Top Business Lawyers in Seattle | 384 available

Rocky White is a corporate lawyer and the founder of Lumina Legal. His vision is to bring down the barriers to providing high quality legal counsel by evolving the traditional law firm structure into a modern online-based legal service partner. In this role as a service partner, Rocky’s bilingual English and Spanish practice helps local startups and business owners launch their business, enter into contracts, and protect their intellectual property.. During his educational career, Rocky gained experience working with Microsoft, Boeing, the United States Federal Trade Commission, the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, and the Washington State Legislature.. Rocky takes an odd pleasure in creating detailed spreadsheets for all types of life decisions. Need to decide where to go camping? There’s a spreadsheet for that. While it might seem over the top, it’s the type of exhaustive detail that serves his clients well.

Robert Christie and his firm provide litigation services to individuals, professionals, and businesses throughout Washington. In his twenty-seventh year of practice, Mr. Christie handles cases involving serious injury claims, commercial disputes, civil rights, malpractice, contract disputes, products and premise liability, employment, and intellectual property. AV Rated in Martindale Hubbell and Law & Politics “Super lawyer”, Mr. Christie has tried scores of cases is State and Federal Courts.

Robbie counsels individuals, families and businesses on matters involving income, estate and gift tax planning. He represents many businesses in transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, succession planning and organization strategies. Robbie also handles probate and trust matters and designs estate plans for clients of all financial means. His tax background cements his relationship with clients for both business and estate planning purposes.

Richard P. Matthews, a principal, joined Carney Badley Spellman, P.S. in May 2003. Before joining the firm, Mr. Matthews was a partner and chair of the Real Estate Practice Group in the Seattle office of Holland & Knight. He serves a broad range of corporate and individual clients, and local private businesses. He has represented national and local clients in projects involving business growth, reorganization, divestiture and acquisition. He has worked closely with owners and developers with respect to their real estate acquisition, leasing, mortgage financing, and property disposition. In addition, Mr. Matthews has handled numerous private placements and offerings for companies. He also has worked closely with company management to formulate and foster personal and corporate objectives.. Mr. Matthews has practiced law in the Seattle area since 1973. His areas of practice are real estate and land development law; business planning and counseling, including mergers and acquisitions; health law; and securities and corporate finance. He also enjoys working with individuals in addressing their estate and financial planning needs.. Mr. Matthews has served on or chaired several local and state bar committees. He is a frequent speaker on real estate and health law, as well as corporation, business, and estate planning topics. He has been a speaker-instructor for the Washington State Bar Association, the Seattle-King County Board of Realtors, the The Washington Mortgage Lenders Association, the National Business Institute, the University of Washington Medical School Residency Program, UBS Paine Webber Wealth Preservation Attorney Network and the Washington State Bar Association Skills Training Institute.. Mr. Matthews is a past board member as well as committee chair of various committees of the Rainier Club; the past President and a Paul Harris Fellow of the Shoreline Rotary Club; past President and board member of the United Church of Christ Northwest Regional Housing Council; a member of the Inglewood Golf Club; a trustee of the Shoreline Community College Foundation; a founding board member and officer of Forward Shoreline (a local economic development group) and is an active member of Calvin Presbyterian Church.. Mr. Matthews has been recognized by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine as being among the top lawyers in King County in Business and Commercial law.

Results oriented attorney with an emphasis on creative and innovative technology business solutions.   Experience includes representation of corporate clients regarding all aspects of business law, including:  contract negotiation and drafting, corporate entity formation, commercial real estate and leasing, dissolution, mergers and acquisitions, breach of contract, employment law, insurance coverage, and intellectual property.. Educational background includes a Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, from Seattle University School of Law, a Master of Business Administration (Technology Management) from the University of Washington Foster School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science in Business, Cum Laude, from Miami University.

