About

With roots dating back to 1927, Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP ranks as one of Oregon’s oldest law firms. We pride ourselves on being able to provide a relatively wide variety of legal services for our business and individual clients while having the expertise to handle various issues.

The Wealth Law Blog is focused on various legal issues that have a profound impact upon businesses and families seeking to build, protect, and distribute wealth. We will provide timely and relevant information on these complex and dynamic legal issues. We hope to provide such information through a forum that encourages a productive exchange of ideas, comments, and questions.

Victoria Blachly is a civil trial attorney located in Portland, Oregon, and licensed in the states of Oregon and Washington. She works on a wide range of litigation issues, with a primary focus on fiduciary litigation for individual trustees, corporate trustees, beneficiaries, and personal representatives, including trust and estate litigation, will contests, trust disputes, undue influence, capacity cases, claims of fiduciary breach, and financial elder abuse cases.

Victoria has a rating of 10.0 for her experience, industry recognition, and professional conduct. Read comments from her legal peers at Avvo.com.

Victoria is also a board member for Housecall Providers, Inc., a non-profit medical practice dedicated to delivering, coordinating and advocating for the quality medical care that homebound older adults need to experience healthful lives in their own homes. Housecall Providers grew from Executive Medical Director Benneth Husted, D.O.’s commitment to making housecalls, and in 2007, Housecall Providers made 9,444 home visits in the Portland area. As of August 2009, Housecall Providers was providing primary medical care for 1022 medically needy homebound individuals, with an average age of 82. For more information on their services or to make a donation, visit the Housecall Providers website. Victoria can be reached via email at vblachly@SamuelsLaw.com.

Practice Areas

• Business and Corporate
• Litigation
• Employment
• Mediation And Arbitration

Professional Associations

• Oregon State Bar Association
• Washington State Bar Association
• Multnomah Bar Association
• Multnomah Bar Association, Service to the Public Committee
  • Member, 2001 – 2004, (secretary 2004)
• Oregon State Bar Federal Practice and Procedure Committee
  • Member, 1999 – 2004 (secretary 2004)
• American Inns of Court, Gus J. Solomon Chapter
  • Member, 1999 – 2004
• Subcommittee Member Studying the Uniform Trust Code to Oregon 2005 legislature
• Lorman Education Services Speaker, "Advising Fiduciaries in Oregon," 2001 Portland
• ALI-ABA Speaker, "Representing Estate and Trust Beneficiaries and Fiduciaries," 2004 Boston and 2005 New Orleans
• Lorman Education Services Moderator and Speaker, "Oregon Trust Law," 2008 Portland
• United States Law Firm Group Speaker, "Drafting to Avoid Fiduciary Litigation," 2008 Seattle
• The Seminar Group Speaker, "Best of CLE: Trusts and Estates," 2008 Portland

Education

• Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College (J.D., 1997)
  • Moot Court Honor Board Graduate
• Washington State University, Pullman, WA (B.S., Biology 1993)
  • Honors Program Graduate

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to Oregon State Bar (1997)
• Admitted to Washington State Bar (2000)
• Admitted to United States District Court for the District of Oregon
• Admitted to United States District Court for the District of Washington Bar

Jeff Cheyne represents individuals and businesses in the areas of estate, tax, business and real estate planning. He is licensed to practice in California, Oregon and Washington. His extensive and comprehensive background in tax law enables him to provide valuable expertise to his clients.

During the 2005, 2008 and 2009 Oregon Legislative sessions he helped draft and coordinate the successful passage of revisions to the Oregon Inheritance Tax Law. He has given over a dozen professional accredited continuing education programs on the Oregon Inheritance Tax Law to attorneys, financial advisors and certified public accountants. Mr. Cheyne serves on the executive committee of the Oregon State Bar Estate Planning section and is a member of the Taxation Section and the Portland Estate Planning Council.

He is the author of “2008 Special Legislative Session Establishes Farming, Forestry and Fishing Inheritance Tax Credit,” OR Estate Planning and Administration Section Newsletter (April 2008); “Circumstances Dictate Decision To Go With A Will or Trust,” Portland Business Journal (March 17, 2006); “Oregon Inheritance Tax Changes – (HB3072),” In Brief (November 2003); and “New Oregon Inheritance Tax Rules Affect Estate Planning,” Elder Law Newsletter (Winter 2004). He has also written articles in The Family & Juvenile Law Newsletter and the Taxation Newsletter, publications of the Oregon State Bar.

