Overview
Kimberlee's practice focuses on a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including purchases and sales, 1031 exchanges, commercial leases, and financing. Kimberlee represents a diverse group of businesses, owners, and developers with a special emphasis on the forest products, energy, agricultural, and senior housing industries.
She has extensive experience with timberland and mill purchases and sales in Oregon, Idaho and Montana, including representing the purchaser of 17,000 acres of Idaho timberlands and associated property rights. In the senior housing market, Kimberlee represents assisted living facility owners in loan transactions and frequently negotiates property management agreements.
Kimberlee negotiates retail leases in shopping centers throughout the United States. She also represents renewable energy clients in land acquisition, title curative matters, permitting due diligence, and project financing. She regularly handles real estate aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and bankruptcy transactions, which included helping a grocery store chain emerge from bankruptcy and obtain new financing secured by over 30 owned or leased properties.
Kimberlee's clients appreciate her timely, efficient, and straightforward approach to problem solving.
Featured Work
Albina Head Start Turns on First Solar-Powered Building with Assist from Tonkon Torp
When Albina Head Start learned it was awarded a Blue Sky Fund grant to install a rooftop solar array on one of its buildings, it turned to its long-time pro bono legal partner, Tonkon Torp. The nonprofit organization knew that it would need legal guidance to ensure that it could meet the terms laid out in the grant’s detailed and binding Memo of Understanding.
Tonkon Torp Completes Complex Asset Sale for Privately Held Business
In late 2014, Tonkon Torp represented a privately held heavy industrial equipment manufacturer in a complex transaction that included selling business assets and real property, and leasing other related business property. The selling company is a long-term client of the firm.
Historic U.S. Bank Block Sale
Tonkon Torp real estate and tax lawyers were instrumental in the complex, $40 million sale of the historic U.S. Bank Block in downtown Portland to real estate investment firm ScanlanKemperBard. Find details and more featured cases here.
Tonkon Torp Helps Albina Head Start Stabilize Finances for Enhanced Programming
Albina Head Start, Inc. (AHS), which serves more than 1,000 low-income children and their families in North, Northeast and Southeast Portland, faces the future in a stronger financial position thanks to a significant pro bono effort by Tonkon Torp. Find details and more featured cases here.
Tonkon Torp Leads Oregon Grocery Chain Out of Bankruptcy
In one of the quickest and most successful conclusions of a grocery chain bankruptcy proceeding, Tonkon Torp secured court approval of a reorganization plan for C&K Market, Inc., to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy just seven months after filing. Find details and more featured cases here.
Tonkon Torp Helps Commercial Real Estate Owner With Critical Sale Hurdle Through Defeasance
Tonkon Torp’s timely and experienced loan defeasance work permitted a shopping center owner to realize the profitable sale of that real estate in a transaction that initially appeared to be financially infeasible. Find details and more featured cases here.
EDF Renewable Energy
EDF Renewable Energy, formerly enXco, engaged Tonkon Torp to provide real estate and environmental due diligence support in connection with two renewable energy projects in California (the Catalina Solar and Pacific Wind Projects) and one in Kansas (the Spearville 3 Wind Energy Project).
Tonkon Torp Team Delivers Fast, Efficient Counsel in Rejuvenation Sale
The successful sale of Portland-based Rejuvenation to a major, national home furnishings company was facilitated by an interdisciplinary team of Tonkon Torp business lawyers.
Giving Infants and Toddlers an Early Head Start
When Albina Head Start, Inc. received a significant grant award to expand the agency's services, its management called on Tonkon Torp to help address many legal and business issues.
Helping IKEA Break Ground in Portland
When home furnishings giant IKEA needed to secure land and obtain necessary approvals for a new location in the Portland Metropolitan area, they turned to Tonkon Torp for help. Tonkon's real estate attorneys successfully navigated our client through the complex two-year process.
Community Involvement & Activities
Albina Head Start, Inc.
Pro Bono Lawyer
Multnomah County Advisory Committee on Sustainability and Innovation
Member
Oregon State Bar
Member, Sustainable Future Section Executive Committee
Former Member, Environmental & Natural Resources Section Executive Committee
The Street Trust
Board of Directors
Portland Business Alliance
Leadership Portland Class of 2008
Professional Memberships
Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW)
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon Minority Lawyers Association
Oregon Women Lawyers
Awards & Recognitions
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers
Oregon State Bar
Recent News
Kimberlee Stafford Joins The Street Trust Board of Directors
Kimberlee Stafford Elected to Executive Committee of OSB Sustainable Future Section
Kimberlee Stafford Covers Retail Leasing for Women Lawyers
Kimberlee Stafford Provides Commercial Leasing Primer
Tonkon Torp Sponsors 2017 Oregonians Against Discrimination Business Leaders Luncheon
Tonkon Torp Receives 2016 OSB Sustainability Leadership Award
Tonkon Torp Sponsors "Bike More" Challenge
Tonkon Torp Sponsors Basic Rights Oregon Business Leaders Lunch
Tonkon Torp Sponsors 2016 Hispanic Bar Association Dinner
Kimberlee Stafford Receives Bar Association President’s Sustainability Award
Tonkon Torp Sponsors Bike Commute Challenge
Tonkon Torp Attorneys Attend BTA Anniversary Event
Tonkon Torp Earns Gold Certification for Sustainability Efforts
Tonkon Torp Sponsors Basic Rights Oregon Gala
Tonkon Torp Earns Designation as Oregon State Bar "Partner in Sustainability"
Stafford Appointed to County Sustainability Advisory Committee
Tonkon Torp Sponsors Basic Rights Oregon Luncheon
Tonkon Torp Announces Three New Partners
Tonkon Torp Real Estate Attorneys Discuss Title Insurance and Purchase Contracts for NBI Seminar
Kimberlee Stafford Edits Environmental Law Reference Book
Publications & Presentations
"Key Issues in Retail Leasing," Women's Networking Group, November 2017
"Commercial Leases," The Fundamentals of Real Estate and Land Use Law Seminar Series, Multnomah Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, September 2017
"Title Insurance and Survey Review: What You Need to Know" and "Step-By-Step Through the Purchase Contract," Handling Real Estate Transactions with Confidence, National Business Institute, December 2013
"REITs, Master Limited Partnerships Could Make Playing Field More Level for Renewables," Sustainable Business Oregon//Portland Business Journal, June 2013
Co-Editor, Environmental Volume 1: Regulation and Permitting, Oregon State Bar, 2013
"Oregon's New Transfer on Death Deed," Rotary Club of East Portland, July 2012
"Oregon Can't Afford Not to Invest in Renewables," Daily Journal of Commerce, March 14, 2012
"Wind Energy Facilities Real or Personal Property," Daily Journal of Commerce, August 17, 2011
Moderator, "The Promise of Development: Natural Resource Issues in a New Economy," Oregon State Bar