About Mr. Michael A.
Mr. Michael A. Shurtleff took a conventional path into the law but one that has left him rooted in Salem. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Brigham Young University in 1997. He then attended Willamette University College of Law, where he completed his J.D. in 2009. While at Willamette he pursued coursework in debtor and creditor law during the 2006 academic term.
After law school, Shurtleff established his practice in Oregon. He is licensed to practice in the state and has spent his career working on matters that involve the intersection of credit, collections and insolvency. Over the years he has handled transactional work as well as contested matters that require court filings and negotiation. He has developed a practice attentive to the procedural demands of both state and federal forums.
Shurtleff’s background in political science and his formal study of debtor-creditor law inform the way he approaches client problems. He is comfortable parsing statutory schemes and tracing procedural timelines. Clients seeking practical solutions find his work oriented toward resolving claims, structuring repayment arrangements and addressing enforcement questions. He also works on matters that arise before bankruptcy courts, addressing the effects of insolvency on secured and unsecured interests.
Colleagues describe him as steady in litigation and methodical in transactional settings. He has represented a range of clients, including small businesses, individual creditors and debtors. In practice he balances courtroom preparation with settlement efforts. That mix allows him to take cases to trial when necessary and to negotiate resolutions when possible.
Shurtleff operates from Salem Law LLC, where he maintains a local presence and handles matters for clients across the region. He continues to advise on creditor rights, collection strategies, bankruptcy-related issues and related litigation. He currently practices at Salem Law LLC, where his work focuses on debtor-creditor matters, collections and bankruptcy-related issues.