Recent Trial Accomplishments:. Successfully sued client's insurance provider after insurance provider refused to offer a fair settlement. After a two and a half week jury trial in King County Superior Court,  obtained a verdict that was twenty-five times the amount of the last offer the insurance company offered.. On behalf of student athletes from three different schools, sued the governing body of Washington student athletics. After two weeks of trial in King County Superior Court, right before closing arguments, the governing body settled with the student athletes for the exact relief that they had been requesting.. Client was wrongly accused of withholding payments of retail excise tax based on an arbitrary methodology leading to an unreasonable tax amount. After a trial in front of a three judge panel of the Washington State Board of Tax Appeals, and effective cross examination of Department of Revenue tax agents, the Department of Revenue's taxing decision was reversed and lead to the landmark final decision which provides established precedent to prevent the Department of Revenue from employing arbitrary methodologies for assessment.. After month long jury trial, obtained complete defense verdict for franchisor being sued by multiple franchisees and successor franchisor for violations of Washington's Franchise Investment Protection Act and other breach of contract claims.. After trial, obtained complete reversal of industrial insurance premiums assessed against trucking company by Washington's Department of Labor & Industries.. Obtained a hung jury for a Defendant with a blood alcohol limit above .11 and charged with driving under the influence. After the trial, successfully renegotiated the charge with prosecutor so that Defendant could plead to a significantly lesser charge and receive no jail time or other conditions associated with a conviction for driving under the influence.. Commercial Transactions:. Corporate counsel for scores of Washington small businesses advising, negotiating and drafting: joint venture agreements, commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, licensing/franchise agreements, noncompetition and other employment agreements.. Negotiated and drafted a multi-million dollar construction contract on behalf of the general contractor for a condominium conversion of a historic building in Seattle, Washington.. Negotiated and drafted the terms of a stock purchase buy out whereby one shareholder bought out the remaining shareholder and acquired full ownership of a well known retail brand.. Audit/Regulatory Defense:. Successful defense of dermatologist's medical license accused of violating Washington Department of Health regulations governing medical spas.Successful defense of mortgage brokers' license accused of violating Washington Department of Financial Institution regulations governing the mortgage industry.. Successful savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars representing small businesses in Department of Revenue, Labor & Industries and Employment Security Department audits charges and hearings. Scores of successful representations in various governmental administrative hearings and before the board of industrial insurance appeals.. Commercial Litigation:. Litigation on behalf of commercial landlords and commercial tenants settling millions of dollars of disputed lease provisions.. Litigation on behalf of both creditors and debtors settling millions of dollars in disputed debts.. Litigation on behalf of business partners negotiating and settling disputed relationships and allowing businesses to remove partners and/or partners to be released.. Appellate/Post-Conviction Criminal Defense:. Filed a motion for new trial, after Defendant was convicted by a jury after a three day trial. Through thorough investigation and persuasive argument, convinced the trial judge to reverse the jury's verdict and dismiss the case against Defendant. Defendant was saved from imminent deportation to Somalia.. Filed a motion to withdraw guilty pleas on the basis Defendant was incompetent to enter the pleas due to extreme schizophrenia. Through thorough investigation and persuasive argument, convinced judge to allow Defendant to withdraw guilty pleas and dismiss the charges. Defendant was saved from imminent deportation to Cambodia.. After being sentenced by a King County Superior Court judge for two separate felonies causing an increase in client's offender score and sentence, appealed to the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I arguing that the two felonies were part of the same criminal conduct and should not be sentenced separately. The Court of Appeals agreed and remanded the case back to King County Superior Court to resentence client.

Quentin combines laser-focused attention to client goals with his outstanding courtroom talent. By doing this, he is able to achieve significant success in resolving disputes for his clients.

Priya Sinha Cloutier focuses her practice on the procurement and enforcement of domestic and international patents, trademarks and copyrights. Her experience includes various technical areas such as aerospace, hybrid and electrical engines, architecture and construction, medical devices, agriculture, food, and energy systems.. Priya devotes much of her time to managing and coordinating global patent portfolios of various clients, both domestic and international companies, including the preparation and prosecution of patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She also counsels clients in avoiding infringement of patents of others and frequently opines with regard to the infringement and/or validity of individual patents, or advises as to a strategy for avoiding the patent portfolios of others. In addition, she is certified by the National Association of Patent Practitioners and currently serves as chair of the association’s Government Affairs Committee.

