With roots dating back to 1927, Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP ranks as one of Oregon’s oldest law firms. We pride ourselves on being able to provide a relatively wide variety of legal services for our business and individual clients while having the expertise to handle various issues.
The Wealth Law Blog is focused on various legal issues that have a profound impact upon businesses and families seeking to build, protect, and distribute wealth. We will provide timely and relevant information on these complex and dynamic legal issues. We hope to provide such information through a forum that encourages a productive exchange of ideas, comments, and questions.
Victoria Blachly is a civil trial attorney located in Portland, Oregon, and licensed in the states of Oregon and Washington. She works on a wide range of litigation issues, with a primary focus on fiduciary litigation for individual trustees, corporate trustees, beneficiaries, and personal representatives, including trust and estate litigation, will contests, trust disputes, undue influence, capacity cases, claims of fiduciary breach, and financial elder abuse cases.
Victoria has a rating of 10.0 for her experience, industry recognition, and professional conduct. Read comments from her legal peers at Avvo.com.
Victoria is also a board member for Housecall Providers, Inc., a non-profit medical practice dedicated to delivering, coordinating and advocating for the quality medical care that homebound older adults need to experience healthful lives in their own homes. Housecall Providers grew from Executive Medical Director Benneth Husted, D.O.’s commitment to making housecalls, and in 2007, Housecall Providers made 9,444 home visits in the Portland area. As of August 2009, Housecall Providers was providing primary medical care for 1022 medically needy homebound individuals, with an average age of 82. For more information on their services or to make a donation, visit the Housecall Providers website. Victoria can be reached via email at vblachly@SamuelsLaw.com.
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Jeff Cheyne represents individuals and businesses in the areas of estate, tax, business and real estate planning. He is licensed to practice in California, Oregon and Washington. His extensive and comprehensive background in tax law enables him to provide valuable expertise to his clients.
During the 2005, 2008 and 2009 Oregon Legislative sessions he helped draft and coordinate the successful passage of revisions to the Oregon Inheritance Tax Law. He has given over a dozen professional accredited continuing education programs on the Oregon Inheritance Tax Law to attorneys, financial advisors and certified public accountants. Mr. Cheyne serves on the executive committee of the Oregon State Bar Estate Planning section and is a member of the Taxation Section and the Portland Estate Planning Council.
He is the author of “2008 Special Legislative Session Establishes Farming, Forestry and Fishing Inheritance Tax Credit,” OR Estate Planning and Administration Section Newsletter (April 2008); “Circumstances Dictate Decision To Go With A Will or Trust,” Portland Business Journal (March 17, 2006); “Oregon Inheritance Tax Changes - (HB3072),” In Brief (November 2003); and “New Oregon Inheritance Tax Rules Affect Estate Planning,” Elder Law Newsletter (Winter 2004). He has also written articles in The Family & Juvenile Law Newsletter and the Taxation Newsletter, publications of the Oregon State Bar.
In addition to providing quality legal assistance, Mr. Cheyne currently serves on the Endowment Committee for the American Rhododendron Society. He is the Past President of the Tualatin Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Jeff can be reached via email at JCheyne@SamuelsLaw.com.
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Stephen E. Kantor is an accomplished business, estate, and trust attorney and educator with over 30 years of experience in the planning and administration of complex issues. Taking an in-depth, creative approach to problem solving, Steve establishes strong relationships with all of his clients, from young families with children to corporate business executives.
As a specialist in the field of estate planning, he has been interviewed on matters regarding tax laws, charitable planning, trusts, business succession, and estate administration for Money, The Oregonian, The Daily Journal of Commerce, The Business Journal and a local television station. He also assists Fortune 500 executive groups in estate planning matters.
A prolific speaker and educator, Steve lectures at numerous seminars for the Oregon State Bar, the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants, Estate Planning Councils, and the Northwest Tax Institute, and writes treatises on estates and taxation, family planning, and estate and trust administration. The University of Oregon, the National Legal Assistants Convention, and various trade and professional groups have also engaged Steve as a speaker.
Steve is proud to make a difference in the Portland community. He recently completed his tenure as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation was only a community dream until Steve co-founded the organization, became its president, and helped raise net assets in excess of $30 million. He also served as the President of the Jewish Family Service and worked to develop a program providing Russian immigrants with shelter, food, furnishings, and jobs. As a past trustee of the Nature Conservancy, he collaborated with individuals and businesses to create endowments and set aside preserves protecting natural habitats throughout Oregon. Last, as a member of the B’nai Brith Camp board, he is helping children afford to enrich their lives through a fulfilling summer camp experience.
