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 Real Estate, Land Use, and Renewable Energy practices. Her practice is focused on rural development and utility scale renewable energy project siting, and she is active in renewable energy development throughout the Pacific Northwest. 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 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. Along with her land use and real estate practice, Ms. Sayles regularly assists clients with natural resources law and municipal law.

In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Sayles is active in real estate and land use matters locally and on a regional level. She was recently selected to the Board of Directors for OSEIA (Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association). Ms. Sayles also serves on the membership committee for CREW Portland (Women in Commercial Real Estate) and acts as a committee member of the newly established Women’s Leadership Initiative for ULI Northwest (Urban Land Institute). The WLI’s mission is to promote the advancement of women throughout their careers, to increase the number of women who serve in leadership positions, and to increase the visibility of women leaders in our region, industry and within ULI. Additionally, Ms. Sayles is engaged in pro bono activities associated with the senior community. She serves on board of directors for Rose Villa, Inc. (a Continuing Care Retirement Community) and on the board of directors for Rose Villa Foundation, and regularly volunteers her time with Legal Aid Services of Oregon’s Senior Law Project.  In 2019, Ms. Sayles was selected to the Oregon Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list, published by Super Lawyers Magazine.

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