William J. Ohle
Overview
Bill Ohle brings a strong industry background to representing public utilities and industries in state and federal regulatory matters. Before joining Schwabe, Bill served as in-house counsel for a publicly owned electrical, water and wastewater utility company. Currently, he represents both private and public clients before the Bonneville Power Administration, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Oregon Public Utilities Commission. He also assists with transactions between private interests and investor-owned and publicly owned utilities, including negotiating power purchase agreements involving renewable energy resources and conventional energy resources. Bill also has experience in telecommunications and cable television regulation.
Bill has more than 20 years of experience representing clients in construction defect and housing accessibility claims, with an emphasis on claims involving design defects by architects and engineers. He defends design professionals against professional malpractice claims and drafts professional service contracts to minimize the risk of construction disputes and meet the needs of specific design disciplines and projects. Bill has litigated nearly two dozen Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act claims in federal and state courts and agencies.
Professional clients rely on Bill’s advocacy when their livelihood is on the line. He has represented numerous clients before regulatory boards—including the Oregon Board of Architect Examiners, Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering and the Oregon Electrical and Elevator Board—in contested case hearings, appeals, and negotiated settlements.
Experience
Experience
- Successfully represented a large investor-owned utility in complex federal litigation over the constitutionality of a city franchise ordinance.
- Briefed and argued Grays Harbor PUD v. Idaho Power Company (9th Cir. 2004), one of the first cases arising from the 2000-2001 West Coast Energy Crises to reach the federal appellate courts, and obtained a favorable remand.
- Advised a large investor-owned utility in ongoing efforts by cities to form municipal utilities and condemn utility facilities.
- Tried numerous court litigations and administrative contested cases as first chair, including matters before state and federal courts and professional licensing boards such as the Oregon Board of Architect Examiners and the Oregon Electricians Board.
- Drafted and negotiated hundreds of architectural, engineering and construction contracts and subcontracts, including custom forms based on specific client needs and knowledge of AIA design and construction forms.
- Advise design professionals in areas of business organization, including matters of state incorporation and professional licensing and drafting of corporate documents.
Resources & Ideas
News
- April 19, 2021
- Portland Business Journal, October 14, 2016
- March 11, 2016
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- Northwest Environmental Business CouncilApril 15, 2022
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonDecember 9, 2021
- The Seminar GroupSeptember 24, 2021
- The Seminar GroupSeptember 11, 2020
- 23rd Annual Oregon Construction Law ConferenceSeptember 28, 2018
Ethics in Government Contracting
HalfMoon Education, October 2014
Architects and the Law Series
AIA Portland, June 2014
Architects as Master Builders Series
AIA Portland, April 2014
Risky Business: Traps and Pitfalls in the Practice of Architecture
AIA Portland, May 2013
Publications
- Oregon Business Lawyer: Oregon State Bar Business Law Section NewsletterSeptember 2022
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonMay 13, 2022
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonOctober 15, 2021
- February 2, 2021
- Daily Journal of Commerce OregonJune 12, 2020
- July 30, 2018
- March 2, 2018
- Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon, May 24, 2017
- Daily Journal of Commerce, May 25, 2016
- June 9, 2015
Building Designs: Are They Works for Hire or Works of Art
Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon, December 22, 2014
Oregon Legislative Updates: Statutes Governing Architects
Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon, August 1, 2013
Perfect a Contract, and Then Follow It
Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon, March 1, 2013
Community Activities
Community Activities
- Reynolds School District, Citizens Oversight Committee, Chair, 2015 Bond Issue for School Construction (2015-present)
- Architecture Foundation of Oregon, Communications Subcommittee, Member (2011-present)
Services
Education
- Warner Pacific CollegeBachelor of Arts degree (1986)
- Willamette University College of LawJuris Doctor degree, cum laude (1991)
Admissions
Oregon State Courts
Washington State Courts
Commonwealth Courts for the Northern Mariana Islands
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
United States District Court, District of Oregon