Business Law
Many of our clients see their Tonkon Torp business lawyer as an outside business partner. We've built relationships that have endured for decades, acting as an outside general counsel, strategic business advisor, and one-stop legal resource. Our 40 years of experience with clients of all sizes and in a variety of industries means you receive informed judgment on day-to-day problems, foresight on potential areas of conflict, and strategies for preventing litigation. 

To us, the fundamental measure of a good client relationship is how little you worry about legal matters and how much you can focus on taking your business to the next level. For large public and private clients, as well as small private and closely-held family companies, our business lawyers act as a primary contact, handling day-to-day legal matters and referring clients to other Tonkon Torp lawyers with skills in particular disciplines as needed. 

Our general business lawyers give advice on a variety of issues including:
  • Corporate ownership, control and management issues such as entity formation, tax planning, and executive compensation.
  • Negotiation and documentation of private and public capital solutions for start-up, ongoing operations and business expansion.
  • Agreements governing relationships in production, supply, marketing and distribution.
  • Development of internal company policies covering employment matters.
  • Development of regulatory compliance strategies for tax audits, antitrust and trade regulation, and intellectual property.
  • Real estate matters such as acquisitions, land use approvals and compliance, environmental clean-up, and leasing of office, warehousing, manufacturing and sales facilities.

Attorneys

Kate  Roth

Kate Roth

Associate

503.802.2189
kate.roth@tonkon.com
Kurt  Ruttum

Kurt Ruttum

Managing Partner

Paralegals

Brenda  Alvey

Brenda Alvey

Business Paralegal

AnDee  Compton

AnDee Compton

Estate Planning Paralegal

Samantha  Holly

Samantha Holly

Business Paralegal

503.802.2118
sam.holly@tonkon.com
Laura  Lindberg

Laura Lindberg

Business and Bankruptcy Paralegal

Nicolle  Pratt

Nicolle Pratt

Business Paralegal

Laney  Quigley

Laney Quigley

Business Paralegal

Tonkon Torp Leads Moda Health Through Corporate Restructure and $155 Million Sale

Tonkon Torp led client Moda Health through its high-profile corporate restructure and $155 million stock sale to Delta Dental of California.

Tonkon Torp Leads Sale of Pendleton Whisky Brands for Hood River Distillers

In early 2018, Tonkon Torp concluded the $205 million sale of the Pendleton Whisky brands by its client Hood River Distillers, Inc. (HRD) to Proximo Spirits, whose international portfolio of spirits includes Jose Cuervo tequila. HRD was Oregon’s first distillery, and one of Tonkon's original clients.

Tonkon Helps Tonkin

For decades, Tonkon Torp has been honored and proud to represent the Tonkin family and its businesses. In fact, the relationship dates back to the post-World War II era.

Tonkon Facilitates Sale of Iconic Coronado Theatre

Tonkon Torp represented one of the sellers in the $5.2 million sale of the historic Vintage Village Theatre in Coronado, California. Find details and more featured cases here.

Tonkon in the Driver’s Seat for Fast Dealership Purchase Ride

Auto dealership sales are generally straightforward affairs that frequently involve both business and real estate assets. In 2015, Tonkon Torp got involved in a purchase transaction that took a unique turn. Find details and more featured cases here.

Tonkon Torp Stays the Course in the Mississippi Avenue Lofts Project

The process to acquire, complete and sell the Mississippi Avenue Lofts involved a broad range of legal transactions from Tonkon Torp, including a funding round, multi-party loan and purchasing agreements, litigation and a final sale. Find the details and more featured cases here.

Tonkon Represents Opus Agency in Equity Investment Transaction

Tonkon Torp’s Mergers & Acquisition practice group represented client Opus Agency in a significant equity transaction with private equity firm Fan Creek Capital, providing substantial additional growth capital to Opus. Opus, a global corporate events and experiential marketing agency headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, serves Fortune 1000 clients such as Salesforce, Amazon, Intel and Alaska Airlines.

Tonkon Torp Represents Vestas in Acquisition of UpWind Solutions

Tonkon Torp represented its client Vestas, the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines, in the acquisition of UpWind Solutions, Inc., an independent service provider for wind power plants in nine US states. The $60 million acquisition furthers Vestas's strategic objectives for its North America service business.

