, Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry, Oregon OSHA, Oregon Insurance Division, and Oregon Licensing Boards and Commissions.

• SB 1534 - Carbon Sequestration
• Washington Long-Term Care Insurance Tax