Marcus T. Brown | Marcus Brown Law

Marcus T. Brown

Principal Attorney

Direct: (541) 600-3016 or (925) 482-8950

Summary

Marcus represents and advises clients in real estate and business matters. He works for clients who are either located on the West Coast (California, Oregon, and Washington) or regarding their West Coast real estate or business interests. Since 2005, his real estate clients have included investors, mortgage lenders and servicers, commercial and residential landlords, commercial tenants, property managers, homeowners, and a large state university, handling buy-sell, financing, leasing, and workout/settlement transactions, holding company (e.g., LLC) formations, title issues, easement transactions, litigation, and providing general counsel for property management. He has additionally worked for a variety of non-real estate businesses in transactions such as start-ups/formations, partnership/joint ventures, and customer and vendor contracts and serves as outside general counsel.

Career

Marcus began his career as a solo/small firm attorney focusing on real estate and commercial matters, representing property investors, a variety of small businesses, homeowners associations, insurance companies, and individuals. He then moved to the Mortgage Banking practice group at Irvine-based Wolfe & Wyman LLP, where he represented national banks, lenders, and loan servicers in consumer and real estate litigation. Marcus founded his office in Walnut Creek (East Bay Area, California) in 2015. He relocated his principal office to Eugene in 2022, from which he continues to serve new and existing Bay Area clients as well as new clients in the Pacific Northwest.

Personal History

Marcus is a native of Junction City, Oregon, a small town north of Eugene, the fourth generation of his family to live in the Willamette Valley. He went to Nashville after high school to pursue a career in music and attended Middle Tennessee State University (B.S., cum laude), where he discovered an aptitude and interest for law. Marcus returned to the Pacific Northwest for law school, receiving the Presidential Scholarship to attend Seattle University School of Law (J.D., cum laude). After practicing in Seattle for a time, he settled his family and practice in the Bay Area in 2008. Marcus relocated his residence and practice to Eugene in 2020-22, returning to his roots in Western Oregon. In his spare time, Marcus enjoys staying active in the outdoors, playing and writing music, and raising his kids.

Experience

Law Office of Marcus T. Brown (Walnut Creek, CA, Eugene, OR) 2015 – Present

Wolfe & Wyman LLP, 2009 – 2015

Plastiras & Terrizzi, 2007 – 2009

Solo practice (Seattle), 2005 – 2007

Federal Trade Commission, 2004 – 2005

Education

Seattle University School of Law, Presidential Scholar, J.D., cum laude, 2005

Middle Tennessee State University, B.S., cum laude, 2002

Bar Admissions

Washington State Bar Association

State Bar of California

Oregon State Bar

U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of California, Eastern District of California, Central District of California, and Western District of Washington

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Honors

Northern California Super Lawyer (Super Lawyers, 2021)

Northern California Rising Star (Super Lawyers 2015 - 2018)

AV Preeminent (Martindale-Hubbell), 2011 – Present

Superb Rating (Avvo, 2015 - Present)

Award of Distinction for Public Service, Access to Justice Institute, Seattle University, 2005

Professional and Community Involvement

Membership and Education Committees, Contra Costa County (CA) Bar Association, 2018 - 2021

Editorial Board, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2016 - 2021

President, Real Estate Section, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2018

Board of Directors, Real Estate Section, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2014 - 2018

Mentor, Seattle University School of Law, 2011 - 2018

Member, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2011 - Present

Speaking and Publications

Co-presenter, "Real Estate Litigation 101," Contra Costa County Bar Association, Eastern Alameda County Bar Association, 2016, 2017, 2018.

Author, "High Demand, Low Supply, and Technology Converge on Local Real Estate," Contra Costa Lawyer, March 2017.

Presenter, "The First Two Years of the Homeowner Bill of Rights," Contra Costa County Bar Association Bankruptcy Section, 2015.

Co-presenter, "The Intersection Between Deeds of Trust and Articles 3 and 9 of the Commercial Code," Contra Costa County Bar Association Real Estate Section, Walnut Creek, California, 2013.

Co-presenter, In-Depth Title Insurance Principles, National Business Institute, San Francisco, 2012

Co-author, "Dodd-Frank Changes QWR Response Deadlines & Liability," California Mortgage Bankers Association Legal News, April 2, 2012

Co-presenter, Collections: Seeking and Collecting a Judgment, National Business Institute, San Francisco, 2011

Lecturer, Business Law and Intro to Law, Seattle Community Colleges, 2006 – 2009