Michelle D. Da Rosa

Practice Areas

• Real Estate Law
• Condominium Development
• Natural Resources
• Renewable Energy
• Association Law

Professional Honors and Activities

• US News Best Lawyers nomination, 2019-2022
• Oregon Super Lawyers®, 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

Representative Work

• Represents commercial and residential developers in condominium, timeshare and subdivision project development; affordable housing projects and financing; FHA and Fannie Mae financing; seller financing (RESPA and TILA); and matters related to the Interstate Land Sales Act and federal Fair Housing Act compliance. 
• Represents developers and banks in the recovery of failed residential developments, including governing and marketing document revision and filings, auctions and developer/declarant transitions in workouts, foreclosures and receiverships.
• Represents major renewable energy developers in site-procurement and disposition transactions, due diligence and financing, negotiation of site control instruments, and title work.
• Represents timber and other private land owners in cell-tower leasing.
• 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.
• Represents developer in the establishment, sale and 1031 exchange of corporate airpark condominium hangar units, including build-to-suit, 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 developer in creating mixed-use condominium, involving retail space and affordable rental apartments.

Publications

• "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

• Board of Directors, Oregon Lakes Association, 2008-2014
• Secretary/co-founder, Board of Directors, Hands in Peace, international peace-building through sport and art, 2005-present
• Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity Portland Metro/East 2012 to present, Committee Member HopeBuilder Fundraising Cabinet, 2011-2013
• Street Law Executive Director, 2006-2007

Former Professional Experience

• Associate, Stoel Rives, LLP, 2007-2014
• Class Teacher, grades 1-8; junior high P.E. and Spanish; high school civics, algebra and drama; and school administration, teacher training and evaluation:  Monterey Waldorf School, Santa Cruz Waldorf School and Portland Waldorf School, 1991-2004