Orell Anderson, MAI, FRICS, ASA
President at Strategic Property Analytics, INC
Testifying Expert
Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI)
Chartered Valuation Surveyor (FRICS)
Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA)
With over 30 years of experience, Orell is a global thought leader on property value diminution. Various courts and organizations across the United States and internationally have accepted Mr. Anderson's expert testimony on real estate valuation matters. This includes the US federal district and appellate courts, state courts, municipal courts, U.S. tax court and courts of appeals, US federal bankruptcy court, county tax assessment appeal boards, state attorney general’s office, Federal Court of Australia, LA’s district attorney’s office – major real estate fraud special taskforce, among others.
Orell's expertise is focused on a wide range of detrimental conditions, including environmental contamination, eminent domain, soil or geotechnical issues, construction defects, wildfires, natural disasters, bankruptcy, project delay, tragedy, and terrorism, among others. Whether navigating the complexities of class certification and merits stages or delving into individual property claims, Mr. Anderson has the expertise to provide opinions of value in such matters. In recent years, Orell has opined in several large-scale international class action cases related to emerging contaminants like PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, Genx, and 1,4-Dioxane.
In 2014, Mr. Anderson established Strategic Property Analytics Inc., a forensic consulting firm specializing in real property damage valuation, review, and expert witness testimony after spending 15 years at Bell, Anderson & Sanders LLC, a boutique firm focused on real estate damages. Prior to that, he was involved in establishing the real estate damages practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Orell currently serves as the Co-chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Environmental Litigation Sub-Committee on Damages and Eminent Domain. He is a member of several committees, including the Environmental & Energy, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees' Joint Regional CLE Program Planning Committee. He previously served as the Chair of the International Right of Way Association’s (IRWA) Valuation Community of Practice and was twice president of IRWA’s Chapter 67 (Orange County). He is a member of the International Right of Way Association, the Forensic Expert Witness Association, and Lambda Alpha International.
He is a frequent speaker, instructor, and writer and is the contributing author of the book Real Estate Damages, as published by the Appraisal Institute. Mr. Anderson also develops and instructs courses and continuing education offerings for the ABA, AI, IRWA, and ASA, among others, and is cited as the source for further reading of USPAP’s Advisory Opinion 9: The Appraisal of Real Property That May Be Impacted by Environmental Contamination in The Appraisal of Real Estate. In addition to his professional achievements, he is also an enthusiastic street photographer and has a working knowledge of five languages.
Mr. Anderson has been a prominent figure in numerous seminars, programs, and conferences, significantly contributing to the fields of environmental, energy, and real estate valuation. His roles have varied from moderator to speaker and panelist, reflecting his extensive expertise. Anderson has also chaired and participated in the Southern California Real Estate Market Trends Seminar for over two decades. His contributions to the field of PFAS contamination and environmental stigma are highlighted by his presentations at the International Right of Way Association's 69th Education Conference and the 2023 CIPA Annual Meeting. Additionally, Anderson has co-organized and moderated multiple ABA CLE programs on topics such as NRD claims, remote trials, and PFAS impacts. His expertise in environmental and real estate issues extends to topics like high-voltage transmission lines, corridor valuation, and contaminated property valuation, with his efforts influencing numerous seminars, including the 2014 International Right of Way Association Conference and the 2013 Appraisal Institute’s Real Estate Damages seminar. Anderson’s significant contributions also include technical advisorship for seminars on real estate disclosure and environmental issues, as well as coordination and participation in mock trials and workshops for various professional organizations.
His extensive experience in environmental and valuation studies spans a wide range of high-profile and complex cases. His work on PFAS contamination in Australia involved evaluating the diminution in value of residential properties near military bases impacted by perfluorinated substances. In Las Vegas, Anderson served as the lead forensic appraiser for a $124 million case, resolving significant claims related to delay and breach of contract for the Regional Justice Center. His analysis of the Stringfellow Acid Pits, one of the most notorious Superfund sites, focused on the value impacts of environmental contamination.
Orell's appraisal expertise covers a broad spectrum of property types, reflecting his extensive experience in various sectors. His work includes high-rise and standard office buildings, medical and research & development facilities, and a range of land types from large acreage and subdivisions to individual lots and master-planned developments. He has appraised diverse residential properties including single-family homes, apartments, low-income housing, and skilled nursing facilities. Additionally, Anderson has handled appraisals for auto dealerships, conservation properties, financial buildings, industrial sites, and various commercial properties such as motels, restaurants, retail facilities, shopping centers, and mini storage units. His experience also encompasses specialized properties like swap meet sites, night clubs, parking lots, service stations, landfills, museums, and properties impacted by environmental contamination and historical uses. His portfolio includes working on easements, submerged lands, oil and gas properties, rural residential and agricultural land, and mitigation lands, showcasing his broad and versatile expertise in the field.
Orell is a renowned speaker, instructor, and writer who contributed to the book Real Estate Damages, published by the Appraisal Institute. He also develops and instructs courses and continuing education offerings for the ABA, AI, IRWA, and ASA. His expertise is cited for further reading of USPAP's Advisory Opinion 9: The Appraisal of Real Property That May Be Impacted by Environmental Contamination in The Appraisal of Real Estate.
As a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, Orell came to the United States not speaking English but Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian. He also speaks Icelandic. His experience as a non-native English speaker has given him great respect and warmhearted compassion for immigrants and their struggles with English as a second language. Today, he is a fluent English speaker, frequent speaker, instructor, and writer. He is also an enthusiastic street photographer.