In addition to providing quality legal assistance, Mr. Cheyne currently serves on the Endowment Committee for the American Rhododendron Society. He is the Past President of the Tualatin Valley Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Jeff can be reached via email at JCheyne@SamuelsLaw.com.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning
• Business and Corporate
• Real Estate
• Taxation
• Trust and Estate Administration

Professional Associations

• Oregon State Bar (Member: Estate Administration and Taxation Sections)
• California State Bar
• Washington State Bar
• Multnomah County Bar
• Portland Estate Planning Counsel
• Wealthcounsel

Education

• University of San Diego School of Law (LL.M. Tax, 1984)
• University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 1975)
• University of Oregon (BA, 1968)
• Mt. Angel Seminary (Diploma, 1964)

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to California Bar (1975)
• Admitted to Oregon Bar (1990)
• Admitted to Washington Bar (2003)
   

Stephen E. Kantor is an accomplished business, estate, and trust attorney and educator with over 30 years of experience in the planning and administration of complex issues. Taking an in-depth, creative approach to problem solving, Steve establishes strong relationships with all of his clients, from young families with children to corporate business executives.

As a specialist in the field of estate planning, he has been interviewed on matters regarding tax laws, charitable planning, trusts, business succession, and estate administration for Money, The Oregonian, The Daily Journal of Commerce, The Business Journal and a local television station. He also assists Fortune 500 executive groups in estate planning matters.

A prolific speaker and educator, Steve lectures at numerous seminars for the Oregon State Bar, the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants, Estate Planning Councils, and the Northwest Tax Institute, and writes treatises on estates and taxation, family planning, and estate and trust administration. The University of Oregon, the National Legal Assistants Convention, and various trade and professional groups have also engaged Steve as a speaker.

Steve is proud to make a difference in the Portland community. He recently completed his tenure as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation was only a community dream until Steve co-founded the organization, became its president, and helped raise net assets in excess of $30 million. He also served as the President of the Jewish Family Service and worked to develop a program providing Russian immigrants with shelter, food, furnishings, and jobs. As a past trustee of the Nature Conservancy, he collaborated with individuals and businesses to create endowments and set aside preserves protecting natural habitats throughout Oregon. Last, as a member of the B’nai Brith Camp board, he is helping children afford to enrich their lives through a fulfilling summer camp experience.
 

Practice Areas

• Taxation
• Real Estate
• Trust and Estate Administration
• Estate Planning
• Business and Corporate

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
• American Society of Certified Public Accountants
• Estate Planning Council of Portland
• Fellow, American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
• Financial Planning Association
• Multnomah County Bar Association
• Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (Member, CPE Strategic Interest Team; former Vice Chair, Estate & Gift Tax Committee; former Chair, Joint Oregon State Bar Committee)
• Oregon State Bar Association (Member; former Chair, Section on Estate Planning & Probate; former Chair, Title Insurance Subcommittee of Real Property Section; former Chair, CPA Joint Committee)

Education

• Northwestern School of Law (J.D. 1974)
  (Law Review; Moot Court Competition)
• University of Oregon
  (B.S., 1971, Accounting & Business Statistics)
   

Bar Admissions

• Admitted to Oregon State Bar (1974)
• Certified Public Accountant (1976)   

An energetic and talented tax attorney, Valerie is passionate about adding value to her clients’ businesses and having an immediate, positive influence. When working with individual clients, she strives to improve their lives by taking complex tax situations and breaking them into manageable pieces with achievable outcomes.

Ms. Sasaki specializes in jurisdictional tax consulting, working closely with Fortune 50 companies involved in audits before the Oregon or Washington Departments of Revenue. She also works with business owners on tax and planning issues in Oregon or Southwest Washington.
 

Valerie can be reached via email at vsasaki@SamuelsLaw.com

Practice Areas

Taxation
Business and Corporate

Professional Associations

Oregon State Bar
Oregon State Bar Taxation Section, Chair 2010
Oregon State Bar Tax Institute Planning Committee (2006-2011)
Washington State Bar
Portland Tax Forum, Chair elect, 2012; Executive Committee Member, 2010-Present
Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Founding Member
United States District of Oregon Courts
United States Western District of Washington Courts
United States Tax Court
Oregon Women Lawyers
Northwest Business for Culture and the Arts, Board Leadership Training Graduate, 2008
 

Education

Tulane University (B.A., 1998, magna cum laude)
University of Oregon School of Law (J.D., 2001)
University of Washington School of Law (LL. M., 2002)

Bar Admissions

Oregon State Bar (2001)
Washington State Bar (2001)