Tonkon Torp Helps Human Solutions Secure New Family Shelter Site

Tonkon Torp is proud to have helped Human Solutions navigate a complex financing project to transform a shuttered commercial property into an emergency 24/7 family housing shelter. Find details and more featured cases here.

Tonkon Torp Completes Complex Asset Sale for Privately Held Business

In late 2014, Tonkon Torp represented a privately held heavy industrial equipment manufacturer in a complex transaction that included selling business assets and real property, and leasing other related business property. The selling company is a long-term client of the firm.

Acquisition of Shopping Center during COVID Crisis

Represented client in the acquisition of a Willamette Valley shopping center in completion of a 1031 exchange. The coronavirus crisis hit during the due diligence period, resulting in a massive drop-off in tenants' businesses and thereby drastically affecting the transaction pro forma. Assisted buyer to implement creative solutions with the seller to save the transaction by sharing the risk of reduced landlord revenues in the short term after closing.

Development of Massachusetts Senior Living Facilities

Represented seniors housing client in the formation of a joint venture with a Massachusetts developer to acquire a partial interest in a real estate sale agreement, and the acquisition of a portion of the property for the development of two assisted living facilities. The real estate transaction involved the subdivision of the property, creation of easements and other rights to the lots not acquired by the client, and the imposition of historical preservation and affordable housing covenants on the property as a condition of development. Also assisted the joint venture to obtain construction financing.

SBA Issues New Guidance Regarding Changes of Ownership for PPP Borrowers

On October 2, 2020, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) published new guidance outlining the procedures that PPP borrowers and lenders must follow in the event that a PPP borrower undergoes a “change of ownership.”
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What Does the Trump Order on Tax Deferrals Mean for Employers?

On August 8, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to allow employers a temporary deferral on withholding, collecting, and remitting certain employment taxes. This is not a tax forgiveness, at least at…
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Court Decision Favors Businesses Claiming Insurance Coverage for COVID-Related Losses

Companies across the state, and around the country, have suffered significant loss of income due to interruptions to their business caused by the spread of COVID-19 and the ensuing government-ordered closures. These companies have been disappointed…
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Learning Pods as a Pandemic-Era Education Choice – Where to Start

It's a sad fact that many parents with school-aged children are living in a state of anxiety, whether they are preparing for a fall of remote learning or bracing themselves to send their children back to in-person school. A supportive and safe…
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PPP Loan Updates: EZ Forgiveness Application, Updated Guidance, and More

On June 17, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) published an abbreviated “EZ” forgiveness application and accompanying instructions (“EZ Forgiveness Application”) for certain eligible borrowers under the Paycheck Protection Program…
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PPP Update: Passage of Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act

On Wednesday, June 3, the Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (“Flexibility Act”), a bill that loosens the restrictions for obtaining loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The bill passed by…
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Market Conditions in Oregon and Washington Evidencing Uncertainty for PPP Loan Certification

In its continuously updated FAQ Guidance, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) has advised that it will review the individual loan files for businesses that have received a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan of more than $2 million (see…
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SBA Allows Some Borrowers to Increase PPP Loan Amounts, but You Must Act Fast!

On May 13, 2020, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) published an interim final rule (“IFR”) allowing certain partnerships that applied for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans but did not include partner income in “payroll costs” to amend…
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Was My PPP Loan "Necessary"? Updated SBA Guidance on Loan Certification

Over the past few weeks, many of our clients who have received Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans have expressed concern about whether they had adequate basis to certify that their PPP loan request was necessary to support ongoing business…
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4 Ways PPP Loan Forgiveness Can Be Reduced

Reducing Employee Headcount – If the average number of a borrower’s full-time equivalent (FTE) employees during the eight-week period following origination is reduced compared to a pre-crisis comparison period, then the forgivable amount of your loan…
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PPP Update: EZ Forgiveness Application and New Guidance

On June 30, Tonkon Torp attorneys Drea Schmidt, Ferdie Ruplin, and Betsy Judd will host a roundtable discussion and Q&A on the SBA's new EZ Forgiveness Application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers. They will also cover changes to the…
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PPP Loan Forgiveness: What Do We Do Now?

