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Joseph M. VanLeuven
Senior Counsel
In insolvency matters, cost/benefit analysis guides my approach: net money is always the object.
Joe VanLeuven is a debtor-creditor lawyer. He helps clients enforce and collect loans and other debts, buy distressed assets, protect their rights in bankruptcies, and structure loans and transactions to minimize bankruptcy risks.
He has experience with a broad range of industries and types of collateral, including some that present unique issues, such as film finance, dairies, food processors, trademarks, aircraft, and franchise restaurants.
Practice Highlights
Credit recovery
Represent banks and asset-based lenders in loan collection, enforcement, and restructuring, in and out of bankruptcy.
M&A
Represent clients in a wide variety of M&A transactions in financial distress situations and bankruptcies, ranging from asset purchases, assumption and assignment of contracts, and sales of businesses, with a recent focus on intellectual property such as trademarks, IP licenses, and internet-related assets.
Transactional advice
Provide bankruptcy advice in complex transactions, financings and licensing deals, and advise clients caught-up in customer, vendor and landlord bankruptcies.
East West Tea Company
One of the principal outside counsel for manufacturer of "Yogi Tea," advising and coordinating multiple engagements including trademark, tax, real estate, and general litigation. (Ongoing)
Washington Potato Company
Lead the team defending Washington Potato Company in “business divorce” litigation filed by J.R. Simplot Company arising from their joint ownership of companies that operate a half-dozen large vegetable processing plants in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Defeated Simplot’s claims on summary judgment.
Amazon
Represented Amazon Studios in respect to treatment of multiple licensing and distribution agreements in The Weinstein Company and affiliates’ bankruptcy cases and sale of assets.
Enforcement of Chinese mediation award
Sued in Oregon to enforce Chinese mediation award, resulting in judgment against Chinese defendant who resides in Oregon.
Te Velde Dairies
Represented primary lender in large dairy receivership and bankruptcy.
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Admitted to Practice
- Oregon, 1982
- U.S. District Court, District of Oregon, 1982
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit, 1988
Education
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1982, cum laude
- B.A., History, Reed College, 1978
- Phi Beta Kappa
Memberships & Affiliations
- Instructor, "Asset Sales in Bankruptcy," Lorman Education Services CLE, 2009
- Instructor on the topics of Chapter 12 bankruptcy, agricultural liens and forbearance agreements, Western School of Agriculture Lending, Reno, Nev. July 2006 & 2007
Professional Recognition
- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Oregon), 2022-2024
- Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" by Best Lawyers in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2010-present; in Commercial Litigation, 2025-present
- Selected to "Oregon Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2006, 2011-2023
- Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, by Best Lawyers, 2010-present
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Publications
06.10.24
News
New Chambers Rankings Affirm Davis Wright Tremaine's National Leadership in Key Industry Sectors Read More Publications
08.17.23
News
2024 Edition of Best Lawyers Recognizes More Than 175 Davis Wright Tremaine Attorneys for Excellence Read More Publications
06.05.23
News
Chambers USA Recognizes Davis Wright Tremaine for Leadership Across Key Industry Sectors and Honors the Firm for Excellence in 51 Practices Read More Publications
06.07.22
News
Chambers USA Recognizes Davis Wright Tremaine for Excellence in Key Practice Areas and Industry-Leading Success With DEI Read More Home foreclosure sign
07.09.20
Advisories
Real Estate
Oregon Passes Sweeping Law to Protect Real Property and Residential Secured Borrowers Read More Insights
02.11.16
Advisories
Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
9th Circuit Narrowly Construes “Insiders” and, in Controversial Decision, Declines to Reverse Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Read More Publications
08.17.15
News
Twelve Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Attorneys Named 2016 "Lawyers of The Year" by Best Lawyers Read More Insights
04.17.14
Advisories
Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
1st Circuit Limits Secured Lender’s Right to Post-Petition Interest by Applying Flexible Standard Read More Insights
02.15.13
Advisories
Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
"New Value" Plans Require Competitive Bidding, Says 7th Circuit Read More Insights
01.18.13
Advisories
Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
California Supreme Court Broadens Borrower Fraud Defense to Written Loan Agreements Read More Insights
12.05.12
Advisories
Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
9th Circuit Issues Important Post-Stern Opinion Read More
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