Don Koehler
Overview And Experience
Of Counsel
Construction & Real Estate Transactions Litigation
Don Koehler brings over 30 years of legal experience representing clients across a broad spectrum of real estate, commercial and litigation matters. His multifaceted practice includes counseling businesses, individuals, and corporations. He deals with transactions, negotiations, and disputes. These involve real estate acquisitions, financing, leasing, construction, environmental regulation, business torts, and corporate issues. With a strong background in both transactional work and complex litigation, Don offers clients strategic, practical solutions grounded in deep legal knowledge. He has a clear understanding of commercial objectives. His practice spans domestic and international matters. He is known for his ability to manage risk, resolve disputes efficiently, and provide trusted, business-focused counsel.
As a trial attorney, Don has represented clients and tried cases in various matters. These relate to business disputes, contractual disputes, business divorce, construction defects, and real estate. He also deals with landlord/tenant matters, environmental issues, lender liability, ERISA, class actions, and securities.
Practice Areas
Real Estate Law: Don brings extensive experience in all aspects of real estate law, with a practice spanning complex commercial transactions, financing transactions, and real estate development. He has advised clients on the sale, purchase, and leasing of a wide range of property types. These include high-rise office buildings, office parks, shopping centers, and industrial parks. He has also advised on residential transactions and construction lending. His work also includes negotiating property management agreements, refinancing transactions, and residential mortgage lending.
Don’s transactional practice focuses on the acquisition, disposition, leasing, and financing of commercial real estate. He has served as in-house counsel managing litigation related to real estate, banking, securities, ERISA, and pension matters. In addition to his litigation practice, he regularly drafts and negotiates documents. These include the full spectrum of documentation required for real estate and lending transactions. Don’s comprehensive approach, combined with deep industry insight, enable him to provide effective legal guidance. He delivers efficient, business-focused solutions to institutional, corporate, and individual clients across the real estate sector.
Commercial Law: Don advises clients on a range of commercial matters, with extensive experience in negotiations, mediations, and arbitrations. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants. His strategic approach has led to significant recoveries and cost savings for corporate clients. He is skilled in identifying and mitigating legal risks early. Don regularly provides practical, day-to-day guidance to business stakeholders which helps avoid litigation and ensure compliance. Don’s commercial practice includes advising on business torts and business divorce matters. He also has substantial experience counseling clients on international business and regulatory compliance. He has acted as a key liaison between Asian regional counsel, home office management and boards of directors. Helping to resolve complex cross-border legal and operational challenges. His ability to combine legal acumen with business insight makes him a trusted advisor to companies navigating today’s evolving commercial landscape.
Litigation: Don is a skilled trial attorney with broad experience representing individuals, partnerships, and corporations in complex commercial litigation. His practice encompasses a wide array of legal matters. These include construction defects, real estate equity, lending, landlord/tenant conflicts, and environmental litigation. He also handles lender liability, ERISA, pension issues, class actions, and securities litigation. Don has conducted extensive trial work across diverse legal areas such as eminent domain, employment, product liability, bankruptcy, probate, and insurance defense. He has also handled appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eighth Circuits, as well as the Oregon Court of Appeals. In the bankruptcy context, he has represented both debtors and creditors in contested proceedings.
He has managed a large number of complex litigation matters, including high-stakes matters involving construction, environment, banking, employee benefits, and international disputes. Don has appeared before regulatory bodies, including the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). He routinely coordinates strategy with internal stakeholders and outside counsel. Don’s approach to litigation is strategic and business-oriented. He plays an active role in case evaluation, litigation planning, and budget development. He advises corporate clients on discovery matters, deposition preparation, document production, responses to interrogatories and discovery requests. Additionally, Don works closely with corporate teams to manage reputational risk, draft statements, and respond to media inquiries. His experience includes monitoring as well as advising on international litigation in South America, Asia, and Australia.
EDUCATION
1. JD, Drake University (1991)
2. BBA, Finance, University of Texas (1982)
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
1. Michigan (2021)
2. Oregon (2013)