Michelle graduated magna cum laude from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1990, and magna cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center in Houston, Texas in 1997. Licensed as an attorney in Texas since 1997, Michelle practiced real estate law for six years before moving to Portland, Oregon in 2005. Prior to being licensed in Oregon, Michelle worked as a paralegal in Jordan Schrader's real estate and land use practice group.

Michelle's experience includes:

• Extensive leasing experience, including negotiation and drafting of office leases, complex lease amendments regarding option space, rights of refusal, and renewals, and subleasing for major tenants. Tenants included central business district office tenants, retail tenants, and tenants for build-to-suit construction for single-tenant buildings.
• Negotiation and drafting of transaction documents for the purchase and sale of multi-million dollar commercial properties, including due diligence review of title and survey materials, and resolution of associated issues.
• Representation of developers of commercial office projects, including negotiation and drafting of reciprocal easement and operating agreements, management agreements, and acquisition and construction financing documents.
• Lead associate on the financing of $400 million portfolio of office buildings located in multiple states.
• Lead associate for the negotiation and finalization of luxury box license agreements for Toyota Center, Houston, Texas.
• Representation of for-profit developers in the acquisition and financing (through Section 42 low-income housing tax credits and private activity bonds) of raw land for the development of affordable housing projects.
• Variance, comprehensive plan, and zone change applications.

Education and Professional Qualifications

B.S. Miami University, Finance, magna cum laude, 1990

J.D., University of Houston Law Center, magna cum laude, 1997

Memberships and Honors

Member, Oregon State Bar Association

Member, State Bar of Texas

Member, Oregon Women Lawyers

Member, Commercial Real Estate Women, Portland Chapter

Articles

Commercial Leases: Matching Financial Terms with the Business Deal

'Final Rule': Know What You Are Buying

Permit Is No Guaranty — Developer Responsible for Compliance with Laws