On Friday, May 22, Tonkon Torp partners Jeffrey Cronn and Drea Schmidt will review the new guidance released by the SBA last Friday on PPP loan forgiveness.
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Investor Perspectives on Raising Capital in Uncertain Times

Raising capital can be a tough process to navigate for emerging companies even in the best of times; with the ongoing pandemic, many ventures are left with more questions than answers. Join us on May 5 at 12:00 PM for a first-hand investor report…
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Managing Investment Adviser Compliance in the Global Pandemic

WEBINAR: Impact of COVID-19 on investment advisers and private fund managers.
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WEBINAR: Preparing to Thrive in the Recovery: Cash Flow, PPP Loans, and Alternative Capital

Speculation on how long the COVID-19 crisis will continue, and what its financial impact will be, fills our inboxes and newsfeeds. We are living in unprecedented, uncertain times. But we know this crisis will someday pass – how are you working…
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Start with Courage - Women's Business Event

Tuesday, November 12 | 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Tonkon Torp invites you to join us for a women's business event
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Adam Adkin Shares Entity Formation Strategies with New Attorneys

On September 17, Tonkon Torp attorney Adam Adkin led a CLE on entity formation for the Advising Oregon Businesses series hosted by the Multnomah Bar Association for its New Lawyers Bar Section. Drawing from his extensive experience working with…
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Kate Roth Joins Tonkon Torp from U.S. Tax Court

Tonkon Torp LLP welcomes Kate Roth to the firm as an associate in its Tax and Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits practice groups. Roth joins the firm from the United States Tax Court where she was a judicial law clerk for the Honorable…
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Nine Rising Tonkon Torp Attorneys Included on 2021 “Ones to Watch” List

Nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing nine practice groups have been honored in Best Lawyers' inaugural Ones to Watch directory. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a peer-review honor focused on acknowledging attorneys who have been in private practice…
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Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List

Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021. A majority of attorneys have been named to the peer-review list in past years, and most have been recognized for more…
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Tonkon Torp Attorneys Speak to Startups at Virtual TiE XL Bootcamp Session

Tonkon Torp attorneys Tyler Harkness, Parna Mehrbani, and Kristin Bremer Moore were instructors at the June virtual sessions of the TIE XL Bootcamp. The Bootcamp provides opportunities for a cohort of entrepreneurs to connect with experts in the…
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DENNIS Uniform Repurposes Bolts of Plaid Fabric Into PPE

Generations of private-school families around the country are familiar with the expert tailoring offered by DENNIS Uniform, one of the nation’s leading school uniform makers. Early in March, the long-term Tonkon Torp client directed their expertise…
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Tonkon Torp Explains PPP EZ Forgiveness Application and New Guidance

Attorneys from Tonkon Torp’s Business Department hosted a webinar to share information on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) EZ Forgiveness Application and other new guidance on the PPP. The program was moderated by Partner Drea Schmidt and…
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26 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2020 Super Lawyers Lists

Twenty-six Tonkon Torp attorneys in nine practice areas have been included in the 2020 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists. Tonkon Torp partner and bankruptcy authority Albert N. Kennedy has been once again recognized on the Top 50 list of…
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Tonkon Torp Business Department Unpacks Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act

Tonkon Torp attorneys hosted a roundtable discussion on the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (Flexibility Act) and how it has changed the terms and timelines for PPP loans. The program was moderated by Jeff Cronn, Co-Chair of the firm’s…
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Pilot House Distilling Navigates Hand Sanitizer Production

First responders and essential workers in Clatsop County were the first recipients of Pilot House Distilling’s 160-proof hand sanitizer, made to the specifications of the World Health Organization. Owned by Tonkon Torp client Buoy Beer, the…
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Michael  Millender
Practice Area Co-Chair

Michael Millender

Partner

Jeffrey  Cronn
Practice Area Co-Chair

Jeffrey Cronn

Partner

503.802.2048
jeff.cronn@tonkon.com