Doug Cushing brings more than 30 years of experience to Jordan Schrader Ramis' creditors' rights, estate planning/probate, and business law practice. He has significant experience in the area of commercial debtor-creditor work, including contested matters, Chapter 11 reorganizations, creditor committee representation, preference defenses, DIP financing contests, plan contests, and the protection, valuation, and recovery of collateral for secured creditors.

Doug's representation of secured creditors includes seeking relief from the automatic stay to seize or foreclose on property controlled by the bankrupt and contesting a debtor's proposed plan of reorganization. His representative creditor clients include banks, commercial finance companies, personal property lessors, real estate lenders, and unsecured and trade creditors, landlords, ranchers, and farmers.

Doug's representation also includes defense of preference lawsuits to recover payments made prior to bankruptcy. This includes work on a national basis for a Northwest-based supply company. Doug's prior practice has also included debtor representation, so he has seen both sides of the issue.

Doug's extensive experience in documenting financial transactions helps him shield clients from litigation risks with a view toward protecting against collection and bankruptcy problems. He has prepared numerous loan documents, business sale agreements, security agreements, promissory notes and guaranty agreements. His experience in representing debtors, unsecured creditors' committees, and secured creditors enables him to facilitate agreements that allow the parties to resolve matters short of bankruptcy proceedings, thus saving time and money. But if bankruptcy proceedings become part of the picture, Doug can capably represent both sellers and buyers of bankruptcy estate assets.

Doug has handled a full range of business matters, from formation and merger/acquisition to business disputes and real estate transactions, including purchase and sale agreements, boundary, access and landlord-tenant disputes. He has represented clients ranging from distribution companies to regional telecommunications and media firms, as well as wood products manufacturers and development-related companies, including national and publicly owned corporations.

Doug also has extensive experience in estate planning and probate administration as well as contested trust and estate litigation. His experience spans both Oregon and Washington trust and estate litigation, as well as dispute resolution. IRS and DOR estate tax audits are part of his regular work as well as special needs planning. Handling both business and estate planning has given Doug valuable experience in assisting clients with succession planning in the business arena.

Education and Professional Qualifications

B.A., Stanford University, 1967

J.D. (magna cum laude), Willamette College of Law, 1970

Memberships and Honors

Member, Oregon State Bar

OSB Sections: Debtor-Creditor, Business Litigation, Estate Planning and Administration

Planning Committee, Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, 2002-2004

Member, Washington State Bar Association

WSBA Sections: Creditor-Debtor, Real Property Probate Trust

Articles

Advanced Directives — How to Plan Now for Your Future Care

Capital Gains or Ordinary Income — A Developer's Choice?

Collecting Debts — Problems and Opportunities

Estate Planning in an Uncertain Economy

Five Reasons Why You Need An Estate Plan Even if There is No Estate Tax

Is Business Succession Planning Still Needed When Estate Taxes Go Away?

New Bankruptcy Act Expands Collection Rights for Utility Providers

The New Bankruptcy Law — What Does it Mean For Business?

§1031 Exchanges for Fractional Interests in Real Property — Like Kind or Not?

Should You Believe the Threat of Bankruptcy?

So You Want to Buy PGE — Or Anything Else from a Bankruptcy Estate

Derailing the Train to Delaware: Keeping Chapter 11s in Your Home Jurisdiction