Services & Industries
Education
J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 2016, Order of the Coif
B.A., University of Puget Sound, 2012
Bar & Court Admissions
Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar Association
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Will is a partner in Tonkon Torp’s Litigation Department. He litigates complex business matters across a variety of industries, with an emphasis on commercial real estate, construction, and shareholder disputes. He has tried cases in state court, federal court, and private arbitration, in addition to resolving a wide array of matters through contested motions practice, direct negotiations, and mediation. As part of his active trial practice, Will regularly advocates for public and private companies, local governments, and individuals in significant and high-stakes disputes.
Will graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Oregon School of Law, where he was Executive Editor of the Oregon Law Review. During law school, he was a fellow in the Wayne Morse Center for Law & Politics and received the Governor Paul Patterson Memorial Fellowship for his commitment to civic involvement. Additionally, Will served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Michael J. McShane, United States District Judge for the District of Oregon, and also as a law clerk in the Civil Litigation Section of the Oregon Department of Justice’s Trial Division.
Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Will enjoys running with his doodles in Northeast Portland, hiking and backpacking through Oregon’s many wilderness areas, and savoring the occasional Willamette Valley pinot noir.
Representative Matters
Real Estate and Construction Litigation
Lead attorney in multi-day bench trial concerning the partition of residential property, securing favorable rulings on all disputed issues, favorable settlement, and award of attorney fees in connection with motion to compel.
Represented commercial tenant in three-day arbitration hearing concerning alleged lease defaults, securing favorable rulings on all claims and six-figure attorney fee award.
Represented local government in breach of contract dispute concerning the public construction of a wastewater facility, securing complete summary judgment on all claims.
Defended building owner and commercial tenants in land use covenant litigation involving a 30-story office tower, securing partial summary judgment and voluntary dismissal of all claims.
Represented construction management firm in mechanics lien litigation, securing dismissal of series of cross-claims for injunctive relief, declaratory relief, and damages, as well as favorable resolution of lien claim.
Represented school district in negligence action against design professional firm, securing favorable settlement at mediation.
Represented homeowner in breach of contract and unfair trade practices lawsuit against contractor, securing full damages and attorney fees.
Represented homeowner in residential timber trespass dispute, negotiating pre-litigation settlement that recovered six-figure payment and client’s attorney fees.
As lead attorney in probate trial, obtained directed verdict against claims arising from a disputed option agreement to purchase a residential property.
Defended local government’s land use decision in mandamus proceeding, securing dismissal with prejudice after evidentiary hearing.
Represented heavy equipment company in breach of contract litigation arising from the construction of a hospital, helping secure Ninth Circuit reversal of an adverse trial court decision and favorable settlement after substituting in as counsel.
Represented trustee and personal representative of estate in contested show cause hearing, obtaining order striking invalid lis pendens and award of attorney fees.
Obtained favorable settlement for seller of residential property against seven-figure claims for breach of contract and specific performance.
Prosecuted fraud and failure to disclose claims against seller of residential property and seller’s realtor, obtaining highly favorable settlement at confidential mediation.
Complex Commercial Litigation
After an eight-day federal jury trial, obtained a highly favorable verdict defending a Portland-based food laboratory and its director from seven-figure fiduciary duty, intentional interference, and other claims brought by a global testing company.
Successfully defeated temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, and other contested motions in series of lawsuits seeking to enforce an over-broad non-competition agreement arising from the sale of a regional construction business.
Second chaired three-day bench trial in an operating agreement dispute involving a closely held real estate company, securing favorable court-ordered buyout and dismissal of all counterclaims.
Represented high-profile professional athlete in private arbitration involving a Most Favored Nations endorsement agreement dispute, prevailing on multiple contested motions before obtaining favorable settlement.
Secured complete summary judgment and attorney fees for public utility company in contract dispute arising from the financial collapse of a European energy conglomerate, who assisted with the construction of a nearly $400 million power plant.
Obtained favorable settlement defending director, founder, and former Chief Executive Officer of Fortune 500 company against consolidated derivative suits alleging breach of fiduciary duties, waste of corporate assets, and unjust enrichment.
