Dean N. Alterman
For more than 30 years Dean Alterman has advised private businesses and real estate investors. Dean has helped his clients buy, sell, and lease commercial and multi-family real estate, negotiate development agreements, form condominiums, acquire and sell businesses, and resolve the other legal matters that come up in the business world. Known for his unusual memory and his mathematical mind, Dean Alterman brings to his practice the experience of eight years in real estate sales, two terms on a county planning commission, and a stint as an outside director of a community bank and its holding company.
Dean frequently speaks and writes on real estate and land use topics, and is the author of two books for real estate lawyers. The American Bar Association published his first book in 2015, a primer for aspiring real estate lawyers titled How to Build a Real Estate Law Practice, and published his second book in 2021, a guide to drafting easement agreements called simply How to Draft Easements.
When not at his desk advising clients, Dean is an active leader in Portland's civic life, with present or past board service on many cultural and educational organizations, including the Portland Japanese Garden, the Japan-America Society of Oregon, Portland Piano International, the University Club, and Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center. Dean earned his A.B. in statistics from Harvard College in 1981. Dean received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in 1989, where he was the managing editor of the law review.
Representative Transactions
- Condominium conversion of 100-unit apartment project
- Negotiate condemnation settlements with local governments (multiple transactions)
- Counsel to selling shareholders in an employee stock ownership plan, manufacturing industry
- Acquisition and sale of apartment projects in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho (multiple transactions)
- Sale of industrial land for redevelopment (multiple transactions)
- Purchases and sales of businesses up to $50 million in annual sales (multiple transactions)
- Structure joint ventures for real estate investment (multiple transactions)
- Multi-floor lease of downtown core office building (multiple transactions)
- Refinancing of 150-unit hotel, West Hollywood, California
- Counsel to the trustee of an employee stock ownership plan, hospitality industry
Professional Memberships
- Member, Diversity Committee of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association, 2014-present
- Chair, Design and Construction Committee of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association, 2012-2016
- Chair, Purchase and Sale Committee of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association, 2008-2012
- Chair, Brokers and Brokerage Committee of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section of the American Bar Association, 2006-2008
- Member, Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, 2007-2010
- Member, Executive Committee of the Real Estate and Land Use Section of the Oregon State Bar, 2003-2006
Civic Activities
- Member, Metro Natural Areas Program Performance Oversight Committee, 2009-2016
- Director, Bank of Vancouver, 1992 - 1997; Director, Vancouver Bancorp, 1994-1996
- Member, Multnomah County Planning Commission, 1983-1991; Chairman, 1984-1986
- Director, Portland Piano International, 2014-present; President, 2015-present
- Trustee, Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center, 1985-2005; Treasurer, 2001-2005
- Trustee, Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, 2005-2014; President, 2011-2013
- Director, Japan-America Society of Oregon, 2009-Present
- Member, Advisory Board, Portland State University Center for Japanese Studies, 2010-Present
- Trustee, Public Advocates for Student Arts, 2000-2004
- Trustee, Portland Civic Theatre, 1990-1994; President, 1992-1994
- Trustee, The Catlin Gabel School, 1989-1992
Admitted to Practice
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