Services & Industries
Education
J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School, 1985
B.A., California State University at Sacramento, 1981
A.A., Solano Community College, 1979
Bar & Court Admissions
Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar Association
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington
Tim’s practice includes Chapter 11 corporate reorganizations, workouts, debtor‑creditor law, commercial litigation, and general business matters. He has provided a wide range of services to clients across a broad spectrum of industries. He has substantial experience representing Chapter 11 debtors‑in‑possession, creditors committees, secured and unsecured creditors, and enterprises seeking to acquire assets.
Tim has been counsel for the debtor or committee counsel in some of the most significant commercial and business bankruptcy cases filed in Oregon and Southwest Washington. He focuses on the development of efficient strategies that will allow his clients to achieve their goals efficiently and economically. He is Chair of Tonkon Torp’s Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights Practice Group and a member of the Turnaround Management Association. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, and in the federal court for the Northern District of California.
Representative Matters
Representation of Accountant
Represented a northwest accountant in a personal Chapter 11 reorganization. The accountant held interests in various business entities and had litigation pending against him for numerous claims including investment fraud. The firm assisted in resolving the litigation claims, retaining his accountancy license, and confirming a Chapter 11 plan restructuring his debts while retaining all of his interests in the business entities, even over the objection of other LLC members. The Plan was one of the first individual Chapter 11 plans confirmed in the state of Washington following the Bankruptcy Code amendments significantly changing the rules for individual bankruptcy cases.
In re Stayton SW Assisted Living, L.L.C. (the Consolidated Sunwest Related Entities)
(Bankr. D. Or.) – Tonkon represented debtor, Stayton SW Assisted Living, L.L.C., and over 700 substantially consolidated affiliates, in a Chapter 11 proceeding that resulted in a confirmed Plan of Reorganization. The biggest and most complex bankruptcy case ever filed in Oregon, the consolidation, restructuring and $1.2 billion sale involving over 700 of Sunwest entities demanded legal expertise in bankruptcy, securities, tax, real estate, corporate governance, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulated industries and commercial transactions. Al Kennedy and Tim Conway worked with a team of Tonkon lawyers and paralegals who developed and executed a complex resolution that restructured obligations owing to over 90 secured lenders, sold 146 seniors housing facilities (including approximately 1,200 tenant-in-common interests held by investors), and resulted in distributions to creditors and investors exceeding 100% of their claims.
In re Renaissance Custom Homes LLC
(Bankr. D. Or.) – With the bursting of the real estate bubble in 2008/09, developer Randy Sebastian and Renaissance Homes turned to Al Kennedy and Tim Conway to find a path through bankruptcy. Tonkon represented the company in its Chapter 11 case which resulted in the recapitalization of the company and its continuation as Oregon's premier home builder.
In re HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc.
(Bankr. D. Or.) – HemCon Medical Technologies, Inc. develops, manufactures, and sells a line of wound care products throughout the world. When faced with a disastrous patent infringement judgment, HemCon turned to Tonkon to represent it in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Through its bankruptcy case, HemCon was able to sell certain non-core product lines, attract new equity investment, restructure its secured and unsecured debt, including the judgment debt, and emerge from bankruptcy as a viable, operating recapitalized business.
In re Christensen Shipyards, Ltd.
Tonkon represented Miles Stover, the court appointed general receiver for Christensen Shipyards, Ltd. CSL is the premier manufacturer of 50 meter composite fiberglass motor yachts in the U.S. The sale price of the yachts is in the range of $34 million. Mr. Stover was appointed and retained Tonkon on March 20, 2015. Virtually all employees at the shipyard had been laid off and all operations had ceased. Three yachts were in process. We assisted the Receiver in negotiating financing facilities with each of the yacht purchasers that enabled the shipyard to bring back approximately 140 employees and restore operations. Subsequently, we assisted the Receiver in the sale of the shipyard to Christensen Shipyards LLC, an entity formed by the yacht purchasers. Thereafter we represented the Receiver in a lawsuit asserting claims against insiders and affiliates and seeking recovery of fraudulent conveyances. Following the sale and the settlement of the lawsuit, the Receiver paid the claims of secured and priority creditors in full and the claims of unsecured creditors in excess of 70%.
In re Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
(Bankr. D. Or.) – Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation designed and manufactured single-engine, composite airplanes that were rated as the world's fastest production model piston aircraft. Tonkon represented Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case that resulted in the sale of the company to Cessna Aircraft and subsequent confirmation of the company's Plan of Reorganization.
In re Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company
(Bankr. D. Or.) – Graphic Arts Publishing published books, calendars and other printed material on the subject area of regional history, gardening, photo essay, nature, travel, cooking and children's books under four names: Graphic Arts Books, Westwind Press, Alaska Northwest Books and Alaska Geographic. Tonkon represented the company in its Chapter 11 case that resulted in confirmation of a Plan of Reorganization and recapitalization of the company within nine months of the petition date.
