We contribute to the success of your project by:

Structuring the development entity to limit state and federal tax liability and limit assets vulnerable to condominium warranty claims

Guiding the development team through legal disclosure requirements to limit personal liability

Drafting all legal documents necessary to create the condominium under the Washington Condominium Act

Satisfying the legal requirements of lenders financing the project

Creating a comprehensive warranty program to enhance the market value of the units and protect the development entity from unwarranted claims

Resolving disputes among purchasers, tenants or contractors in a cost effective manner

Forming the Owners Association, facilitating a smooth transfer of control of the project, facilitating the education of the Owners Association in matters critical to the success of the project and fostering a relationship of trust and cooperation with the development entity

Advising the development entity on risk management issues including appropriate insurance products

We advise developers in formulating projects that transform properties into a higher, cleaner or more productive use, and assist owners and lenders in developing syndications and other creative financing solutions.

We assist clients on all aspects of development of real estate, from beginning to end. We advise clients on entity selection and on structuring transactions to best take advantage of federal, state and local tax laws, including Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges. We prepare, review and negotiate purchase and sale agreements and assist with due diligence investigation of property and evaluation of studies, including title, surveys, Phase I and other environmental site assessments, geotechnical and soils studies, and building inspections. We assist in resolving land use, zoning and permitting issues and in environmental investigation, clean up and compliance. We draft easements, condominium declarations, and covenants, conditions and restrictions necessary for development. We advise clients on real estate financing and assist them in negotiating loan documents and meeting lender requirements. We take clients through the closing process and beyond, including leasing and resale.

Our clients include principally privately held businesses, local governments, Indian tribes, and the individuals who own and manage them.

We advise borrowers and private and institutional lenders in all aspects of real estate finance, including refinances, seller financing, loan assumptions, conduit loans, and direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans. We draft, review and negotiate loan documents and provide legal opinions. We also have experience in loan workouts, judicial and non-judicial foreclosure.

Some of our recent loan transaction clients include: 

Borrower in a $200,000,000 construction loan for a casino on Indian land;

Out-of-state borrower in a $30,000,000 simultaneous refinance of four hotels located in Washington and Oregon;

Borrower in a $17,500,000 refinance loan for a high-rise office building in Bellevue, Washington;

Individual borrower in simultaneous $5,000,000 conduit loan refinance of four mobile home parks located throughout Washington;

Out-of-state limited partnership borrower in a $13,000,000 Fannie Mae DUS loan refinance of apartment complex in Bellevue, Washington;

Purchaser of Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon hotels, with subsequent lease-back and refinance through mortgage-backed securities;

Owner in Section 1031 tax-deferred exchange of a $16,250,000 apartment building and acquisition of a $22,300,000 business park with conduit loan financing;

Private lender in a $6,000,000 refinance loan for television station building in Seattle, Washington;

Private lender in a $6,500,000 construction loan to developer of hotel in Everett, Washington.

We represent landlords, tenants and property managers in all aspects of real property leasing. Our attorneys draft, review and negotiate ground leases of raw land and build-to-suits, leases and subleases of single and multi-tenant office and retail buildings, and industrial, multifamily residential and mixed use property. These leases can include purchase options and involve gross rent, triple net or expense stop/base year rent and creative rent escalation provisions.

We also advise owners and managers about tax and other laws that impact income producing property, day-to-day management, insurance claims, and resolving landlord-tenant disputes, including unlawful detainer eviction actions.

Some of our recent and current representation includes:

National property management company's on-going leasing of office space in its 300,000 square foot high-tech building in Mukilteo, Washington;

Owner's ongoing leasing of space in its 140,000 square foot high rise office building in Bellevue, Washington;

Family corporation owner leasing of a 150,000 square foot industrial property in south Seattle, Washington;

Water district owner leasing of cellular telephone sites on water tower in Seattle, Washington;

Owner leasing of propane gas storage and delivery facility in Longview, Washington;

Owner leasing of space in a 10,500 square foot retail strip mall in Mukilteo, Washington;

Owner leasing of commercial and residential units in mixed use condominium project in Ketchum, Idaho;

National restaurant chain tenant in leasing of numerous in-line sites and ground leasing and constructing restaurants in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho;

Tenant leasing of an 18,000 square foot high rise office space in Seattle, Washington;

National fast-food restaurant chain tenant in ground leasing and leasing of build-to-suit restaurants in Washington;

Subtenant subleasing of a 17,000 square foot office and light industrial space in Issaquah, Washington;

Nonprofit charitable tenant leasing of 54,000 square foot retail store and distribution facility in Seattle, Washington ;

Tenant lease with option to purchase $2,000,000 eighteen acre industrial waterfront property in Everett, Washington;

Developer ground lease of 57 acres from Indian tribe for construction of build-to-suit casino and hotel.

We have significant experience representing clients in arbitration, mediation, and litigation, including title insurance claims, landlord-tenant disputes, boundary disputes, condemnation and regulatory takings, toxic tort and hazardous waste actions, construction claims, foreclosures, and contract disputes.

Our attorneys practice before federal, state and tribal trial and appellate courts, bankruptcy court, and administrative agencies. We represent clients in administrative and regulatory hearings, including land use and zoning, environmental compliance, and real estate tax appeals. In addition, we represent clients involved in disputes regarding the purchase and sale of property, financing issues, foreclosures, development disputes, ownership and title issues, leases, commercial unlawful detainer and eviction, and environmental and land use issues.

We help clients resolve disputes that arise during the course of real estate development projects, whether with financing, development contracts, partnership or business agreements, construction issues, leases, or land use, regulatory, and administrative issues.

We serve our clients with a practical and result-oriented team approach that combines the firm's formidable litigation skills with our experience in real estate law. We are skilled problem solvers and often use mediation to achieve our clients' goals.

Our clients include owners, developers, contractors, buyers, sellers, municipalities, lenders, investors, borrowers, owners, tenants, Indian tribes, title insurance companies and real estate professionals.

We advise clients on all aspects of purchase and sale of real estate, from beginning to end.

We assist clients to structure transactions to best take advantage of federal, state and local tax laws, including Section 1031 tax-deferred exchanges.

We prepare, review and negotiate purchase and sale agreements for vacant land, single and multi-tenant office buildings, industrial facilities, shopping centers and stand-alone retail property, hotels and restaurants, apartment and condominium buildings, manufactured housing communities, planned unit developments, aircraft hangars and flight facilities, marinas, and single family residential property.

We assist with due diligence investigation of property and evaluation of studies, including title, surveys, Phase I and other environmental site assessments, geotechnical and soils studies, and building inspections.

We take clients through the closing process and beyond.

Our clients include principally privately held businesses, local governments, Indian tribes, and the individuals who own and manage them.

We have represented major title insurance companies and their insureds: Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Chicago Title, Ticor Title, Old Republic Title, Transnation Title, Commonwealth Land Title, and Lawyers Title. We understand title insurance policies and coverage issues.