Recent News

Due Diligence on Real Estate: What Buyers Must Verify 

Washington State Business Lawyer C. Michael Kvistad | 7/14/2026
When a business sale includes real estate, buyers often assume the property is “fine” because the business has operated there for years. That assumption can be costly. Real estate due diligence is its own discipline, and skipping steps can create problems long after closing. Start With the Basics: Title and Boundaries A title report will… Read More

Real Estate in a Business Sale: Why the Deed Matters More Than You Think

Washington State Business Lawyer C. Michael Kvistad | 7/14/2026
When business owners prepare to sell their company, they tend to focus on the headline items: purchase price, closing conditions, and transition plans. But when the business owns real estate, the deed quietly carries sizeable weight that can impact your liability for years after the keys change hands. The Overlooked Asset in a Business Sale… Read More

Should You Sell the Real Estate With the Business, or Keep It?

Washington State Business Lawyer C. Michael Kvistad | 7/14/2026
When selling a Washington business that owns real estate, one of the earliest decisions is deceptively simple: Should the property be part of the sale, or should the seller keep it and lease it back to the buyer? Both approaches can work, but each carries different legal and financial consequences. Option 1: Sell the Property… Read More

Reps, Warranties, and Indemnification: The M&A Terms That Can Come Back to Haunt You After Closing

Washington State Business Lawyer Andrew J. Tingstad | 7/8/2026
For most business owners, the closing of an M&A transaction feels like the finish line. The wire transfer hits, the handshakes happen, and the company you spent years building belongs to someone else. But in transactional law, closing is not always the end—it can be the beginning of a period of continued financial exposure if… Read More

“I Settled, but the Dispute Continues?”

Washington State Litigation and Real Estate Lawyer William O. Kessler | 7/7/2026
Most people think settlement ends a dispute. But a settlement agreement is a legally binding contract, and disputes regarding compliance can arise. A recent decision from the Washington Court of Appeals, Cai v. Wen, illustrates how a settlement compliance dispute unfolds. Following an investment dispute, Daoying Cai and Boheng Wen entered into a settlement agreement… Read More

Why Life Insurance Can be Considered an Asset in Divorce

Washington State Family Law Lawyer Anne B. Bennette | 7/6/2026
In order to determine a fair and equitable division of assets, all community and separate property must be considered.  Life insurance is not often thought of in this context, but it should be.  If you or your spouse has a ‘whole life’ or ‘universal life’ policy, it has a cash value.  That means that whoever… Read More

Washington’s Lesser Known Fiduciary Duty of Candor

Washington State Business Lawyer Caleb J. Tingstad | 7/6/2026
Washington law makes clear that across all Washington business entities, those in control (e.g. directors, officers, managers, partners) owe fiduciary duties. Traditionally, these fiduciary duties include the duty of care and loyalty. Sometimes, Courts include the duty of good faith and fair dealing within fiduciary duties as well. Controllers should understand that this includes what… Read More

How Clients Can Help Their Attorneys

Washington State Litigation Lawyer Marc Rosenberg | 7/1/2026
As an attorney, I have been working with clients for over 25 years.  I try my best to achieve the best result I can for clients, but there are things that you, as clients, can do to help achieve the best results.  Often, the best assistance you can provide an attorney will be to take… Read More