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Sokol Larkin

Sokol Larkin, a boutique law firm located in Portland, Oregon, has earned its reputation as one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier firms in the areas of construction and design law, surety and fidelity law, and business, commercial and real estate matters. The firm’s clients range from individuals and small businesses to large multi-national companies.

Member
Email Jan
(503) 548-2151
Member
Email Tom
(503) 548-2152
Member
Email Lee
(503) 548-2155
Member
Email Tyler
(503) 548-2157
Member
Email Jesse
(503) 548-2160
Member
Email Grant
(503) 548-2156
Katherine Saint Germain
Of Counsel

(503) 548-2158
Associate

(503) 548-2158
Associate
Email David
(503) 548-2158
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Sokol Larkin

4380 S Macadam Ave., Suite 530
Portland, Oregon 97239

Phone: (503) 221-0699
Fax: (503) 223-5706

Attorney Bio
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Jan D. Sokol

Mr. Sokol is one of the founders and the Managing Member of the firm. He represents prime contractors, subcontractors, real property managers, small corporations, sureties and fidelity insurers. His practice includes advising and organizing businesses, as well as the preparation of construction claims. He also has an extensive practice representing creditors in bankruptcy courts throughout the United States. Mr. Sokol handles complex corporate, commercial, construction and real property litigation, arbitrations and mediations.

Mr. Sokol is a frequent speaker at the Western States Surety Conference in Seattle and at the Pearlman in Woodinville addressing wide ranging topics in the construction and surety industry.

Oregon Super Lawyers Magazine listed Jan as one of the top lawyers in the state for the last fifteen consecutive years: 2006 to 2020.

Mr. Sokol is also a Senior Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. The LCA is a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation only. Fellows are selected based upon effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation. The LCA is aggressively diverse in its composition. Established as a trial and appellate lawyer honorary society reflecting the American bar in the twenty-first century, the LCA represents the best in law among its membership.

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Thomas A. Larkin

Mr. Larkin is a commercial litigator and founding member of Sokol Larkin. Mr. Larkin assists his clients in achieving their goals through the delivery of sound, practical advice. He represents his clients in both preventing disputes and proactively addressing disputes when they arise.

Mr. Larkin has represented prime contractors, subcontractors, owners, design professionals and sureties in a wide variety of construction-related matters before state and federal trial courts, appellate courts, arbitration panels, boards and tribunals.

Mr. Larkin’s practice also focuses on complex business, corporate, forest products, and real property transactions and disputes. Mr. Larkin assists with the drafting and negotiation of construction and design agreements, business asset transfers, and real estate transactions.

In 2009, the Litigation Counsel of America inducted Mr. Larkin into its Trial Lawyers Honorary Society. In 2017, Mr. Larkin was honored again when he became a Senior Fellow in the LCA. Mr. Larkin is also a Fellow in the Construction Lawyers Society of America, as well as the American Bar Foundation.

In 2010, the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society named Mr. Larkin as one of the most distinguished trial lawyers in Oregon. Those selected were identified as individuals who consistently exhibit a high level of trial advocacy and skill, as well as professionalism and integrity.

Super Lawyers named Mr. Larkin as one of the top Oregon lawyers in Construction and Business Litigation since 2012.

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Lawrence ("Lee") A. Wagner

Lee’s practice emphasizes design and construction law, business law, real estate law, commercial litigation, and surety law. Among others, he represents business owners, property owners, developers, contractors, design professionals, appraisers, realtors, material suppliers, insurers and sureties.

Lee handles all areas of construction disputes including lien claims, bond claims, design and defect claims, as well as all aspects of commercial litigation. He also represents individuals and entities in various business and real estate matters. In addition to helping clients resolve disputes, Lee assists his clients to negotiate and close commercial and real property transactions, helps corporate clients to efficiently maintain and operate their businesses, and advises clients regarding various insurance matters.

Lee dedicates a portion of his practice to assisting design and real estate professionals with risk management, loss prevention and professional liability matters.

