Joseph W. West

Overview

Joe is now retired and is no longer practicing law. Please contact Tom Scott for legal advice on real estate matters.

Joe focused his practice on guiding property owners, developers and lenders through multifaceted residential and commercial real estate transactions. He practiced in the areas of real estate, business and banking law in Oregon for more than 30 years. Joe’s real estate practice included representation of owners, developers, tenants and lenders in a wide variety of matters, particularly in connection with residential and commercial real estate acquisition, leasing, development and finance.

He routinely negotiated and drafted joint venture agreements, purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases, easements, option agreements and loan and financing documents. Joe also provided legal advice on title, land use, environmental and Section 1031 exchange issues.

His business practice included business planning, limited liability company and other entity formation, joint venture agreements, negotiation and preparation of contracts, purchase and sale of business entities and corporate governance matters. Joe also represented several nonprofit corporations.

Joe formerly served as in-house counsel with U.S. Bancorp, where he provided legal advice regarding all aspects of finance and banking, including commercial and consumer lending, retail and electronic banking services and regulatory compliance.

Professional Activities

• Oregon State Bar, Member
  • Real Estate and Land Use Section
• Foster Garvey, Managing Director of Portland Office, 2021-2022

Community Activities

• Pro Bono Counsel to several nonprofit organizations including Oregon Business Association, Edwards Center and Northwest Mothers Milk Bank.

Experience

• Purchase of vineyard acreage in Oregon wine country
  Represented Oregon winemaker in its purchase of vineyard acreage in Yamhill County, Oregon, including title review, due diligence matters and preparation of closing documents.

• Multiple office leases in historic downtown Portland building
  Represented commercial landlord in negotiating several office leases in a historic downtown Portland, Oregon, office building, including office buildout terms.

• Purchase of Denver-area hotel
  Represented hotel investment group in its $9 million purchase of a hotel in Denver, Colorado. Assisted client in the negotiation of the purchase and sale agreement as well as survey and title review, additional due diligence and closing documents.

• Purchase of Portland office building
  Represented commercial lighting business in the purchase of an office building in Portland, Oregon. Negotiated the purchase and sale agreement and handled related title review, due diligence and financing document review. Also assisted client with coordinated bank and SBA financing for the project.

• Retail lease negotiations for footwear manufacturer
  Represented footwear manufacturer in its negotiation of various retail leases and to coordinate the review of additional retail leases in various U.S. locations. Negotiation included lease termination and renewal rights, exclusivity clauses, tenant improvement concessions and limitations on CAM charges.

• AIA design-build agreement with architect/contractor in multi-phase hotel project
  Represented the owner of a Holiday Inn Express franchise in Oregon in negotiating and preparing an AIA design-build agreement with an architect/contractor for a multi-phase project that included the replacement of siding and windows. Extensive negotiations included provisions for liquidated damages for late delivery of work and coordination of work to minimize interference with hotel operations.

• Shopping Center Acquisitions
  Represented purchasers and sellers in multimillion dollar acquisitions and sales of regional, retail shopping centers, including negotiating financing and reviewing leases, title, environmental and other due diligence matters. These transactions include acquisitions to complete Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. Ongoing representation for owners include leasing and loan covenant compliance matters.
• Land Acquisition and Residential Development
  Represented residential developers in land acquisitions and subsequent developments for subdivision, PUD, town and condominium projects in Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. This included negotiating and documenting options to purchase for regional homebuilder on over 150 acres of land in Washington County, Oregon, for residential subdivision development. Also represented several family farm clients in multi-million dollar sales of land to developers and subsequent tax-deferred exchanges into investment real estate.
• Multistate Loan
  Represented owner of assisted-living facilities in connection with obtaining $40-million line of credit secured by 16 assisted-living properties located throughout the United States, including subsequent amendments with additional 18 assisted-living facilities as collateral.

• Asphalt Refinery Purchase
  Represented purchaser of asphalt refinery assets and real property located in Portland, Oregon, including acquisition of submerged land lease, railroad easement rights, and extensive pipeline easements and City of Portland franchise rights. Transaction included formation of new purchaser entity and review and negotiation of loan documents to finance the acquisition.

• Commercial Loan for Equipment Dealer Acquisition
  Represented nationally-based commercial lender in $25-million equipment and real estate secured financing as part of a $45-million asset acquisition of heavy equipment dealer in Lane County, Oregon, including negotiating and preparing secured loan documentation for real and personal property located in multiple Oregon counties.
• Industrial Site Acquisition and Development
  Represented Japanese microchip manufacturer in $3.8-million acquisition of industrial park site in Hillsboro, Oregon, and subsequent construction and development of $8.1-million semiconductor manufacturing facility, including synthetic lease financing.

• Industrial Site Ground Lease and Development
  Assisted regional leasing equipment dealer with ground lease and industrial building development in Washington County, Oregon, including option to purchase.

• Portland, OR Office Building
  Represented purchaser of downtown Portland, Oregon office building, including due diligence review of all leases, estoppel certificate coordination, title and survey review and closing matters. Ongoing representation negotiating new leases.

• Hotel Transactions
  Represented buyers and sellers in hotel purchases and sales, including financing matters.

• Purchase of Power Generator Facility
  Represented purchaser of electric generator facility, including negotiation of Purchase and Sale Agreement, title review and closing matters.

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