Our Team

“Our breadth of knowledge and experience enables us to see the big picture in complex land use and real estate matters and assist our clients in transitioning fluidly among the regulatory, political, and social aspects of any given project.”

Biography

Sara Sayles is a member of Ball Janik LLP’s Community Associations, Real Estate, Land Use, and Renewable Energy practice groups. Her practice is focused on the representation of community associations, development, and renewable energy project siting. She has the unique distinction of being both an experienced transactional attorney and a seasoned litigator in diverse areas of law. This allows her to competently and creatively assist her clients in transactional matters as well as in administrative and court hearings. In the course of her career, Ms. Sayles has represented community associations, boards, management firms, developers, property owners, local governments, insurers, financial institutions, business owners, and individuals. She has built strong client relationships by understanding each of her client’s goals and by successfully delivering targeted strategies to achieve them.

In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Sayles is active in real estate, land use, and community association matters locally and on a regional level. She is on the Board of Directors for OSEIA (Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association). She is also actively involved in the CAI (Community Associations Institute) and OWCAM (Oregon Washington Community Association Managers.) Ms. Sayles serves on the membership committee for CREW Portland (Women in Commercial Real Estate) and is active in ULI Northwest (Urban Land Institute). Additionally, Ms. Sayles serves on the Board of Directors for Rose Villa, Inc. (a Continuing Care Retirement Community) and on the Board of for Rose Villa Foundation. She regularly volunteers her time with Legal Aid Services of Oregon’s Senior Law Project. Ms. Sayles was selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list in 2019 and 2020 and was also selected to the Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” list in 2020.

education

• J.D., 2008
  Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College
  Environmental Certificate
  Animal Law Review, Notes & Comments Editor
  Animal Law Clinic, Participant/Clerk
• B.A., Environmental Studies, with Distinction, 2002
  University of Colorado

admissions

• Oregon
• Washington

honors

• The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch list since 2021