Al's practice focuses on bankruptcy, commercial law and creditors rights. He has expertise in all areas of commercial, bankruptcy and creditors' rights law. He has represented creditors (including a variety of financial institutions) and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings, commercial litigation and real estate foreclosures before both federal and state courts. He also has extensive experience in the negotiation and documentation of commercial loan transactions.
In recent years, Al has been a lead attorney in some of the most significant commercial bankruptcy cases filed in Oregon and Southwest Washington, including the following:
· Stayton SW Assisted Living LLC (the Consolidated Sunwest cases), filed in 2009 in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon
· Storables, Inc., filed in 2009 in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon
· The Columbian Publishing Company, filed in 2009 in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington
· Renaissance Custom Homes, filed in 2008 in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon in 2008
· Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, filed in 2007 in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon
· Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company, filed in 2006 in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon
· The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, filed in 2004 in the U.S. bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon
He is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy and is the author of numerous articles on bankruptcy-related topics. Some of Al's more recent seminar and CLE presentations include:
· "Bankruptcy Trusts: One Size Does Not Fit All" (Turnaround Management Association, 2011)
· "Reorganization v. Liquidation in Chapter 11 Cases" (24th Annual Bankruptcy Institute, 2011)
· "Bankruptcy and the Secured Creditor" (Lorman Education Services, 2008)
· "Dates, Deadlines and Avoiding Pitfalls in Business Bankruptcies" (21st Annual Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, 2008)
· "Fiduciary Obligations in the Vicinity of Insolvency" (The Seminar Group, The Best of CLE, 2008)
· "Loan Workout and Collateral Liquidation" (Lorman Education Services, 2008)
· "Commercial and Real Estate Loan Documents in Oregon" (Lorman Education Services, 2004)
· "Real Evidence" (The 17th Annual Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, 2004)
· "Receiverships v. Bankruptcies" (Turnaround Management Association, 2004)
· "Foreclosure and Repossession in Oregon" (Lorman Education Services, 2003)
· "How to Incorporate UCC Article 9 Changes in Oregon Secured Transactions" (National Business Institute, 2003)
Al is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® as one of Oregon's bankruptcy specialists. The Best Lawyers in America® also named Al as 2011 Portland "Lawyer of the Year" for creditor's rights and bankruptcy and 2012 Portland "Lawyer of the Year" for Bankruptcy Litigation. He received the Large Company Turnaround Transaction of the Year award from the Turnaround Management Association in 2011.
Al began his legal career as an associate attorney with Russell, Ward, Hodgkins & Heaney in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He became Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Supervisor of the Litigation Division of Orbanco Financial Services Corporation's Legal Department in Portland, in 1981. He joined Tonkon Torp in 1984, becoming a partner in 1986. Al enjoys skiing and bicycling.
Professional Organizations:
Oregon State Bar (Debtor-Creditor Section)
State Bar of Michigan
Washington State Bar Association
Case Studies
"Local Firm Snags Megadeal: Case Doesn't Faze Midsize Law Office"
Untangling the Sunwest Bankruptcy
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland Bankruptcy
Articles
Bankruptcy Lawyers Cash In
Tonkon Torp Lawyer the Busiest He's Ever Been
News
Sunwest Management Bankruptcy Case is Topic of Forum Discussion
Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named 2012 Portland Lawyer of the Year in Three Practice Specialties
Tonkon Torp Lawyers Honored for Sunwest Turnaround
Best Lawyers in America® Names 40 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2012 List
Kennedy presents CLE on Bankruptcy Valuation Strategies
19 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named to 2011 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
22 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named to 2010 Super Lawyers Lists
Tonkon Torp's Kennedy and Stephens named Portland 2011 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers in America® Names 37 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Best Lawyers in America ® 2010 Names 30 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
The Best Lawyers in America ® 2009 Names 25 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
18 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Named to 2007 Super Lawyers List
Best Lawyers in America ® 2008 Names 22 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
The Best Lawyers in America Names 16 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Tonkon Torp's Attorneys Selected for The Best Lawyers in America® 2006
Twelve Tonkon Torp Partners listed in Best Lawyers in America®