Carmen Calzacorta helps public, private and family-owned businesses with their business and corporate needs, ranging from corporate governance, board and executive management, mergers, acquisitions and other transitions, to securities law compliance, corporate finance, manufacturing supply chain transactions and other transactions. In more than 30 years of practice, her involvement in hundreds of transactions on both the buy and sell sides, and both domestically and internationally, allows her to bring deep transactional knowledge and strategy for the benefit of clients.

Exceptional service and creative problem solving

Carmen prides herself on her exceptional service and creative problem solving. She is known for her excellence in the practice of business law, professionalism among fellow business lawyers and outstanding community leadership. At Schwabe, she serves as co-chair of the Privately Held Businesses & Enterprises group, a multidisciplinary team of attorneys that counsels business owners on how to maximize, capture and keep their businesses’ wealth. Carmen also previously served as a firm board member.

Understanding the life cycle of a business

Carmen’s vast experience with different business models, ownership structures, and various industries—including service, manufacturing, forest products and metal industries—enables her to understand and anticipate the different stages of a business and their owners’ exit strategies or preferred outcomes. One source says: “She is excellent—she has a very good understanding of the challenges and opportunities for private companies.”

"We value our relationship with Schwabe, particularly Carmen Calzacorta. We consider ‎her almost an employee of ours."

-Columbia Forest Products

"They simply do great work, and are good stewards of our resources. Carmen Calzacorta ‎is the best."

-Yacult-Pacific Power Group

Bar Admissions

• Oregon State Courts
• Washington State Courts
• United States District Court, District of Oregon
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington
• United States District Court, Western District of Washington
• United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• United States Court of Federal Claims

Education

• University of Oregon School of Law, Juris Doctor degree (1984)
• University of Oregon, Bachelor of Arts degree, Finance (1980)

• The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: What to Know About COBRA and PPP Changes

  By Carmen Calzacorta |March 2021

• CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry (Updated 06/15/2020)

  By Carmen Calzacorta |June 2020

• CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry (Updated 6/9/2020)

  By Carmen Calzacorta |June 2020

• Issues to Consider for Estate Planning and Business Transitions Before Year-End
• The Lender’s Role in the PPP Loan Review Process
• What to Know About PPP Appeals and Next Steps (updated 02/24/2022)
• PPP Loans: Changes of Ownership, Asset Transactions, Mergers, and Death of Borrowers or and Owner
• Estate Planning and Business Transition Issues Not to Overlook Before Year-End
• Asking for Forgiveness: Further Revised PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications and Guidance (Updated 08/12/2021)
• First Draw Loans at or Over $2 million—SBA Discontinues Use of Necessity Questionnaires and What Is Next
• First Draw PPP Loans $2 Million and Up and the PPP Necessity Questionnaires 
• What to Know about the Paycheck Protection Program, Round Two – First Draw PPP Loans (Updated 5/5/2021)
• 10 Things to Know about Second Draw PPP Loans as Updated for the Economic Aid Act and the ARP Act (Updated 5/5/2021)
• PPP Ineligibility Update: Businesses Ineligible for First Draw and Second Draw PPP Loans (Updated 4/8/2021)
• Why You May Want to Wait to File for PPP Loan Forgiveness and Other Tips (Updated 3/25/2021)
• American Rescue Plan Act: Changes to Paycheck Protection Program, Certain Tax and ERISA Provisions, and Other Small Business Relief
• PPP: Changes by the Biden-Harris Administration
• Updated Key Considerations for PPP Documentation under the Economic Aid Act
• Initial Takeaways and Agency Guidance for the Latest PPP Updates
• Grounds for SBA Review, the SBA Loan Review Process, and Borrower Items
• Highlights of PPP Loan Items in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act and 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Updated 01/06/2021)
• Ten Things to Know About the PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications (Updated 12/30/2020)
• Estate Planning and Business Transition Issues Not to Overlook Before the Year-End (Updated 12/11/20)
• A Guide to the SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness Review Process (Updated 11/18/2020)
• Five things Portland businesses should consider before applying for PPP loan forgiveness
• Key Considerations for PPP Documentation (Updated 11/5/2020)
• Main Street Lending Program Overview for Nonprofits and For-Profit Businesses (updated 11/5/2020)
• Wildfire Resource Hub
• Tribal Entities and the Main Street Lending Program
• Paycheck Protection Program Portal
• CARES Act Questions for the Manufacturing, Distribution and Retail Industry
• CARES Act Questions for the Agricultural Industry 
• CARES Act Questions for the Real Estate and Construction Industry 
• CARES Act Questions for the Transportation, Ports, and Maritime Industries 
• CARES Act Questions for the Technology Industry 
• PPP Authority Extended Through August 8, 2020
• PPP Loan Rules Clarified for Fishing Boat Owners/Operators; OSHA and CDC Interim Guidance for Seafood Processors
• SBA Issues Additional PPP Rules on Effect of State and Local COVID-19 Orders and Other Items on Loan Forgiveness
• What to Know for Businesses Completing the Revised PPP Loan Forgiveness Applications (Updated 6/25/2020)
• SBA Offers Further Guidance on PPP Loan Forgiveness
• Noteworthy Amendments to the PPPFA Interim Final Rules
• Latest PPPFA Statement Offers Some Clarity
• Changes to PPP Loans Under the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
• Interim Final Rule: PPP Loan Forgiveness
• Businesses Ineligible for the Paycheck Protection Program
• The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act
• Schwabe CARES Act FAQ
• CARES Act Resources
• OP-ED: The Process of Preparing a Construction Business for Sale
• OP-ED: A 2018 Problem: Succession Planning Amid a Hot Market
• OP-ED: Contractors must accept the realities of business exits
• Construction Industry: Business Succession Planning During the Trump Era
• Schwabe Grows its Reputation as Top Law Firm with New ‎Rankings from Chambers & Partners
• OP-ED: Using ‘Other People’s Money’ Rather Than Selling
• OP-ED: The Value of Independent or ‎Outside Directors
• A Lot to be Learned from Families' Successes
• The Earn-Out Solution
• Plan for Transition or Prepare to Get Left Behind

Seminar

• Tax and Estate Planning Roundtable