Professional and Civic Activities

  • Board of Directors, Northwest College of Liberal Arts (2016-present)
  • Super Lawyer "Rising Star" in Business Litigation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Oregon State Bar – Business Law Section
  • Oregon State Bar – Business Litigation Section
  • Oregon State Bar – Debtor-Creditor Section
  • Legal Aid Services of Oregon, Pro Bono Bankruptcy Clinic Volunteer
  • Portland Business Journal, "People on the Move" (2013, 2014)

Admitted to Practice

  • Oregon, 2008
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court – District of Oregon, 2008
    • U.S. District Court – District of Oregon, 2008
  • Washington, 2014
    • U.S. District Court – Western District of Washington, 2014
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Western District of Washington, 2014

Education

  • J.D., University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA (2008)
  • UW Mediation Clinic (2007-2008)
  • Extern for the Hon. Judge Eric J. Bloch, Multnomah County Circuit Court (2006)
  • B.A., Hampshire College, Amherst, MA (2000)
    • Philosophy and Literature

Mathew W. Lauritsen

Mathew believes a pragmatic and collaborative approach generally results in the shortest and most efficient path to his clients’ objectives.  Whether he is working to resolve his client’s business and property issues, strongly advocating his clients’ positions over the negotiating table, or litigating claims in court, Mathew continuously and creatively seeks the outcome that best suits his clients’ needs.

Since 2008, Mathew has represented individuals, large and small businesses, banks and regional lenders, investment groups, secured and unsecured creditors, receivers, Ch. 7 and Ch. 11 bankruptcy trustees, commercial tenants and landlords, and others.  This wide range of experience and perspectives have given Mathew many tools to choose from with respect to resolving today’s complex legal challenges.

In court, Mathew has litigated claims involving breach of contract, civil fraud, real estate contracts, interference with business relations, construction disputes, enforcement of security interests, foreclosure of real property, judicial dissolution of business entities, appointment of commercial receivers, and various types of bankruptcy litigation including fraudulent and preferential transfer recovery, conversion and destruction of collateral, and denial of discharge.

In his business and corporate practice, Mathew has assisted clients with contracts and leases, secured transactions, loan workouts, short sales and deed-in-lieu conveyances, real property sales, UCC auctions and private sales, collateral assignments, boundary disputes, easement rights, water right conveyance, loan acquisition, and other matters.

Mathew has been a Portlander since 2001, and has family connections to Eugene and Clatskanie, Oregon.  Though born in Northern California, Mathew was raised in rural Vermont and earned his undergraduate degree at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.  Prior to joining Kell, Mathew was an associate for the Northwest law firm Ball Janik LLP.  When not in the office, Mathew spends his time working on his 1927 house with his wife, playing with their two children, gardening, hiking and mountaineering in Oregon and the Sierra Nevada mountains, brewing beer, maintaining his classic Honda motorcycle, and running the occasional obstacle course race.

Representative projects

  • Representation of a design and digital development startup company with respect to contract and employment issues.
  • Representation of national telecommunications contractor to recover accounts receivable in interstate litigation.
  • Representation of Danish manufacturer of high-end speaker equipment on contract claim against local components manufacturer.
  • Representation of private real estate investment company to pursue creditor claims and defend counterclaims relating to a $14MM loan secured by 14 acres of commercial real estate in Clackamas County.
  • Representation of Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee, in cooperation with Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee of separate debtor, to take control of and manage the debtor's 50% general partnership interest in family partnership and cause the liquidation of $1.2MM in stock.
  • Representation of regional commercial lender in claims against borrowers for fraudulent transfer, conversion, willful destruction of collateral, and denial of discharge in related bankruptcy proceedings
  • Representation of the Avoidance Trustee appointed in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a wholesaler and distributor of hardware tools for the purpose of recovering preferential transfers against numerous national-level vendors.
  • Representation of the Chapter 11 Trustee for the bankruptcy of a former NBA player related to 363 sales of estate property, and settlement of claims against the estate.
  • Representation of the Board of Trustees for a union representing public sector workers in pursuit of state-court fraudulent transfer claims relating to Oregon real property.

503.360.0554
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