William F. “Fritz” Paulus is a real estate attorney who focuses on land protection transactions and land use matters in Oregon. Representing government entities, nonprofits, and individuals, Mr. Paulus has extensive experience in assisting and advising clients with all facets of the willing-seller-and-buyer property acquisition process from project assessment to closing, including negotiation consultation, preparing purchase and sale agreements, conducting due diligence involving condition of title, appraisals, surveys, and environmental compliance, deed preparation, and escrow instructions. In addition to fee title acquisitions, conservation easements are one of his practice areas, including those to maintain and protect working farmlands. In 2015, he authored a chapter about conservation easements in the Oregon Real Estate Deskbook, published by the Oregon State Bar and is a frequent speaker on the topic. Prior to his current practice, he served as the Executive Director of the Oregon Water Trust and was a Real Estate Negotiator with the Natural Areas Program at Metro, the Portland-area regional government. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon law school and has been an Oregon State Bar member since 1991.