Recent News

From Compass Lines to Parcel Numbers: How Washington Records Real Property

Washington State Real Estate Lawyer Marc Rosenberg | 10/19/2026
A modern Washington property record can look deceptively simple. Enter an address or parcel number into a county database, and a map, assessed value, ownership information, and links to recorded documents may appear within seconds. Behind that search result lies a much older system. Washington’s land records combine federal surveys, handwritten field notes, metes-and-bounds descriptions,… Read More

So, You Want to Keep the House?

Washington State Business, Estate Planning and Probate Lawyer Rachel J. Wright | 10/13/2026
Mom or Dad has passed away, the probate process is underway, and there it is: the house. Maybe it’s the house you grew up in. Maybe it has been in the family for generations. Maybe you have already mentally moved your furniture into the living room and decided that the wallpaper in the guest bathroom… Read More

Eminent Domain in Washington State: The Project Influence Rule

Washington State Real Estate Law Lawyer Babak Shamsi | 10/13/2026
In Washington State, the government can utilize the power of “eminent domain” to take, even forcibly, private property owned by an individual. Indeed, the property owner cannot refuse to “sell” when the government properly exercises its eminent domain powers. There are, of course, parameters around the use of eminent domain to ensure that its exercise… Read More

Protecting Earnout Value When the Seller Steps Down

Washington State Business Lawyer C. Michael Kvistad | 10/13/2026
This is Part 2 of a two-part series on structuring and enforcing earnouts in middle-market M&A transactions. If you missed it, read Part 1: Revenue vs. EBITDA: Choosing the Right Earnout Metric to see how setting the right financial targets impacts the deal. When a merger or acquisition utilizes an earnout to bridge a valuation… Read More

Structuring Deals Around Washington’s 2027 REET Shifts

Washington State Business Lawyer C. Michael Kvistad | 10/13/2026
In one of my previous posts, What the 2027 Washington Real Estate Excise Tax Shifts Mean for You, I broke down the statutory rate tier adjustments taking effect under RCW 82.45.060 on January 1, 2027. While those upward bracket shifts may provide meaningful tax savings on higher-value properties, Washington’s Real Estate Excise Tax (“REET”) structure… Read More

Revenue vs. EBITDA: Choosing the Right Earnout Metric

Washington State Business Lawyer C. Michael Kvistad | 10/13/2026
This is Part 1 of a two-part series on structuring and enforcing earnouts in middle-market M&A transactions. Part 2 focuses on post-closing operational covenants and governance. When negotiating an earnout in a middle-market M&A transaction, choosing the underlying metric is one of the most critical decisions both parties will make. The two primary choices, gross… Read More