Industry focus
Driven by a passion for people and the real estate industry, I empower my clients to build the future they’ve always envisioned and keep roadblocks to a minimum.
How I represent clients at Schwabe
I have a passion for real estate, land use, and getting clients “unstuck.”
A key part of my practice is to provide comprehensive land use legal advice to commercial and industrial developers throughout Oregon and Washington. I can advise you on design review, development agreements, land divisions, easements, conditional use permits, code interpretations, and advocacy on local ordinance and comprehensive land use planning—including state legislative initiatives. I also have experience facilitating zone changes, local improvement districts, and land use appeals.
Additionally, I help clients facilitate purchase and sale agreements as well as leases for commercial, industrial, and multi-family residential development projects.
My background in public policy, government relations, commercial litigation, and administrative law equips me to counsel my clients on how to think strategically and engage government in regulatory, legislative, and judicial settings. I leverage my training in collaborative law to mediate business, land use, and commercial real estate matters, so that my clients’ interests are adeptly represented and their objectives efficiently achieved.
I previously practiced law at Horenstein Law Group; Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing (now Dentons) in Honolulu; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Los Angeles. I retired as an Air Force Reserve Judge Advocate General (JAG) in 2018.
Experience
Commercial Real Estate
- Successfully litigated Growth Management Act challenges ultimately dismissed as moot by the Washington Court of Appeals.
- Obtained a favorable bench trial decision regarding a private easement in a public right of way.
- Advocated for and won appeal against a historic building demolition permit application.
- Successfully negotiates multi-million-dollar development agreements.
- Advocated for and obtained County and City Comprehensive Plan map designation changes.
- Obtained a favorable decision on summary judgment declaring Public Records Act inapplicable to a private foundation.
- Facilitated 100% successful transition, sale, and litigation of 46 commercial leases during the K-Mart bankruptcy, which maximized value for the estate.
- Litigated a complex-financing, public-private partnership multi- family housing project that resolved multi-million-dollar fraud and breach of contract claims.
- Litigated and mediated a mixed-use condominium association dispute and negotiated mutually-agreeable compromise, bringing an end to decade-long dispute others thought intractable.
- Litigated a construction dispute over failed concrete, mitigated loss and limited liability.
- Appealed and negotiated complete city waiver of >$1 million late-added, utility and street improvement requirements, obtaining certificate of occupancy and avoiding appeal costs.
- Secured comprehensive plan amendments and map changes for multi-acre mixed use developments, short plats, and subdivisions.
- Appealed conflicting city stormwater and tree requirements, bringing city to the table to negotiate solution prior to incurring appeal costs.
- Avoided millions of dollars of new stormwater fees by pointing out factual and legal errors and negotiating with BDS and commissioners prior to City Council vote.
- Obtained approval from historic commission to demolish structure that could not feasibly be repaired, ensuring appropriate mitigation and preservation of historic materials.
- Negotiated development agreements and late-comer agreements.
- Defended development agreement before Washington Court of Appeals.
Education
- Georgetown University, Government Affairs Institute, Legislative Affairs Certificate (2012)
- University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, Juris Doctor degree, Order of the Coif (2001)
- United States Air Force Academy, Bachelor of Science, Humanities degree, Distinguished Graduate (1993)
Admissions
- California State Courts
- Hawaii State Courts
- Oregon State Courts
- Washington State Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Armed Forces
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Washington
Memberships
- American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution, Member (2018-present)
- Association of Washington Business (AWB), Chair Governments Affairs Committee (2023), Executive Board Member (2023), Board Member (2019-present)
Awards
- Joseph Lineberger Excellence Award (2018)
- Air Force Reserve Component Judge Advocate General of the Year (2014)
- Headquarters Air Force Reserve Component Judge Advocate General of the Year (2013)
- Lowry Award for Excellence in Academics, Officership, & Esprit de Corps (2010)
Additional Events
“Washington Land Use and Real Estate Legislation”, New Construction Symposium, First American Title / Keller Williams, September 2023
“Surveyor-Attorney Teaming – How Do We Do Better? and RCW 64.90 – 101+” Land Surveyors’ Association of Washington, March 2024
“WUCIOA (the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act) and Easements Ain’t Easy,” Fidelity National Title Designated/Managing Broker Quarterly meeting, May 2022
“WUCIOA: Lessons Learned Four Years In,” Land Surveyor’s Association of Washington, March 2022
“Easements Ain’t Easy,” Land Surveyor’s Association of Washington, March 2022
“Public Information Requests: Public or Private?” CASE Annual Conference for College and University Foundations, panelist, March 2021
“New Condo/Plat Law (WUCIOA): What Surveyors Need to Know,” Land Surveyor’s Association of Washington, February 2020
“Condos, Plats, and Coops: How WUCIOA changed the game,” 2019 Builders’ Summit, October 2019
“New Condo/Plat Law (WUCIOA): What Surveyors Need to Know,” Land Surveyor’s Association of Washington, Southwest Chapter, September 2019
“WUCIOA: Municipal Requirements Work Session,” May 2019
“Developing Subdivisions, Condominiums & Cooperatives: WUCIOA Changes Everything,” BIA, May 2019
Services
Community Activities
- Combat Wounded Veterans Challenge, Treasurer (2019-present)
- Association of Washington Businesses, Board Member, (2019-present)
- Identity Clark County, Ed Lynch Honorary Board Member (2019)
Outside Interests
You'll likely find Maren around water, boats, and family.
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