Lee represents his clients in all aspects of litigation and arbitration matters, and is often called upon to assist clients in resolving time sensitive matters. Whether providing clients business solutions and services, or assisting clients to resolve commercial disputes, Lee provides practical advice in a cost-effective and time sensitive manner.

Lee was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers. Lee was named Best Lawyers 2016 Real Estate Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Portland.

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Tyler J. Storti

Tyler J. Storti is a member of Sokol Larkin having joined the firm in 2004. His practice focuses on the areas of construction law, business and commercial matters, and real estate transactions and disputes. He represents contractors, owners, sureties and design professionals in disputes and litigation related to the construction industry, including contract negotiation and drafting, payment and performance claims, construction liens and bond claims. He also regularly represents and advises individuals and businesses in connection with an array of business, commercial and real estate transactions, disputes and litigation. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Tyler has been recognized as one of the best lawyers in Oregon by Oregon Super Lawyers, which listed him as a Super Lawyer in construction litigation from 2018 through 2022, and as a Rising Star (an award recognizing the best lawyers under 40 years old) from 2012 through 2017.

For years, Tyler has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar’s Construction Law Section, serving as the Chair in 2019. He is also a regular presenter at seminars on business and construction law.

Prior to joining the firm, Tyler clerked for the Honorable Michael R. McLaughlin, District Judge for the Fourth Judicial District of the State of Idaho.

A native of Idaho, Tyler has called Oregon home since relocating to the Northwest to attend law school at the University of Oregon. He enjoys playing golf and basketball, exploring the outdoors, experiencing live music, travel and spending time with his wife and active young sons. He is also involved in various community and charitable activities, including membership on the Ambassador Board for The First Tee of Greater Portland, which is an organization dedicated to promoting character development and life values in young people through the game of golf.

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Jesse C. Ormond

Jesse C. Ormond is a construction attorney focused on solving complex construction problems.

Executive leadership and project teams routinely partner with Jesse to solve challenges on distressed construction projects. He counsels on contract structure, contract administration, project delivery, claim management and project execution concerns that require balance between operational demands and litigation risk. He has extensive experience managing multi-million-dollar arbitration, litigation and alternative dispute resolution processes for “bet the company” and other top-tier stakeholder concerns.

Jesse started his career as a construction laborer - and now has more than 20 years of experience with construction projects including construction management, construction operations, project delivery and legal strategy.

Education and Certification

  • Boston College Law School: J.D.
  • Boston College Carrol School of Management: M.B.A.
  • University of Southern California: B.A.
  • Executive Education and Graduate Certification in leadership, negotiation and decision making from Harvard Law School, M.I.T. Sloan School of Business, and Stanford Graduate School of Business
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for Construction Law in 2023.
  • Oregon Super Lawyers® Rising Star in Construction Litigation from 2020- Present.

