Law Practice

Valerie Tomasi retired on February 5, 2023 and is no longer working directly with clients. Please contact Jeff Smith or Eleanor DuBay for further assistance.

Valerie was selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers list in banking and real estate law by her peers and by Law & Politics (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022), and as one of Oregon’s 50 Great Leaders by Oregon Business magazine (2007). She has also been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate.

Since 1984 until her retirement on February 5, 2023, Valerie’s practice has focused on real estate and finance transactions, loan documentation, construction, restructures and workouts. Her primary focus is representing financial service providers and businesses on complex commercial real estate projects, including acquisition, construction, leasing, and lending issues, and she has represented lenders in real estate lending transactions nationwide providing efficient and thorough legal analysis. Valerie’s years of experience and proficient processes allow her to produce quality loan documentation (including workout, restructure, and forbearance agreements) in days instead of weeks.

Valerie served as President of Tomasi Bragar DuBay from June, 2012 through December, 2020.  In addition to her law practice, Valerie was an adjunct professor for several terms at Lewis and Clark Law School teaching advanced commercial real estate law.

Before deciding to launch Tomasi Bragar DuBay, Valerie was a shareholder at Farleigh Wada Witt from its formation in January 1990 through June 2012. She served as president for seven years ending in 2007 and as chair of the real estate practice group during her entire tenure.

Representative Matters

Loan Documentation – Representation of financial institutions in documenting numerous loans including lines of credit secured by accounts receivable and inventory, and construction loans for numerous commercial projects including several luxury condominium buildings in Bellevue, Washington, and Portland, Oregon

Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Bond Financing – Representation of financial institutions on low income tax credit and bond financing including projects in Oregon, Washington, and California.

Workouts – Representation of financial institutions in numerous loan restructures, workout agreements, and forbearance agreements with respect to commercial properties in Oregon, Washington, and other states (with assistance from local counsel) nationwide.

Real Estate Sales, Acquisitions, and Leasing – Representation of financial institutions and businesses in the sale, acquisition, and leasing of commercial properties in Oregon and Washington.

Assisted Living Facilities – Representation of financial institutions on numerous refinancings of loans and construction loans secured by assisted living facilities in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and several other states, including multi-million dollar syndicated construction loans.

Community Involvement

Valerie served on the OWLS (Oregon Women Lawyers) Board as well as its Transformation and Leadership Committees from 2014 through 2020, and participated on the OWLS dragon boat racing team (the mighty “Dragonflies”) from 2006 to 2014, two years as its co-captain. Between 2013 and 2017,  she has served as a bar-appointed mentor for new admittees to the Oregon State Bar. For several years, she has served as a committee member for the Campaign for Equal Justice. From 1993 through 2009, Valerie chaired the pro bono subcommittee of the Debtor-Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar, which created and manages a pro bono bankruptcy clinic for low income clients in the Portland  metropolitan area. Valerie was elected to the Executive Committee of the Debtor-Creditor Section of the Oregon State Bar in 1995 and 1999, and was the co-chair of the Multnomah Bar Association Managing Partner Round Table in 2006 and 2007.

Personal

Valerie has a daughter Stephanie, who in 2014 became a doctor of naturopathic medicine and practices in Bend, Oregon, and a son Daniel, who graduated from UO and is Chief of Staff at an environmental firm based on Boulder, Colorado.  When Valerie was not practicing law, she enjoys hiking, traveling with her darling husband Van, biking, cross-country skiing, and cooking for her extended Italian family. In 2014, she and her daughter hiked a 500 mile section of the Camino de Santiago across Northern Spain; in 2015, they both hiked the grueling Tour du Mont Blanc; in 2016, joined by both Van and Dan, they hiked West Highland Way in Scotland;  and in 2017, they hiked Cotswold Way in England. In 2018, Valerie & friends hiked the hills of Provence; and in 2019, Valerie & her brother Jon hiked the challenging Coast to Coast trail across Northern England. In fall of 2022, Valerie and Jon hiked the beautiful Camino Portuguese coastal route.  Hopefully, retirement has many more hikes in store for her!

Practice Groups

Education

Lewis & Clark Law School (JD, 1984)
University of Rhode Island (BA, with Highest Honors, 1979); Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar

Professional Associations

Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association
American Bar Association
Oregon Women Lawyers

Awards

Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2019, 2020, and 2021
Super Lawyers 2006-2009, 2014-2021
America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Award – 2017
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
2007-2008 Lewis & Clark Law School Extraordinary Teaching Award
2000 Multnomah Bar Association Pro Bono Award of Merit
1997 Oregon State Bar Award of Merit for outstanding contribution to the legal community
1997 Multnomah Bar Association Pro Bono Award of Merit