Areas of Expertise
Profile
Jeff is a residential and commercial real estate lawyer. He helps people accomplish their transaction goals.
- Sellers — Jeff helps sellers understand the promises they are making in deeds, the effect of the representations they make in sale agreements, and what can happen if properties are not in the condition that buyers expect.
- Buyers — Jeff helps buyers understand the contingencies they need, the title reports they receive, how to investigate the condition of the properties they purchase, and their rights if misrepresentations are made.
- Real Estate Agents — Jeff provides the language real estate agents need when situations are not covered by forms. He interprets the parties’ obligations under sale agreements and represents agents when complaints are filed.
- Brokerage Owners and Managers — Jeff teaches classes to agents, helps resolve conflicts, improves and creates forms, writes policies, and helps brokerages grow their businesses.
- Landlords and Tenants — Jeff drafts reasonable leases that protect landlords, lenders, and tenants.
- Borrowers — Jeff reviews and negotiates loan documents, and writes and reviews opinion letters for real-estate secured transactions.
- Lenders — Jeff drafts loan documents for real estate loans and helps clients decide what concessions make sense.
Jeff has helped thousands of individuals and companies deal with the nuances of getting their transactions closed.
In his capacity as Counsel to the Residential and Commercial Forms Committees of Oregon Real Estate Forms, LLC, Jeff works with committee members to create and revise the real estate forms used by most Oregon Realtors®.
Jeff enjoys home improvement, movies, travel, serving the community, and living in the Northwest. He and his wife have been married for more than 30 years and have three sons.
Professional Experience
- RE/MAX Equity Group, 2010-2020 — As General Counsel to the Northwest’s largest real estate brokerage, Jeff worked with brokerage management and agents to develop and enhance the company’s practices, forms and policies. He handled dispute resolution, represented agents in license and ethics complaints, and taught risk management, legal compliance, and provision-drafting classes. After being promoted to Vice President, he also managed the company’s accounting, human resources, closing, and IT departments.
- Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, 1996-2010 — Jeff represented landlords of office properties, then added purchase and sale transactions, followed by construction and term lending work for lenders and borrowers. As a member of the firm’s Opinion Committee, he developed a detailed understanding of lending law and practice. He joined the firm’s low-income housing tax credit team, working with tax and business lawyers to develop affordable housing all over Metro Portland.
- Ellenburg Capital Corporation, 1996 — As a Staff Attorney for a property management firm, Jeff assisted the company’s general counsel with litigation support, transaction documents, and legal research.
- North Coast Mortgage, 1995 — As a Real Estate Analyst for a commercial mortgage brokerage, Jeff wrote lease briefs, analyzed market trends, and presented information to lenders and insurance companies.
Professional Activities
- Oregon Bar Association — Real Estate & Land Use Section, Solo and Small Firm Sections
- Washington State Bar Association — Real Property, Probate & Trust Section
- Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors® — Brokerage Risk Management Committee
- Licensed Real Estate Broker in the State of Oregon
Admissions
- Oregon State Bar, 1995
- Washington State Bar, 2012
Education
- University of Oregon School of Law, JD, 1995
- University of Utah, BS, 1988
Publications
- Author, Update to “Earnest Money Agreements,” Oregon Real Estate Deskbook, Oregon State Bar 2015
- Author, Update to “Estates in Land,” Principles of Oregon Real Estate Law, Oregon State Bar 1999 & 2003
- Author, “Lender Concerns in Commercial Leases,” OSB Real Estate Section Seminar
- Author, “Legal Brief,” monthly legal newsletter of RE/MAX Equity Group