People•Michele Sabo Assayag

Michele Sabo Assayag

People•Michele Sabo Assayag

Michele Sabo Assayag practices in the areas of commercial finance, creditors' rights and bankruptcy litigation and restructuring, where she has had extensive experience in the representation of secured and unsecured lenders. She has litigated in the state, federal and bankruptcy courts on behalf of domestic, foreign and international lending institutions, as well as on behalf of non-bank lenders and Fortune 500 companies. A substantial portion of Michele's practice encompasses, on behalf of her financial institution clients, the documentation of commercial, real estate and asset-based lending transactions. She has also represented the firm's clients in the acquisition and disposition of major real estate assets, including retail centers, apartment buildings and business parks.

  • Represented secured lender in negotiation and documentation of multi-million-dollar credit facility to major computer components manufacturer and distributor
  • Represented secured lender in negotiation and documentation of real estate loans and operating lines of credit to major regional grocery chain
  • Represented secured lender in negotiation and documentation of aircraft acquisition loans
  • Represented secured lender in negotiation and documentation of shopping center ground lease financing
  • Represented secured lender in liquidation and disposition of assets of restaurant chain
  • Represented secured lender in sale of assets through Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding of multi-national technology company
  • Represented secured lender in restructure of multiple real estate loans and lines of credit to national distributor of masonry products

  • Loyola Law School (J.D., 1983)
  • University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., Political Science, magna cum laude, 1978)

  • American Bar Association (1984-Present)
  • Federal Bar Association (1985-Present)
  • Financial Lawyers Conference (1983-Present)
  • Orange County Bankruptcy Forum (1994-Present)
  • California Bankruptcy Forum (1984-Present)
  • American Bankruptcy Forum (1984-Present)
  • Orange County Bar Association (1994-Present)
    • Commercial Law Section, Former Program Chair (2004-2005)
    • Bankruptcy Section, Former Section Chair (2003-2004)
    • Banking and Lending Section, Member

  • "California Amends, Increases Its Homestead Exemption," Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (October 23, 2020)
  • "Special Assets Team Training Part 3: One Action Rule," Co-Presenter, Special Assets Group for a Major Banking Institution (September 23, 2020)
  • "Special Assets Team Training Part 2: Title Issues," Co-Presenter, Special Assets Group for a Major Banking Institution (September 17, 2020)
  • "Special Assets Team Training Part I: Pre-Judgment Remedies," Co-Presenter, Special Assets Group for a Major Banking Institution (September 15, 2020)
  • "Moratorium on Foreclosures Extended Through December 31, 2020, While Oregon Bankers Association and Several Oregon Banks Seek to Have Portions of HB 4204 Declared Unconstitutional," Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (September 15, 2020)
  • "California Enacts Legislation Preventing Residential Evictions and Granting Protection From Foreclosure as a Result of Hardship Due to COVID-19," Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (September 2, 2020)
  • "New Oregon Law Imposes Moratorium on Foreclosures and Notice Requirements on Lenders," Co-Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (July 20, 2020) 
  • "Bankruptcy Overview Presentation," Co-Presenter, Special Assets Group for a Major Banking Institution, Glendale, CA (March 10, 2020)
  • “California One-Action Rule,” “Anti-Deficiency and Sham Guaranty,” Presenter, Commercial and Business Banking Groups for a Major Banking Institution, Newport Beach, CA (October 2019)
  • “California, Oregon and Washington Creditor’s Rights,” Presenter, Legal Department of Major Banking Institution, Charlotte, NC (September 2019)
  • “Commercial Lending Seminar,” Presenter, Regional Banking Institution, Irvine, CA (February 2019)
  • “California One-Action Rule,” “Anti-Deficiency and Sham Guaranty,” Presenter, Commercial and Business Banking Groups for Major Banking Institution, Los Angeles, CA (October 2018)
  • “Selected Issues in California Real Estate Lending,” Presenter, Legal Department of Major Banking Institution, Los Angeles, CA (November 2018)
  • “Creditor’s Rights and Remedies,” Presenter, Regional Banking Institution, Costa Mesa, CA (March 2018)
  • “California One-Action Rule,” “Anti-Deficiency and Sham Guaranty,” Presenter, Commercial and Business Banking Groups for Major Banking Institution, Pasadena, CA (March 2017)
  • “Oregon and Washington Creditor’s Rights and Loan Enforcement,” Presenter, Regional Banking Institution, Everett and Seattle, Washington; Brea, CA (April 2015)

  • Los Angeles Magazine Top Women Lawyers in Southern California (2015) 
  • Southern California Super Lawyers®, Bankruptcy: Business (2013-2016, 2019-2020)

  • Chapman Law School, Student Mentor (2016-2018)
  • California Minority Counsel, Member (2018-Present)
  • Oregon Women Lawyers, Member (2011-Present)
  • California Women Lawyers, Member (2010-Present)
  • Orange County Women Lawyers, Member (1995-Present)
  • Commercial Real Estate Women of Portland, Member (2011-Present)
  • Orange County PAWS Pet Assisted Therapy - PANDA Program of Orange County District Attorneys' Office, Program Supporter (2019-Present)
  • Orangewood Children's Home, Program Supporter (2014-Present)
  • Orange County Boys and Girls Club, Program Volunteer (2019-Present)

  • Assayag Mauss, LLP, Managing Partner (1996-2019)
  • Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, Of Counsel (1994-1996)
  • Frandzel & Share, Partner (1990-1994)
  • Frandzel & Share, Associate (1983-1990)
     

  • California
  • Oregon
  • Washington

  • United States District Court, All Districts of California
  • United States District Court, District of Oregon
  • United States District Court, Western District of Washington