Cynthia M. Fraser

Overview

Cynthia is now retired and is no longer practicing law. Please contact Paul Trinchero for legal advice in property tax litigation or condemnation matters.

Cynthia focused her 30-year career in the area of real estate, condemnation and property tax litigation. Her tax practice focused on property tax appeal litigation, specializing in industrial property valuation disputes and centrally assessed properties before the Oregon Tax Court. She also litigated property tax appeals in California and Tennessee. Cynthia served as the exclusive Oregon representative for American Property Tax Counsel, the national affiliation of property tax attorneys, and on the Oregon State Bar Tax Section Executive Board.

She began her eminent domain practice at the Department of Justice in the trial division. Since joining the firm in 2005, her eminent domain practice has included assisting local governments in all phases of the eminent domain process to ensure compliance with the Condemnation Procedures Act and appropriate federal regulations. She also represents individuals and companies in condemnation litigation, assuring they receive just compensation for their property. She is co-editor of the 2011 American Bar Association publication on Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law.

Cynthia has been recognized by her peers as one of the Best Lawyers® in Alternative Dispute Resolution, has been named in Oregon Super Lawyers for Eminent Domain, and has received an “AV 5” Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. She is past Chair of the Oregon State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and is a Multnomah County Circuit Court Arbitration Commissioner.

Professional Activities

• Foster Garvey, Opportunity & Progress Council, Member, 2023
• Oregon Representative, American Property Tax Counsel, 2012-2026
• Multnomah County Circuit Court Arbitration Commission, Member, 2008-present
• Oregon State Bar, Member
  • Taxation Section Executive Committee, 2015-2021
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
    • Executive Board, 2002-2010
    • Chair, 2007
  • Fee Arbitration Task Force, Member, 2010
• Oregon Women Lawyers
  • Judicial Workgroup, 2009-present
  • Board of Directors, 2008-2010
  • Education Outreach Committee, 2001-2003
• University of Oregon School of Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution Executive Board, 1999-2010
• Oregon Law Commission Eminent Domain Legislative Work Group, 2002-2008
• Governor’s Steering Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, 1997-1998

Community Activities

• Project Lemonade (Foster Youth clothing), Founding Board Member, 2013-2020
• Pacific Festival Ballet, Advisory Board, 2009
• Oregon County Fair, Grievance Coordinator, 2004-2009
• University of Oregon Frohnmayer Award for Public Service, Chairperson, 2002 and 2004
• Childpeace Montessori, School Advisory Board, 2001-2003
• University of Oregon School of Law, Alumni Board of Directors, 1994-2007; President, 1999-2002
• Honoring Oregon Judiciary, Chairperson, 2001
• Twenty-First Century Task Force for Redesigning Legal Education, 2000-2001
• Governor’s Task Force for Dispute Resolution, 1996-1998

Experience

• Industrial Property Tax Appeals: Cascade Steel Rolling Mill, Evraz Steel Mill, Xerox, Collins Pine Companies, Seneca Sustainable Energy LLC, Seneca Sawmill, Hampton Affiliates, Tektronix, Tyco Electronics, Reser’s Fine Foods, Thermo Fisher Industries, Freres Lumber, Federal Express, Shore Terminal
• Centrally Assessed Property Tax Appeals: Level 3, Tesoro, Avangrid, CenturyLink, Crown Castle, Marathon
• Commercial Properties: Macy’s, JC Penney, Commons at Cedar Mill
• Oregon Golf Course Tax Appeals: Broken Top Golf Club, Persimmon Golf Club, Inc., Oregon Golf Club, Charbonneau Golf Club, Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club, Tualatin Country Club
• Special Counsel Eminent Domain: Klamath Falls Airport, City of Lake Oswego-Tigard Water Partnership Project, City of Bend, City of Pendleton, Port of Morrow, City of Salem, City of Portland, City of Tigard, Oregon City

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