Daniel F. Vidas, Of Counsel

"The most eclectic practice you can find," is how Dan describes his work as a bankruptcy attorney. He has made a specialty of diversity. In representing primarily trustees, creditors' committees and Chapter 11 debtors in complex commercial proceedings , Dan often handles adversarial disputes in bankruptcy court. He has litigated everything from officer fraud and environmental hazardous waste claims to breach of contract and UCC actions. And while bankruptcy is not normally considered a transactional practice, Dan has also documented and closed sales for items as diverse as turn-key plywood mills, submersible land leases, U.S. Forest Service contracts, electronic website hardware and software sales contracts.

Dan's ability to juggle these varied legal challenges stems from his first career as a university professor of journalism, communications and business law. During his years as an academic, Dan taught not only reporting skills, but also classes on body language, conflict resolution and small group interaction. He views trial presentation as telling a story or teaching a lesson to the judge or jury. This approach enables him to avoid the sometimes stilted jargon to which many attorneys fall prey.

In 2006 and 2007, Oregon Super Lawyers recognized Dan as a Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights.

Bar Admissions:

• Oregon, 1977
• Washington, 2002
• U.S. District Court District of Oregon, 1980
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
• U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1982
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Education:

• University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, Illinois, 1977, J.D.
• University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 1974
  ABD Ph.D, Major: Communications/Econ.
• University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 1974
  M.S., Major: Communications/Econ.
• University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, 1968
  B.S. Major: Journalism

Published Works:

• "Tips on Staying Afloat When Your Landlord Goes Under", Daily Journal of Commerce, November 4, 2002

Representative Clients:

• John Mitchell, Trustee
• Emerald-Delaware, Inc.
• Professional Liability Fund

Classes/Seminars Taught:

• Selling Real Estate Out of Bankruptcy, Oregon State Bar CLE, 1990
• Selling Real Estate Out of Bankruptcy, Oregon State Bar CLE, 1994
• The New Bankruptcy Rules, Multnomah Bar Association CLE, 2005
• Revised Bankruptcy Code, Reclamation Rights, and Preference Defenses, NACM Wood Products Credit Group, 2005

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Oregon State Bar Association
• Multnomah Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Oregon State Bar
  Chair, Debtor Creditor, CLE Subcommittee
• Oregon State Bar
  Member, Executive Committee, Debtor-Creditor Section (2 terms)

Past Employment Positions:

• Oregon State University, Assistant Professor, Business Law, 1977 - 1978
• University of Illinois Press, Associate Editor, 1975 - 1977
• Ohio University, Assistant Professor, Communications, 1971 - 1972