Consumer Protection and Compliance
Defend national company in consumer protection matter, including claims under the Oregon Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Advise local and regional automobile dealerships on advertising regulations and other consumer protection matters.
Featured Work
The Ramos Project
In April 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down non-unanimous jury convictions in criminal cases in Ramos v. Louisiana. A shameful carryover from the Jim Crow era, Louisiana and Oregon were the last two states that allowed non-unanimous criminal convictions when as many as two jurors believed a defendant was innocent. Overnight, more than 260 cases in Oregon became eligible to seek post-conviction relief for unconstitutional non-unanimous convictions. Housed in the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic (CJRC) at Lewis & Clark Law School, the Ramos Project is a statewide pro-bono initiative providing legal assistance to those seeking redress.
Community Involvement & Activities
ACLU of Oregon
Lawyers’ Committee, Member
Portland Metro Chamber
Leadership Portland Class of 2025
Blanchet House
Emerging Professionals Board, Past Member, Past Co-Chair
Multnomah Bar Association
Young Lawyers Section CLE Committee, Past Member
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
The Best Lawyers in America
2022-2025, Ones to Watch – Commercial Litigation
Recent News
Will Gent Accepted into Leadership Portland
Tonkon Torp attorney Will Gent has been accepted into the 2025 class of Leadership Portland, an annual program offered by the Portland Metro Chamber to cultivate and develop community leaders.
Best Lawyers in America Names 15 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2025 Ones to Watch List
Fifteen Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 17 practice groups have been named to The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Ones to Watch directory. Best Lawyers Ones to Watch is a peer-review honor that acknowledges the professional excellence of attorneys who have been in private practice for less 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.
Tonkon Torp Elects Three Attorneys to Partnership
Tonkon Torp LLP has elected attorneys Lauren Bernton, Will Gent, and Ferdinand Ruplin to its partnership, effective January 1, 2024.
Best Lawyers in America® Names 17 Tonkon Torp Attorneys to 2024 Ones to Watch List
Seventeen Tonkon Torp lawyers representing 18 practice groups have been named to The Best Lawyers in America 2024 Ones to Watch directory. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a peer-review honor that acknowledges the professional excellence of attorneys who have been in private practice for less than 10 years.
Recent Publications
Ninth Circuit Empowers Commercial Property Owners to Restrict Firearms
By Mick Harris and Will Gent – In Wolford v. Lopez, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision with implications on commercial property owners’ rights to restrict firearms on private property. Interpreting the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent “history and tradition” approach to the Second Amendment, the court set serious limits on state authority to ban firearms in public locations and highlighted the tension between Second Amendment rights and property ownership
Portland Multifamily Construction Continues to Slump
By Will Gent – From the campaign trail to the kitchen table, it’s hard to avoid the fact that Oregon has a housing shortage. That crunch is perhaps most severe when it comes to the construction of affordable, multifamily units. Across the state, elected officials have taken notice. In Salem, Governor Tina Kotek set an ambitious goal of adding 36,000 new units of housing per year.
Multnomah County “Freezes” Eviction Proceedings Through 2020
By Will Gent – Multnomah County may be exiting Governor Kate Brown’s COVID-19 “freeze,” but eviction proceedings in Oregon’s largest county remain largely on hold until after the New Year.
Coronavirus and Commercial Evictions: Oregon’s New Moratorium
By Will Gent – On April 1, 2020, Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order 20-13, expanding certain coronavirus-related eviction protections to include commercial tenants. This order follows a series of emergency moratoria issued by Governor Brown, the City of Portland, and Multnomah County, which specifically addressed residential evictions.
Publications & Presentations
“Multnomah County “Freezes” Eviction Proceedings Through 2020,” Ear to the Ground Blog, December 2020
“Coronavirus and Commercial Evictions: Oregon’s New Moratorium,” Ear to the Ground Blog, April 2020
“Tilting at Windmills: National Security, Foreign Investment, and Executive Authority in Light of Ralls Corp. v. CFIUS,” Oregon Law Review, 2016