Paul Soreff, with over 35 years of immigration practice, has extensive experience in all aspects of immigration law. He opened Soreff Law in 1999. He has been an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at Seattle University School of Law, and Chairperson for the Washington and MidSouth Chapters of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Paul has particular experience in:. Paul has held many leadership positions within AILA. His previous positions include: National Board of Governors, National Investment Committee, Chairperson for the Washington and MidSouth Chapters, Washington State Executive Committee, Washington State Continuing Education Chair, Washington State Citizenship and Immigration Services Chair, and Kentucky State Coordinator.. In 2012, he worked with Jorge Baron of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP) to recruit and train almost two hundred volunteer lawyers in the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. These lawyers volunteered their services at joint AILA/NWIRP DACA clinics to help unauthorized immigrant children obtain legal status in the U.S.. In 2001, he started Citizenship Day, an innovative program in Washington State. On Citizenship Day, lawyers, paralegals, and members of the community throughout Washington State volunteer their time to assist lawful permanent residents to apply to become U.S. citizens. Paul then helped AILA organize Citizenship Day nationally. Currently, over 30 states participate in AILA’s Citizenship Day helping thousands of people become citizens every year.. Paul has received many awards and recognition for his excellent services and volunteer leadership, including:. Paul testifies as an expert witness on immigration law before administrative law judges at Unemployment Compensation Hearings and has provided immigration law training for the administrative law judges. He organizes and regularly lectures at Continuing Legal Education Seminars and enjoys giving talks on immigration to the public.. From 1976 to 1991, he was the managing partner of a small law firm in Louisville, KY. In 1992, his wife took a position at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and they moved to Birmingham. In Alabama, he had a private immigration practice and served as an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law at the University Of Alabama School Of Law. In 1998, Paul and his wife moved to Seattle, WA where he now heads Soreff Law, a small firm specializing in immigration law.. Paul is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild. When not practicing immigration law, he can frequently be found riding his bike with the Cascade Bike Club as a Ride Leader or cross country skiing.

Paul is a member of our firm’s Business, Licensing & Technology and Real Estate Groups. On a day-to-day basis, he provides the advice and services clients need to achieve their business goals. Paul’s focus is on business formations, business and real estate acquisitions and financings, and other commercial transactions. He represents both start-up businesses and established companies. Paul has considerable experience representing technology companies in venture capital financings, joint ventures, and licensing and marketing agreements. Paul is also experienced in the purchase and sale of dental and other professional practices.

Paul Fogarty has been a trial lawyer since 1990. He has tried jury and non-jury cases in the state and federal courts of Washington, Oregon and Texas. Mr. Fogarty's practice focuses on commercial litigation, insurance coverage, employment litigation, professional negligence and substantial personal injury cases, including wrongful death and sexual abuse cases. Mr. Fogarty also assists clients located in Australia, Canada, China, Germany and Singapore who do business in the United States and assists clients located in the United States with their business relationships in Australia, which is where Mr. Fogarty grew up.. Before founding Fogarty Law Group PLLC, Mr. Fogarty's prior law firm affiliations include practicing in the Seattle offices of Preston, Gates & Ellis, LLP (now K&L Gates) and Williams, Kastner & Gibbs LLP and in the Houston office of the international law firm, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.

Pamela Grinter is chair of the firm's Corporate Transactions and Finance practice.  Her practice primarily focuses on business and tax law. Pamela represents private, public and nonprofit businesses throughout the region in the full range of business transactions – with an unusual depth of experience benefiting clients within the food and beverage industry.  She offers a customized approach to solving each client's unique problems. Pamela often serves her clients in the role of general counsel.  She especially enjoys the meaningful and productive relationships this role allows her to develop with company decision-makers – including executives, owners and board members.  In this role, she often works closely with her colleagues in the areas of employment, intellectual property protection and litigation. In particular, Pamela represents both buyers and sellers in all types of strategic relationships involving the purchase, sale or combination of businesses. In addition to food industry clients, she has represented many healthcare, aerospace and hospitality clients in this area. Pamela assists her business clients, of all sizes, throughout the full business life-cycle -- including choice of entity and entity formation (especially partnerships and limited liability companies), shareholder management, real estate transactions, distribution agreements, franchising arrangements, commercial agreements and business terminations. In her tax practice, Pamela assists clients - especially partnerships and limited liability companies - with a wide range of local, state, federal and international tax matters – including strategic tax planning. She assists a wide variety of tax-exempt organizations with their corporate, state and federal tax matters – including initial organization, federal tax exemptions and reorganizations. Putting this knowledge to work, she has served on the boards of a wide range of nonprofits.