Representative Work

Construction Arbitration and Litigation
  • Regional General Contractor
    Partnered with regional general contractor in high-stakes multi-million-dollar arbitration concerning delay impacts, design deficiencies and requests for equitable adjustment for extra-contract work on complex commercial project. Prevailed on all claims and counterclaims under arbitration award
  • Regional Owner
    Partnered with private owner on triage of design, construction and schedule issues on severely distressed Project to restructure relationships, contracts, performance contingencies, and related benchmarks to achieve substantial completion without contract termination and in avoidance of multi-million-dollar delay-impact arbitration. Crisis management and resolution involved reconciliation of payment applications, schedule modifications, scope buyout, and programming adjustments.
  • Regional Owner
    Partnered with private owner on multi-million-dollar bench trial concerning a complex development and reclamation project involving multiple stakeholders and authorities having jurisdiction. Prevailed on claims and counterclaims.
  • National Design-Builder
    Partnered with national design-builder in arbitration of delay impact claims and substantial extended general conditions on multi-million-dollar commercial facility involving national fabricator and local specialty subcontractor. Secured favorable settlement after one week of arbitration and cross-examination of the primary opposing party’s principal witnesses.
  • International Specialty Subcontractor
    Partnered with international specialty subcontractor in high-stakes arbitration of hundred-million-dollar construction claims for delay impacts, extra-contract work and installation deficiencies concerning complex manufacturing facility. Secured favorable settlement after comprehensive depositions and dispositive motion practice on eve of arbitration.
  • National General Contractor / Regional Specialty Subcontractor
    Partnered with national general contractor and regional specialty subcontractor to prosecute and defend construction claims concerning commercial development in multi-jurisdiction dispute. Secured favorable settlement on eve of trial.
Construction Contract Negotiation
  • International Specialty Subcontractor
    Partnered with international specialty subcontractor to negotiate terms with national general contractor for construction of underground structures involving technical, proprietary and sensitive manufacturing systems after the successful resolution of claims between those same companies in complex litigation concerning similar projects.
  • International Specialty Subcontractor
    Partnered with international specialty subcontractor to negotiate terms with international general contractor for construction of multi-billion-dollar technology and manufacturing facilities.
  • International General Contractor
    Partnered with international general contractor to define risk profile and deal structure for construction of multiple international telecommunication infrastructure projects.
  • National Design-Builder
    Partnered with national design-builder to structure contracts for multiple projects throughout the United States, including flagship commercial structures in Washington and Oregon.
  • Regional General Contractor
    Partnered with regional general contractor to define risk profile and negotiate contract terms with regional geotechnical engineering firm in connection with high-risk marine works project.
Construction Contract Administration and Project Execution
  • International General Contractor
    Partnered with international general contractor to define strategies and action items concerning a public owner’s P3 solicitation to construct a sensitive multi-million-dollar telecommunications infrastructure project.
  • Regional General Contractor
    Partnered with regional general contractor to resolve multi-million-dollar disputes involving public owner and regional specialty subcontractors. Resolved all claims on favorable terms and opened consensus discussion on schedule acceleration for successful completion of project.
  • Regional General Contractor
    Partnered with regional general contractor to resolve project issues and assemble, where required, construction claims in connection with multi-million-dollar complex commercial facility.
  • Regional General Contractor
    Partnered with regional general contractor to resolve million-dollar dispute with national developer concerning financing concerns for commercial structure with complex tax, cost-accounting and construction consequences.
Attorney Bio
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Grant N. Margeson

Grant is a member at Sokol Larkin. He has extensive litigation experience, ranging from small contract or tort matters to large, complex commercial litigations. Grant has represented general contractors, subcontractors, corporations and other business entities, architects, and industry professionals in wide-ranging matters, including contractual claims, negligence, design defects, and termination issues, among others. Prior to joining the firm, Grant spent over six years litigating in the Bay Area at large international law firms. Outside the office, Grant enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with his dogs.

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Matthew Juhren

As an attorney with Sokol Larkin, Matthew helps construction professionals do what they do best, build. Matthew is an experienced construction and real estate attorney, experienced in handling litigation and transactional matters. Matthew represents clients on complex projects, including public and private owners, developers, builders, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, architects, engineers, and sureties.

Matthew’s experience enables him to handle the complete spectrum of issues arising before, during, and after project completion. His practice is nationwide and includes contract formation and performance, construction claims and litigation, government contracts and projects, bid disputes, change orders, insurance issues, delay claims, OSHA compliance issues, surety matters, and defect claims. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, Washington, and California.

Matthew is a member of the Executive Committee for the Oregon State Bar’s Construction Law Section. He is also a regular presenter at seminars on construction law. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

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David J. Guild II

David J. Guild II is an associate at Sokol Larkin. He represents prime contractors, subcontractors, real property owners, businesses of all sizes, design professionals, and sureties in disputes and litigation related to the construction industry, including payment and performance claims, construction liens, and bond claims. He also regularly represents and advises individuals and businesses in connection with an array of construction, business, commercial, real estate, and commercial landlord/tenant transactions, disputes and litigation. He is admitted to practice in Oregon and Washington.

Before joining Sokol Larkin, Mr. Guild served as an articles editor for the George Washington Law School’s Business & Finance Law Review (2020-2021). He received his MBA from George Fox University in 2018 and graduated from the George Washington University Law School, with honors, in 2021.

(503) 221-0699