In re Town & Country Center, LLC
Represented the owner of a shopping center in south-central Oregon, which led to the successful confirmation of a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization over the secured lender's objections. The secured debt, which had fully matured 2 1/2 years prior, was restructured over an additional five-year period with favorable amortization and interest rates.
Representation of Shopping Center Developer
Represented a shopping center developer and owner in a Chapter 11 proceeding which resulted in a successful confirmed plan of reorganization.
In re Blue Heron Paper Company
(Bankr. D. Or.) – Wells Fargo Bank relied on Tim Conway and Mike Fletcher to protect its interest as a secured lender when the Blue Heron Paper Company filed for Chapter 11 protection. The Tonkon Torp team negotiated with Blue Heron regarding the use of Wells Fargo's cash collateral and the treatment of the bank’s secured claim.
Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Successfully Represents Ad Hoc Committee of Loan Claimants in BlockFi Chapter 11 Cases
Tonkon Torp is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its representation of the Ad Hoc Committee of Loan Account Holders in the chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Blockfi, Inc. and its affiliates in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The Tonkon Torp Bankruptcy & Reorganization team was led by partner Danny Newman, who was assisted by partners Michael Fletcher and Tim Conway.
Tonkon Torp-Led Sale of NORPAC Foods, Inc. Named Global 2020 M&A Deal of the Year
The Tonkon Torp-led sale of NORPAC Foods, Inc. has been named an M&A Deal of the Year ($100MM-$250MM) in the 19th Annual M&A Advisor Awards, which selects the finest deals and professionals within the global M&A and Turnaround industry annually.
Local Firm Snags Megadeal: Case Doesn’t Faze Midsize Law Office
Tonkon Torp is featured in an article in the April 2011 issue of the ABA Journal. The firm’s work on the Sunwest bankruptcy case is the topic of the story, which discusses our representation of Clyde Hamstreet, the Chief Restructuring Officer for the case. The Sunwest bankruptcy concluded with a $1.2 billion deal, which was the culmination of one of the biggest and most complex bankruptcy cases of its kind ever filed in Oregon.
Untangling the Sunwest Bankruptcy
In August 2010, Blackstone Real Estate Advisors closed a $1.2 billion deal to acquire 134 senior living properties from bankrupt Oregon-based Sunwest Management, formerly the country’s fourth largest (and largest privately-held) senior living operator. Tonkon Torp represented the Chief Restructuring Officer of Sunwest in this deal, which was the culmination of one of the biggest and most complex bankruptcy cases of its kind ever filed in Oregon.
Community Involvement & Activities
Professional Memberships
Turnaround Management Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Christian Legal Society
American Inns of Court
The Best Lawyers in America
2010-2025, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights Law/Insolvency & Reorganization Law
2010-2025, Litigation: Bankruptcy
2020, Lawyer of the Year – Litigation: Bankruptcy, Portland
Recent News
46 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Included in 2025 Best Lawyers in America®
Forty-six Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025. Forty-five of the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
33 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2024 Super Lawyers Lists
Thirty-three Tonkon Torp attorneys in 12 practice areas have been included in the 2024 Oregon Super Lawyers or Rising Stars lists.
Chambers USA 2024 Ranks 28 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
Chambers USA has recognized 28 Tonkon Torp attorneys in eight practice areas in its 2024 Guide.
Tonkon Torp Successfully Represents Ad Hoc Committee of Loan Claimants in BlockFi Chapter 11 Cases
Tonkon Torp is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its representation of the Ad Hoc Committee of Loan Account Holders in the chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Blockfi, Inc. and its affiliates in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. The Tonkon Torp Bankruptcy & Reorganization team was led by partner Danny Newman, who was assisted by partners Michael Fletcher and Tim Conway.
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2024 List
Forty-nine Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 36 practice areas have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024. All of the attorneys have been previously named to the peer-review list, and most have been listed for more than 10 years.
Publications & Presentations
“What You Should Know About Business Bankruptcy in the Time of COVID-19,” Current Developments in Business Law Seminar, Oregon State Bar, November 2020
Panelist, “To Sell or Not To Sell: M&A Prospects in Late 2020 and Beyond,” October 2020
Panelist, “Commercial Real Estate and Coronavirus – What to Do Now, What to Do Next,” April 2020
Panelist, “363 Sales: Pertinent Issues and Alternatives,” 32nd Annual NW Bankruptcy Institute, Oregon and Washington State Bar Credit Debtor Sections, April 2019
“Be Alert When Buying a ‘Troubled’ Company,” Daily Journal of Commerce, December 2013
“Chapter 11 Filings Are Down, but Not, Unfortunately, Out,” Portland Business Journal, April 2013
Panelist, “When Disaster Strikes in Chapter 11: Administrative Insolvency, Structured Dismissal and Other Issues,” 26th Annual NW Bankruptcy Institute, Oregon and Washington State Bar Credit Debtor Sections, April 2013