Michelle D. Da Rosa

Practice Areas

• Real Estate Law

• Condominium Development

• Natural Resources

• Renewable Energy

• Association Law

Experienced In Real Estate Law

Our founding attorney, Michelle Da Rosa, has been working for over 15 years in complex areas of real estate law. A former schoolteacher, she earned her law degree from Willamette University College of Law. After graduation, she worked for more than six years as a real estate attorney at Stoel Rives LLP, before deciding to found her own real estate boutique.

Professional Honors and Activities

• US News Best Lawyers nomination, 2019-2024

• US News Best Firms nomination, 2022-2024

• Oregon Super Lawyers® 2023 and 2024; Rising Star, 2011-2017

• Member, Real Estate, Land Use and Environmental section, Oregon State Bar

• Member, American Bar Association, Real Estate and Affordable Housing sections

• Real Estate Land Use Bar Section Executive Committee, 2019-present

• Condominium Legislative Working Group, 2011-present

Representative Work

• Acquisition, title, and construction financing for a large multi-family project in Vancouver, Washington and after construction, sale to a REIT for just over $78,000,000.

• Acted as local borrower's counsel in preparing loan opinion for a $160,000,000 line of credit, and for restructuring a distressed FHA-backed loan package for over $30,000,000 for a senior apartment and assisted living condominium project.

• Represented wind energy developer in the sale of a $96,000,000 project in connection with complex title insurance issues and curative actions, landowner estoppels, subordinations and leases.

• Represented multiple developers in the development of private airports, and the establishment, sale and 1031 exchange of condominium hangar units, including build-to-suit deals, ground and hangar leases, easements, and unit sales.

• Acts as general counsel to some of the largest master homeowner's and resort associations in Oregon.

• Represents affordable housing developers in creating sustainable affordability programs for homeownership, and establishing condominiums and land trust models to facilitate government project funding and tax credit programs.

• Represents timber and other private land owners in cell-tower leasing.

Publications and Courses

• “Condominiums and Middle Housing” for the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors, October 17, 2022

• “Partney Pitfalls: Lessons Learned from Recent Caselaw on the Easement Merger Doctrine,” for the Oregon State Bar Real Estate Land Use section, April 29, 2021.

• "Survey, Boundary, and Legal Descriptions," 1 Oregon Real Estate Deskbook (OSB Legal Pubs 2015) 

• "Timeshares" (coauthor, Howard Feuerstein) 1 Oregon Real Estate Deskbook (OSB Legal Pubs 2015)

• "Cheap Lots Offer Opportunities for Careful Home Developers" (coauthor, Howard Feuerstein), Portland Business Journal, October 28, 2011

• "Unsold Condos: Converting to Apartments Takes Some Savvy" (coauthor, Howard Feuerstein), Portland Business Journal, May 23, 2008

• "When Are Affordable Housing Exactions an Unconstitutional Taking?", Willamette Law Review, 2007, republished in Thomson's 2008 Zoning and Planning Law Handbook

• "The Scramble to Protect the American Dream in Paradise: Is Affordable Housing Possible in Hawaii?" (coauthor, A. Bernard Bays), Hawaii Bar Journal, 2007

Civic Activities

• Clackamas County Housing Advisory Board, 2019-2023

• Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity Portland Metro/East 2012 to 2021, Executive Committee and Secretary, 2020-2021, Committee Member HopeBuilder Fundraising Cabinet, 2011-2013

• Board of Directors, Oregon Lakes Association, 2008-2014

• Secretary/co-founder, Board of Directors, Hands in Peace, international peacebuilding through sport and art, 2005-2010

• Street Law Executive Director at Willamette University College of Law, 2006-2007

Former Professional Experience

• Associate, Stoel Rives, LLP, 2007-2014

• Class Teacher, grades 1-8; junior high P.E. and Spanish; high school Algebra; teacher training and evaluation: Monterey Waldorf School, Santa Cruz Waldorf School and Portland Waldorf School, 1991-2004

Bar Admissions

• Oregon, 2007

• Washington, 2023

Education

• Willamette University College of Law, Salem, Oregon

• J.D. - 2007

• Honors: magna cum laude

• University of California, Santa Cruz, California

• B.A.