Robert ("Rob") Yamachika has focused his education and career in the areas of land use, municipal, environmental, and natural resources law. Rob's interest in municipal law began early in his career, working as a law clerk at the Portland City Attorney's Office during law school at Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College. After graduation, he moved to Sacramento, California, where he practiced land use and environmental law at Abbott & Kindermann, LLP, for seven years. Rob returned to Oregon in 2006 and prior to joining Jordan Schrader Ramis PC, he worked as an associate with Ramis Crew Corrigan, LLP.

While practicing in California, Rob advised both private and public entities with respect to planning and zoning laws, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, NEPA, and the California Environmental Quality Act. Rob has also represented developers and public sector clients in all phases of project development through local, state, and federal permitting processes and provided project management services for residential, mixed use, and commercial subdivisions and developments. In addition, Rob has conducted due diligence water rights research, negotiated and drafted leases, development agreements, conservation easements, options, and purchase and sale agreements.

Most recently, as a member of Jordan Schrader Ramis's Dirt Law® practice group, Rob's practice includes assisting clients with land use and municipal law issues. As a city attorney to the cities of Tigard, Milwaukie, and West Linn, Rob has provided services that include local government public hearings, code amendments, policy review, and advising various city departments. He has assisted private entities and developers in interpreting, applying, and complying with state and local land use regulations. Rob has also represented local governments and private development clients before the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals.

Education and Professional Qualifications

B.A., Economics and German, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, 1994

J.D., Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law, Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College, 1999

Admitted to practice in the States of Oregon and California, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

Memberships and Honors

Member, Oregon State Bar

Member, California State Bar

Member, Oregon City Attorneys Association

Member, Oregon State Bar Real Estate and Land Use Section

Member, Oregon Minority Lawyers Association

Publications and Speaking Appearances

Co-Presenter, "Annual Land Use and Environmental Law Update," Abbott & Kindermann, LLP, 2001-2006

Co-Presenter, "Program on the Conditional Waiver of Discharge Requirements for Discharges of Waste from Irrigated Lands," Abbott & Kindermann, LLP/Walker & Associates, 2005

Author and Co-Author, "Working Papers," Abbott & Kindermann, LLP