Practice Areas

Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights
Estate Planning & Administration
Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Practice Summary

With a background in economics, Margot is able to quickly apply legal principles to the business world, conduct cost-benefit analysis, and simplify complex issues for her clients. She is a rare mix of analytical and compassionate, so is able to maintain a broad practice that encompasses bankruptcy and creditors' rights, litigation, and estate planning and administration.  
 
Margot represents parties in all types of insolvency matters. She advises banks, credit unions, equipment finance companies, creditors and receivers in state and federal court.  Margot also advises credit unions on a variety of regulatory and business matters, and assists clients with estate planning and administration.  Margot is actively involved in the Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Section.  She is currently a member of the Editorial Board and is a past officer of the Executive Committee for that section.
  
Margot also represents companies and individuals in state-court litigation. She has developed expertise in the areas of business litigation, real property disputes and commercial collections. Margot's economics, business, and debtor-creditor experience all come together to help her analyze what potential claims are truly worth. 
  
Lastly, Margot provides advice and counseling to individuals, families, and fiduciaries on a wide range of issues affecting estate planning and estate administration.  She assists clients with all aspects of estate planning – i.e., drafting wills and/or trusts, planning for incapacitation, selecting guardians and powers of attorney, etc.  Margot works closely with her clients to develop implement a plan that will provide for efficient administration of assets while protecting clients and their loved ones. Finally, when disputes arise concerning estate administration, Margot will assist clients in resolving those disputes.

Representative Matters

Bankruptcy and Receiverships – Representation of creditors, equipment lessors, landlords, trustees, commercial debtors, receivers, and other parties in the following bankruptcy matters:
  • Chapter 7, 12, 11, and 13 bankruptcy cases
  • State court receiverships
  • Bankruptcy litigation (e.g., preference actions, fraudulent transfer cases, lien disputes, objections to discharge)
State and Federal Court Litigation – Representation of parties in state and federal court in the following matters:
  • Real property disputes
  • Commercial contract and lease enforcement
  • Commercial creditor workouts
  • Contract disputes
  • Commercial collections
  • Lender liability
Estate Planning and Litigation – Margot's estate planning practice includes the following matters:
  • Preparation of wills and trusts
  • Probate and probate litigation
  • Trust administration
  • Limited conservatorships
  • Elder abuse

Education

Lewis & Clark Law School (J.D. cum laude, 2007)
Reed College (B.A. Economics, Phi Betta Kappa, 2000)

Admissions

Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
District of Oregon
Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit 

Associations

American Bankruptcy Institute
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA)
Turnaround Management Association
Oregon Women Lawyers
Multnomah Bar Association

Awards

Selected by her peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers list 2020-2023 for Bankruptcy-Business law; and a Rising Star in 2015-2017

Speaking Engagements

Annual "Case Law Update" presentations; Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Section Annual Meetings (2011 through present)

Publications

Are They or Aren’t They – U.S. Supreme Court Clarifies Scope of “Debt Collector” under FDCPA By Margot Seitz, Farleigh Wada Witt (Page 6), Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Newsletter Vol. XXXVIII, No. 1
 
SCOUNDRELLY INTENT: Can Debtor’s Misrepresentation About A Single Asset Defeat Non-Dischargability Under Section 523(a)(2)(A)? By Susan T. Alterman, Kell, Alterman & Runstein, LLP; Margot Seitz, Farleigh Wada Witt (Page 5), Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Newsletter Vol. XXXVII, No. 3
 
Limiting the Safe Harbor under § 546(e), or Trustees May Be Off to the Racino By Susan Alterman, Kell, Alterman & Runstein, LLC; Margot Seitz, Farleigh Wada Witt (Page 13), Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Newsletter Vol. XXXVII, No. 2

Margot has regularly contributed to the Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Newsletter (2011 through present); additional archived articles can be located here.