Atty. Susan T. Alterman
With more than 30 years of experience working on commercial finance, real estate and creditors’ rights matters, Susan Alterman focuses her practice on commercial banking and complex real estate transactions. She assists a variety of financial institutions and real estate investors in structuring real estate and asset-based credit facilities, including loan documentation, underwriting considerations, and regulatory matters.
Profile Summary
About Susan T. Alterman at a glance
Susan T. Alterman is a business and real estate attorney based in Portland, Oregon, practicing at Kell, Alterman & Runstein LLP. They have 39+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1987. Admitted to practice in Oregon (1987), Colorado (1994), and Washington (2000). Educated at Willamette University (JD, 1986) and University of California - Los Angeles (BA, 1982). Recognitions include Lawyer of the Year — Banking and Finance Law, Portland (OR) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Banking and Finance Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Real Estate Law (2026). Serands clients in Portland, OR and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- With more than 30 years of experience working on commercial finance, real estate and creditors’ rights matters, Susan Alterman focuses her practice on commercial banking and complex real estate transactions
- She assists a variety of financial institutions and real estate investors in structuring real estate and asset-based credit facilities, including loan documentation, underwriting considerations, and regulatory matters
- Susan regularly represents banks and other financial institutions in structuring, negotiating and documenting a variety of lending transactions, including construction loans, bridge loans, term loans, mezzanine loans, revolving lines of credit, and secured and unsecured loan facilities
- She also has a strong focus in the area of office, commercial, industrial and retail leasing
- Susan also handles distressed real estate assets and loans, including the acquisition and sale of bank-owned properties
- Her practice also includes Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, including performing both private and public dispositions of personal property collateral
- She also counsels business clients on commercial loans and workouts
- In her comprehensive real estate practice, Susan has advised real estate investors in buying, selling, and leasing commercial, retail, industrial and agricultural properties, forming condominiums, and multiple land use proceedings
- She has handled the purchase, sale and finance of auto dealerships in Oregon and Washington, negotiated and drafted multi-floor leases in core downtown office buildings in Portland and Seattle, and acts as outside counsel to one of the largest real property acquisition companies in the United States
- Susan is the former chair of Oregon State Bar's Client Security Fund
- She is a member of the Leadership Cabinet of Willamette Law School, and is a former member of the executive committee of the Portland State University Foundation
Practice Areas Explained
Susan T. Alterman's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Susan T. Alterman handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Susan T. Alterman is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Oregon →
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Susan T. Alterman is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Oregon →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Oregon
Practicing law in Oregon. Legal matters in Oregon are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Portland are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Oregon state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Oregon brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Oregon courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Oregon attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Portland or all attorneys in Oregon.
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