Steven L. Naito

During his almost 40 years of practice, Steve has represented clients in all areas of real estate transactions and disputes.  Early in his career, Steve worked at Fred Meyer, Inc. as in-house counsel, representing the company in the acquisition and development of shopping centers in five states.  He later took a position as in-house counsel at Pacific Realty Associates, L.P. (“PacTrust”) a national real estate development company, representing the company in acquisition, disposition and leasing of retail properties throughout the US. Since returning to private practice in 1997, Steve has represented Fred Meyer, PacTrust, Safeway and US Retail Partners LLC (an affiliate of CALPERS that owned more then100 neighborhood and power shopping centers across the US). Steve has closed hundreds of real estate sale and lease transactions including leases with major retailers such as Safeway/Albertsons, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Starbucks.

Later in his career, Steve added litigation to his areas of experience.   Steve’s father (Bill Naito) and uncle (Sam Naito) controlled the family business in Portland Oregon which operated wholesale, retail and real estate businesses and employed many family members. In 1996 Steve’s father died and a dispute arose between and among various family members over the future of the business.  Steve successfully represented his side of the family through two separate trials, and one appeal.   See: Naito v Naito, 178 Or App 1, 135 P.3d 1068 (2001).  Ultimately, the families negotiated a separation of the business among the shareholders.

Steve also successfully lobbied for the passage of legislation protecting minority shareholders in Oregon (see: ORS 60.952).

Since his experience in the Naito litigation, Steve has continued to find success in the courtroom.  He has tried a number of jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations involving real estate disputes, construction disputes, and disputes involving closely held businesses.

In addition to his legal practice, Steve pursues his own development projects.  In 2007, Steve and his brother Bob purchased land in Hood River.  Over the next decade, they developed and constructed a new hotel (the Hampton Inn) and neighboring office building.  Steve handled all legal aspects of the development, including acquisition of the land, permitting, appeals to the Land Use Board of Appeals, construction contracts, and commercial leasing.  Steve and his brother also purchased and renovated the commercial building downtown located at 150 Harrison Street.

Using the experience he gained from his family business litigation and his own development projects, Steve has included business, real estate and construction litigation as part of his practice, with a special emphasis on close corporation shareholder and family business disputes.  Steve provides clients with a valuable and unique perspective because, in many cases, he has actually walked a mile in his client’s shoes.  He understands the practical and business implications of the law.

Steve is a member of both the Oregon and Washington Bars and graduated from University of Oregon Law School in 1980.

OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

Outside of the adversarial world of the law, Steve has a sweet side. In 1976, while still in college, Steve and his brother Bob “Roberto” Naito opened a homemade ice cream store – Roberto’s Ice Cream – in Portland Oregon.  For the next twenty years Bob and Steve served up Portland’s finest homemade ice cream.