Over the last 17 years, my law practice has developed to serve clients active in real estate, hospitality and business. Having worked closely with business owners and general counsel over many years, I understand our clients need to make prompt and well informed business decisions based on trust and confidence in my analysis of the pertinent issues. I use my market knowledge, communication skills and experience working on a variety of high profile, complex projects to advocate for clients, close transactions and achieve fair results.. Real Estate: My primary practice is commercial real estate transactions, including retail, office and industrial leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, real estate finance, real estate development, transit-oriented development, design professional services agreements, and construction contracts.. Hospitality/Business: Further, I assist hospitality and business clients with corporate formation and governance, limited liability company operating agreements, management agreements, franchise agreements, master services agreements, vendor contracts, and liquor licensing.. Construction: Over many years, I have represented owners, developers, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in a wide variety of construction claims. This construction litigation experience has assisted in preparing and negotiating comprehensive construction contracts, master subcontractor agreements, architect agreements, engineering contracts and other construction project documents.

Olivia Gonzalez advises privately held businesses and individuals on a broad range of corporate and transactional matters ranging from business formation, operation and management, to the purchase and sale of stock and assets.. Olivia’s real estate practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, including drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, development agreements, joint-venture agreements and leases for commercial properties. She also assists in the acquisition and disposition of real estate for different uses, including office, retail, multifamily, and health and wellness facilities.. Olivia prides herself in her ability to distill complex legal concepts into understandable and usable information for her clients to make sound business decisions.. Prior to focusing her practice on corporate transactions and real estate, Olivia was a member of the firm’s Litigation practice. Now she uses her experience in commercial litigation to help client’s avoid legal pitfalls and traps when structuring their businesses and real estate transactions.

NW Venture Law, PLLC was founded by Jarrett Payne to support small to medium size company business law needs and entrepreneurs in starting their business ventures. He understands what it takes to make a business successful and what legal issues to watch out for. Jarrett has many years experience in negotiating multi-million dollar transactions and managing suppliers for a $54 billion company. He has also successfully helped international clients in their U.S. immigration process.

My practice focuses on assisting clients in transactional matters related to business, estate planning, and real estate. My work includes business entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder relations, and general business matters.. I am an avid runner and cyclist, and do the occasional triathlon when I make time for swimming.  I love to read and go to concerts, but on most nights can be found cooking at home while trying to protect the food from my border collie mix, Bowser.

My work revolves around complex commercial litigation, including shareholder disputes and business dissolutions, trust and probate estate disputes, real estate controversies, contracts, construction issues, debtor/creditor rights, employment issues, and torts. I have experience with trusts as well as financial transactions in the following industries: banking, lending, mortgages, construction, real estate, commercial development and leasing.. I am aggressive in the courtroom, but compromise if and when appropriate. My prime objective is to achieve practical results for my clients, using an effective combination of technical skill and common sense.

My practice is primarily family law with an emphasis on separation, divorce, child custody and complex property including closely held business issues. My emphasis is negotiation where possible and litigation, as a last resort, where necessary.. I also provide dispute resolution services (limited to negotiation, mediation and arbitration) for closely held business disputes.. I handle WA, interstate and international cases.. I am a member of several Bar Associations and Sections amongst which are the following: KCBA Family Law section, Chair of the International Law section for KCBA, Vice Chair ABA International Family Law section, KCBA Collaborative Law Section.. My goal  is to reduce stress and expense to the parties  as much as possible and to explore all avenues to defuse conflict and  reduce litigation.. I provide mediation,arbitration,collaborative law,cooperative law and litigation services to clients.. I am a member of the WA State, District of Columbia, Minnesota Bars, and a member of the Bar of England and Wales.. I can be reached at, e-mail:

My practice is focused on all aspects of real estate and business transactions.  I draft and negotiate commercial leases, ground leases, purchase and sale agreements, joint venture agreements, merger or redemption agreements, loan and financing documents, entity and formation documents, and corporate documents, as well as most other documents involved in a typical M&A transaction or real estate venture, project or transaction.  I also assist contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers and design professionals with negotiating construction contracts, design contracts and related agreements.