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Steven W. Seymour is an accomplished litigator with an emphasis on labor and employment law. As an expert in civil litigation, Steve focuses primarily on cases involving disability, and sexual discrimination, wrongful termination, and non-compete agreements. Municipal judge for the City of Mosier, he formerly served as past Chairman of the Litigation Section of the Oregon State Bar. He is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Washington.
Over the past decade, Steve has argued and won a case before the US Supreme Court that received national media attention, including a feature article in Business Week. A trusted resource, Steve provides background information for radio and television stories and has been invited to lecture at venues including the Willamette University Law School, the American Bar Association Convention, and the National Monument Builders Association Convention. Steve has been invited to lecture at the University of Passau School of International Law in Passau, Germany during fall term, 2009. He will lecture on "Trial as Theater, The American Jury System."
Steve actively builds community by serving on the United Methodist Church Camp and Retreat Ministries Board, which owns and operates six church camps and retreat centers in Oregon and Idaho. His committee coordinates the health, safety, and operational infrastructure of these facilities to ensure opportunities for families, adults, and children to grow in wisdom and faith. As the Adjutant for Mosier Post 55 of the American Legion, he serves veterans of the US military and promotes patriotism in the community.
Steve also continues his lifelong commitment to the Boy Scouts of America, a program that builds leaders and teaches life skills.
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Admitted to Oregon State Bar (1975)
Admitted to Washington State Bar (2002)
Michael D. Walker is a business, tax, and estate planning attorney who has worked with individuals and small to medium-sized businesses for over 20 years. Michael enjoys the challenge of guiding his clients through the wide variety of legal challenges they face in today’s complex world.
Michael graduated with high honors from both Northwestern School of Law and The College of Idaho. Michael is licensed to practice law in both Oregon and Washington, and is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court.
Authoring articles, conducting seminars, and speaking for organizations and businesses, Michael covers such topics as sophisticated estate planning, business transactions, corporations, limited liability companies, family limited partnerships, joint ventures, and 1031 exchanges.
An active member of the Portland community, Michael has served on the Estate Planning Council of Portland, and is past President of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Beaverton, Oregon. Michael can be reached via email at mwalker@SamuelsLaw.com.
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Van M. White, III’s practice focuses on construction law and business litigation. His legal work regularly includes construction liens and collections; contract drafting and negotiating; the prosecution and defense of construction defect claims; bond claims; and general counsel to construction contractors, material suppliers, and small business owners.
Van’s clients include property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, and developers involved in residential, commercial and public works projects. He has also represented commercial lenders, title insurance companies, and investors in foreclosure and priority disputes. Significant matters recently handled include the defense of apartment developers in multiple lien foreclosure cases; the representation of a national lender in a lien foreclosure case (priority dispute involving major Central Oregon resort); and the foreclosure of an Oregon Coast property being developed as a resort.
Because Van understands that legal fees can add up quickly, he strongly advocates upfront risk management so that issues can be addressed before a project begins. He also regularly employs a cost-benefit analysis when helping a client make a decision, especially those involving payment disputes. He prides himself on being very hands-on with his cases and being a good communicator. By working with clients in a prompt, decisive manner, Van establishes solid channels of communication that allow the client to get the most out of his representation.
Van has authored a number of articles on Oregon construction law and related issues. He has also contributed to several articles in national publications. Some may recognize Van from his “Ask the Expert” column, which ran in the Sunday Oregonian real estate section and discussed how residential property owners should protect themselves with construction contracts. Van has also actively participated in construction trade associations over the years, including regular speeches and articles relating to construction law issues.
Van was a hearings advocate and law clerk at the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (“CCB”) from 1990-1992, while he attended law school at Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon. While at the CCB, Van prosecuted numerous enforcement cases on behalf of the State of Oregon. He also performed legal research while he clerked at the CCB.
Prior to graduating from Willamette University College of Law, Van began teaching prerequisite CCB education classes to contractors. Since 1992, Van has instructed hundreds of prerequisite CCB education classes to thousands of contractors in a wide variety of areas, including contract law, construction lien law, the CCB, and laws and business practices. Van still regularly instructs classes and CCB electives to contractors in areas related to contract law and lien law. He has also given numerous speeches over the years to construction companies, lawyers, and at trade shows.
Van is a member of the CCB’s Training and Education Advisory Board. Van has also assisted the CCB with the instruction and education of contractors, including editing and updating of the ninth edition of the Oregon Contractor’s reference manual.
Van is a graduate of Washington State University and a huge Cougar fan. Van is involved with the Cougar Business Alliance in Vancouver as well as a WSU networking group in Pullman.
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