Recent News

Thinking of “Condominiumizing” in Washington State?

Washington State Real Estate Law Lawyer Babak Shamsi | 9/14/2026
As professional developers and ambitious property owners seek ways to profit from real estate, they will often look at options to convert lots with a single home into real estate that allows for the sale of multiple homes or multi-family developments. In other words, they try to create “more bang for their buck”, so to… Read More

Why You Should Have a Prenuptial Agreement – Avoid Unintended Changes to the Characterization of Property

Washington State Family Law Lawyer Anne B. Bennette | 9/4/2026
In general, assets acquired by a spouse before marriage are considered separate property.  Under Washington Law, once property is established as separate “a presumption arises that it remains separate property in the absence of sufficient evidence to show an intent to transmute the property from separate to community property. The character of separate property can be changed to community property only… Read More

What the 2027 Washington Real Estate Excise Tax Shifts Mean for You

Washington State Business Lawyer C. Michael Kvistad | 9/3/2026
When buying or selling real estate or structuring corporate asset transactions in Washington, tax considerations are rarely far from mind. One of the most significant state level costs in any transfer is the Real Estate Excise Tax (“REET”). Under RCW 82.45.060, Washington uses a graduated rate structure for state REET. Rather than a flat percentage… Read More

Asset Deal vs. Stock Deal: Choosing the Right Structure and Why It Matters More Than the Purchase Price

Washington State Business Lawyer Andrew J. Tingstad | 9/3/2026
When a buyer and seller agree on a purchase price, many people assume the hard part of the negotiation is over. In reality, some of the most consequential decisions in any M&A transaction are made after the headline number is set—starting with the fundamental question of deal structure. Whether the transaction is structured as an… Read More

Settlement! Compass Real Estate and Northwest Multiple Listing Service End Their Dispute.

Washington State Real Estate Law Lawyer Babak Shamsi | 9/3/2026
I previously said in my purported “final article” here that I would likely not blog further about the legal dispute saga between Compass Real Estate and Zillow. I had previously blogged about that case here, here, here, here, and here. To be fair, this blog post is not about that lawsuit. It is, however, related in the fact that Compass Real Estate and… Read More

Your Customer and Vendor Agreements Are Your Business’s Hidden Valuation Driver

Washington State Business Lawyer Andrew J. Tingstad | 9/2/2026
Revenue is what most business owners focus on when thinking about valuation. Revenue matters—but sophisticated buyers do not just look at how much revenue a business generates. They look at the quality and durability of that revenue: how it is contracted, how long it has, how protected it is, and whether it will survive a… Read More

Testimonial – Aaron MacCoy of MacCoy Home Solutions

BeresfordBooth | 9/2/2026
A Trusted Legal Partner for MacCoy Home Solutions Aaron MacCoy of MacCoy Home Solutions shares his experience working with Bill Kessler of Beresford Booth and how having a knowledgeable, trusted legal team has helped him navigate the challenges of running his business with confidence. Read More