My practice focuses on commercial and real estate-related litigation, with a special emphasis on construction law.   My basic philosophy in all of my cases is Strategic Thinking -- finding innovative and carefully tailored plans that are intended to obtain the end result most desired by the client.  Following this approach in the wide variety of civil litigation I have handled since becoming an attorney in 1991, I have become adept at mapping out thoughtful game plans that tend to achieve my client’s goals in a cost-effective and prompt manner.. Prior to starting my own practice at Zoretic Law, I was the Chair of the Commercial Litigation Group and a partner for many years in one of downtown Seattle’s finest law firms.  A few years back, I began to realize that the emergence of the internet, email and smartphone technology changed the legal world so that I could seamlessly service clients throughout the State while living outside the Seattle metro area. In fact, my clients were able to have greater access to me than ever before because my calls went directly to my cell phone!  I always remember the advice a senior lawyer gave me:  “They’re your clients!  Pick up the phone!”  By routing all of my calls to my cell phone, my clients had greater communication -- and higher satisfaction -- than ever before.. In 2010, my family and I began living full-time in the lower Methow Valley, while at the same time maintaining my practice at my downtown Seattle law firm.  Three years later, after proving that I could provide clients throughout the State with top-notch legal help on a variety of cases in all levels of courts, I decided to start my own practice.. As Zoretic Law, I serve my clients in Central and Eastern Washington from my primary office in the beautiful town of Pateros, located just north of Chelan at the confluence of the Columbia and Methow Rivers.  I also continue to serve my clients in the Puget Sound area from a state-of-the art satellite office on the 42nd floor of the Columbia Center.  With these two offices, I can effectively handle cases in virtually any County or Federal court throughout the State of Washington.. I am very proud of my track record of providing the highest level of legal services to my clients throughout my career.  I am an AV-Rated lawyer by Martindale Hubbell, a perennial Washington SuperLawyer and rated Excellent by Avvo.  I have gone against the finest lawyers and law firms across the region during my career and have met the challenge.  My clients can expect the best when they give me the privilege of representing them.. Over the last 22 years. I have handled a wide range of cases, which has allowed me to develop a deep knowledge base and practical experience.  In the business litigation area, I have represented individuals and companies in disputes over the management and operation of partnerships and businesses, damages resulting from the breach of development agreements, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and other commercial issues.. A significant percentage of my practice involves property disputes, including cases involving nuisance, trespass, misrepresentation, easements, boundary disputes and other issues impacting ownership rights in land. I also provide business and litigation counsel to golf course and resort owners, wineries, vineyards, and orchardists. I also handle environmental and water rights matters.. Perhaps the biggest focus area of my practice has been construction law.  In the construction arena, I have represented owners, general contractors and subcontractors in payment disputes in federal and state courts, as well as arbitration. I have successfully resolved well over a hundred cases involving federal, state and municipal projects, as well as disputes arising from privately owned developments such as condominiums and office complexes. My representation of construction clients also includes bid protests and appearances before administrative agencies.. Regardless of the issue at hand, clients should be able to trust their lawyer to devise a strategy that gives them the best chance of reaching their goals. Skillful lawyering takes many forms, but my clients walk away at the end of their case knowing that their lawyer had a thoughtful plan that was designed to pave the way to a successful result.. Zoretic Law also provides a critical benefit relating to attorney’s fees. Clients should not have to pay high hourly rates just to receive outstanding legal services.  As a solo practitioner, my overhead is dramatically less than other lawyers of my practice level.  My practice will also utilize the newest cloud-based and paperless file technologies.  These innovations allow me to pass on my savings to clients by offering my legal services at a reasonable price.. One of the things I am most excited about in starting Zoretic Law is that my reduced (and flexible) billing rate will allow my clients more options for pursuing their case to the fullest measure.  Going to trial is – and always will be – expensive.  But it should not be so cost-prohibitive that it is not even an option.  As the sole owner of Zoretic Law, I look forward to working with my clients to develop economical case budgets that allow the client full access to the civil justice system if the case warrants it.

My practice focuses on advising emerging companies, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals on matters ranging from business structuring and formation, to capital raising, general contracts, and intellectual property protection. I work closely with each client to help manage the predictable and unpredictable legal issues that any venture encounters in the business and regulatory environment.. When not working on client matters, I like to spend my time going on adventures with my daughter, fixing my old house, and trying to keep up on my ever expanding collection of half-read books.

My practice emphasizes business, real estate, and trademark matters.  I am honored to act as "ouside general counsel" to clients in a range of industries, including transportation and logistics, including railroads; manufacturing; trading and distribution; construction; retail and food services; and professional services.

My practice deals primarily with landlord-tenant relations.  My team and I have helped thousands of clients in Seattle and throughout Washington State to resolve difficult legal disputes involving evictions, litigation, post-foreclosure matters, leases and other landlord-tenant disputes. I am available for teaching and speaking engagements to lecture on best practices in landlord-tenant law.

My mission is to deliver the most empowering and delightful legal experience possible.. I'm a northwest native, father, dog owner, and explorer.. I love helping businesses and individuals to do business with integrity.

My goal as a business attorney practicing in a heavily regulated industry is to partner with my clients to help them find practical solutions to complex problems.