Practice Areas
Business Litigation
Construction
Professional Experience
As a member of the Business Litigation and Construction practice groups, Bill's goal is to resolve his client's problems efficiently and effectively. The experience he has acquired in litigating hundreds of commercial disputes allows Bill to quickly identify the key issues in a dispute and develop a cost-effective, holistic strategy to handle the matter. Bill understands that, sometimes, a business or negotiated agreement, not legal action, is the best solution to a problem.
When litigation is necessary, Bill represents mortgage servicers and lenders, creditors, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and small to mid-sized businesses in state and federal court actions in Oregon and Washington, including prosecuting and defending mortgage foreclosure and lien foreclosure actions, and public works bond claims. He also handles administrative claims against surety bonds. Because debtors sometimes attempt to hide assets or do not voluntarily pay the judgment entered against them, Bill also has extensive experience in the pre-judgement provisional process and post-judgment collection alternatives.
Professional Organizations
Federal Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar Association
Education
J.D., Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College (1995)
B.A., Journalism, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1989)
Oregon Trial Advocacy College
Publications
Author of Legal Corner in the Monthly NACM Business Credit Journal, 2005 - present
Author of Provisional Process Chapter in OSB Debtor/Creditor CLE
Admitted to Practice
Oregon State Bar
U.S. District Court, Oregon
Washington State Bar
Federal Court of Claims
Articles
Past Speaking Engagements
Webinar: Personal Guaranties, NACM Oregon (2012)
Oregon and Washington Lien Laws, Pacific Northwest Credit Conference, NACM Oregon (2010)
Collection Alternatives for the Family Law Practitioner, Oregon State Bar Family Law Section Meeting (2010)
Bond Claims: National Association of Credit Managers (2010) Business Procedures to Ensure Payment – NACM Webinar (2010)
The Tax, Insurance, Bonding, Lien and Contract Issues You will Encounter in the New Construction Climate Sussman Shank LLP, AKT LLP and BW Insurance Company (2010)
Construction Seminar - Protecting Your Right To Payment: Contract Issues, Construction Liens, and Construction (2010)
"Credit Talk" web page panel member, NACM Oregon (2010-Present)
Effective Litigation Techniques for Trade Creditors Webinar: NACM Oregon (2010)
Oregon and Washington Construction Lien Law: NACM Oregon (2004 - 2010)
Good Morning Credit, Security Agreements, Letters of Credit and Guaranties: NACM Oregon (2006)
Commercial Litigation for Businesses - Collecting on Judgments: NACM Oregon (2004, 2005)
Commercial Litigation for Businesses - Personal Guaranties and Security Interests: NACM Oregon (2004, 2005)
Construction Law Seminar: NACM Oregon Business Credit Services (2004)
Oregon and Washington Construction Lien and Bond Law: NACM Oregon (2003)
Pacific Northwest Credit Conference - The Seeds of Credit: National Association of Credit Management (2003)
Good Morning Credit, Collecting Judgments: NACM Oregon (2003)
Good Morning Credit, Commercial Litigation for Creditors: NACM Oregon (2003)
Oregon Construction Law Seminar: Lorman Education Services (2002)
Oregon and Washington Construction Lien and Bond Law: NACM Oregon (2002)
Oregon and Washington Lien Law Seminar: NACM Oregon
Associated File: "What Every Material Supplier Needs to Know" Oregon & WA Lien Law Presentation
Representative Work- Consumer Protection Act Defense
We represented a Washington homebuilder in a lawsuit filed against a real estate investor for breach of promissory note and the judicial foreclosure of the trust deed that secured the note. The defendant investor attempted to avoid liability for his obligations by asserting Washington Consumer Protection Act counterclaims against our client. At the trial court, we prevailed on a motion for summary judgment granting the client's claims against the investor and defeating the investor's Consumer Protection Act counterclaims. The investor appealed the trial court's rulings. On the appeal, we decisively defeated the investor's complex Consumer Protection Act arguments and the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's rulings.
