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Douglas R. Pahl

Profile photo for Douglas R. Pahl
Profile photo for Douglas R. Pahl
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Douglas R. Pahl

During their most critical challenges, Doug stands as a staunch legal advocate for leading businesses.

Douglas Pahl counsels companies in a broad range of matters, including litigation, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, debt restructuring, and administrative proceedings. Adept in the courtroom, Doug represents businesses in complex commercial litigation and reorganization issues, creditors' rights, including judicial and nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings, and associated litigation. He also regularly advises secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, committees, guarantors, officers and directors, asset and claim purchasers, and other constituencies in litigation, bankruptcies, receiverships, and out-of-court workouts. 
 
A community champion, Doug serves in a variety of leadership roles, including president of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. He is also a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association. 

Education & Credentials

Education

  • Willamette University College of Law, J.D., Member, WIllamette Law Review, 1992
  • Georgetown University Law Center, 1991 - 1992 (visiting student)
  • Central Washington University, B.A., 1986

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Oregon
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Related Employment

  • U.S. Senator Mark O. Hatfield, Washington, D.C., Legislative Assistant, 1990-1995; Legal Counsel, 1995-1996
  • Hon. Wallace P. Carson, Oregon Supreme Court, Extern, Summer 1989

Clerkships

  • Hon. Michael R. Hogan, U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon

Professional Recognition

  • Ranked by Chambers USA, as "America's Leading Lawyers" for Bankruptcy and Restructuring, 2022-2024

  • Named Best Lawyers' Lawyer of the Year for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2018

  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2013-2025

  • Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Oregon Super Lawyers," 2008-2024

Impact

Professional Leadership

  • Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Lawyer Representative for the District of Oregon, 2023-present
  • Owen M. Panner American Inn of Court, Executive Committee Member, 2008-present; President, 2016-2018
  • Oregon Law Commission, UCC Working Group, 2008-2009; Receivership Code Working Group, 2016-2017
  • Oregon State Bar Debtor/Creditor Section, Executive Committee Member, 2007-2008
  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member 
  • Turnaround Management Association, Member
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
  • Oregon State Bar Association, Member

Community Involvement

  • U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society, Board of Directors, 2016-present; Vice President, 2019-2023; President, 2023-present
  • Oregon Historical Society, Board of Directors, 2011-2020
  • The Hatfield Project, Board of Directors, 2010-2015
  • Asst. Coach, Classroom Law Project Mock Trial, 2008-2013
  • Opal Creek Federal Advisory Committee, Chairman, 2000-2004
  • CYO Youth Track & Field, Asst. Coach, 2007-2012

Professional Experience

Business

Credit Suisse v. Tamarack Resort LLC

Counsel to receiver appointed to manage ski resort.

U.S. Bank v. Desert Sun Holdings LLC

Counsel to secured lender in multi-parcel receivership and non-judicial foreclosure proceeding.

Frontier Resources, et al. v. Wachovia Bank, et al.

Negotiated settlement prior to trial dismissing all of plaintiffs’ $191 million in lender liability claims and granting Wachovia and other banks $1.2 million in cash plus additional property on their counterclaims.

J.P. Morgan v. Morgan Financial Group

Counsel to lender in judicial and nonjudicial foreclosure action.

Key Bank v. Intel Corporation

Counsel for defendant in contract, account dispute.

Pacific Mezzanine Fund v. North's Restaurants Inc.

Counsel to plaintiff in receivership and judicial foreclosure action.

Bankruptcy & Workouts

In re Teufel Nursery Inc.

Counsel to Committee of Unsecured Creditors in Chapter 11 reorganization case involving wholesale nursery and landscaping business.

In re Larson Land Company, LLC

Counsel to lender in large family owned agriculture business; assisted with purchase of assets in Chapter 11 auction.

In re Western Supply Corporation

Counsel to Committee of Unsecured Creditors in Chapter 11 case of tool retail and distribution chain.

In re Eugene Pipe, LLC

Counsel to Georgia Gulf Corporation, potential purchaser and competing plan proponent.

In re Historic U.S. National Bank Block, LLC

Counsel to Committee of Unsecured Creditors in Chapter 11 reorganization case involving historic buildings in downtown Portland.

In re Troutman Investment Company d/b/a Troutman's Emporium

General bankruptcy counsel to family owned chain of 34 retail stores, resulting in liquidation sales and payout of over 65% to general unsecured creditors.

Sunwest / In re Jon Harder 

Counsel to a large national bank in multi-party injunction litigation related to Sunwest Management healthcare and retirement facilities.

In re US Forest Industries Inc.

Represented forest products company in Chapter 11 restructuring, including confirmation of plan of reorganization, use of cash collateral, labor issues, and plan negotiations with creditors' committee, secured lender and US Trustee.

In re Cascade Grain Products LLC

General bankruptcy counsel to owner of ethanol production facility.

In re Gottschalks Inc.

Counsel to owner/lessor of department store property challenging debtor's assertion of continuing interest in improvements following lease rejection.

In re Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon

Counsel to class, including all Catholic parishes and parishioners in Western Oregon, in first Catholic diocese bankruptcy in United States.

In re Avalon Hotel Partners, LLC

Counsel to post-petition investor.

In re Enron

Counsel to former Enron board vice chairman.

In re Interstate Bakeries Inc.

Counsel to trade creditor.

In re Logan International II LLC

Counsel to purchaser of assets of Chapter 11 debtor.

In re Loral

Counsel to Boeing, Sea Launch regarding satellite launch services contracts.

In re Midway Airlines Inc.

Counsel to Boeing in preference action.

In re PG&E/NEGT-ET

Counsel to Bank of Montreal, issuer of $20 million letter of credit.

In re Southern Pacific Funding

Counsel to defendant Morgan Stanley in $100 million negligence, breach of contract adversary proceeding.

In re WCI Cable Inc.

Counsel to Alcatel Submarine, largest unsecured creditor.

Pacific Lifestyle Homes Inc.

General bankruptcy counsel to large developer of residential real estate projects in Oregon and Washington.

Thompson & Walters Nursery LLC

General bankruptcy counsel to privately owned nursery company, including auction of substantially all of the assets of the debtor and intercreditor disputes.

In re Power Company of America Inc.

Successful defense of $50 million preference and fraudulent transfer avoidance action brought by liquidating trustee of bankrupt wholesale electrical power trader.

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