Maren Calvert

Shareholder

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

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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