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Overview

Tara focuses her practice on the litigation needs of business clients addressing insolvency-related matters in all forums in which debtor-creditor issues arise, whether out of court, bankruptcy court, state and federal court or appellate court.  

Tara serves as Chair of the firm's Creditors' Rights & Bankruptcy practice. She has more than 25 years of experience providing clients with practical and efficient solutions to complex problems involving multiple parties with competing interests.

Tara is a tough negotiator and skilled litigator who knows how to balance clients' business interests with legal needs to save time, effort, and business capital. She protects clients' interests in all types of bankruptcy, insolvency and litigation matters. Her clients include businesses in need of assistance with maneuvering through reorganization proceedings, lenders, trade creditors, buyers of assets out of bankruptcy or receivership, banks and other financial service providers, unsecured creditors’ committees and receivers.

With a Master's Degree in Business Administration and certified as a Business Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification, Tara has the business acumen necessary to effectively handle complex litigation, Chapter 11 reorganizations, receiverships, workouts, and any insolvency related or commercial litigation matters. She has served as Chair of the Oregon State Bar's Debtor-Creditor Section and is currently a Board Member of the Turnaround Management Association.

She enjoys Chapter 11 cases and litigation because of the variety of industries, business issues and competing interests involved. Tara correlates dealing with a restructuring business to solving a big puzzle: lots of little pieces of different shapes and sizes that need to fit together to make the business successful again and obtain the best results possible for its creditors.

Professional Activities

  • American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
  • American Board of Certification, Certified Business Bankruptcy Specialist, 2007-present
  • Risk Management Association, Member
  • Turnaround Management Association (Northwest Chapter), Board Member
    • Chair, 2021-present

Experience

Experience

News & Insights

News

Speaking Engagements

Past Appearances

Publications

Admissions

  • Oregon, 1995
  • Idaho, 2021
  • Washington, 1997
  • U.S. District Court, District of Idaho
  • U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Idaho
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Oregon
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

Education

  • J.D., Willamette University College of Law (cum laude), 1995
  • M.B.A., Willamette University, 1995
  • B.S., Oregon State University, Journalism, 1990

Honors & Recognition

  • Chambers USA (Oregon) Leading Individual, Litigation: General Commercial, 2022-present; Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2023
  • Chambers USA (Washington) Leading Individual, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2023
  • The Best Lawyers in America©
    • Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2016-present
    • Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2016-present
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers, 2020 and 2022-2024
  • Oregon Super Lawyers list, Bankruptcy: Business, 2008-present
    • Top 25 Women list, 2013-2017
    • Top 50 Lawyers list, 2014-2015
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating (5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated) 
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