Lasher

Most businesses today understand that the internet can be a dangerous place. As an organization grows beyond the very early stage of one or two employees and a few thousand dollars in sales, the cyber strategy of “security by… more

Cyber Attacks, Cyber Crimes, Cyber Insurance, Cybersecurity, Data Breach

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James Blankenship

Washington’s New Noncompete Ban: Deadlines, Risks, and Next Steps for Employers

In March, the Washington Legislature passed HB 1155, a bill banning noncompetition agreements in Washington effective June 30, 2027. Washington will join California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and a few other… more

Contract Terms, Deadlines, Employer Liability Issues, Employer Responsibilities, New Legislation

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Harman Bual

How Trustees Can Balance Landlord Obligations and Fiduciary Duties to Beneficiaries

When an estate owns rental property, the Personal Representative must strike a careful balance between the statutory obligations landlords owe to tenants and the fiduciary duties owed to the estate’s beneficiaries. While… more

Beneficiaries, Breach of Duty, Estate Planning, Eviction, Fiduciary Duty

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Jacinda Carson

What is the Impact of USPS Postmark Changes on Contractual and Legal Deadlines?

Legal notices are integral to exercising rights under contracts and must be sent timely and via an appropriate method in order to be valid. These communications may include rent payments, default notices, termination notices,… more

Best Practices, Commercial Leases, Contract Lifecycle Management, Contract Management, Filing Deadlines

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Russell Chiang

The 2026 IRS Dirty Dozen: Tax Scams Getting Smarter—and How to Stay Protected

As Tax Day rapidly approaches, the IRS recently released it’s annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/dirty-dozen-tax-scams-for-2026-irs-reminds-taxpayers-to-watch-out-for-dangerous-threats)… more

Artificial Intelligence, Capital Gains Tax, Cybersecurity, Data Security, Deep Fake

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Hillary Collyer

The Importance of Post-Divorce Beneficiary Planning

When you’re in the throes of a separation or divorce, it is easy to forget the importance of updating your will and your estate plan. With so much happening in the here and now, things like beneficiary designations and estate… more

Beneficiaries, Beneficiary Designations, Divorce, Estate Planning, Power of Attorney

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Joseph Evans

Common Mistakes that Render a Construction or Mechanics’ Lien Invalid

Washington’s construction lien statutes provide contractors with remedies to secure payment from property owners for furnished labor and/or materials. These statutory requirements are strictly enforced, and even minor mistakes… more

Construction Liens, Contractors, Filing Deadlines, Foreclosure, Mechanics Lien

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Denver Gant

Estate Planning 101: Making Exempt Gifts

I have yet to meet a client who wants to pay estate taxes. Tax avoidance is among the primary reasons people meet with estate planning attorneys and develop estate plans. In 2022, the federal gift, estate, and generation… more

Capital Gains, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Exclusions, Generation-Skipping Transfer

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Desirée Good

How to Reach an Agreement in Divorce: Practical Steps for a Less Contentious Process

Divorce is often an emotionally charged and challenging experience. Beyond the personal heartbreak that may be involved, the legal and financial aspects can feel overwhelming. One of the most difficult tasks in the divorce… more

Child Support, Divorce, Family Law Courts, Marital Assets, Marriage

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Elizabeth Hershman

Rethinking Parenting Plans: Aligning Process with Co-Parenting Success

Divorce is more than a legal process. When children are involved, it can mark a profound transition in family structure, roles, and responsibilities. A parenting plan is one of the most important outcomes of that… more

Child Custody, Child Visitation, Co-Parenting, Collaborative Divorce, Custody Agreements

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Emily Husa

Inherited Patterns: Important Considerations when Choosing a Family Member to Manage Your Family Trust

Estate planning is about family. Often, individuals opt to establish a trust to preserve and plan for the benefit of their spouse, children, and generations to come. Trusts are intended to create a plan for the inheritance of… more

Asset Management, Beneficiaries, Conflicts of Interest, Estate Planning, Family Members

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Jamie Polito Johnston

Gray Divorce, Strangers, and Why So Many Long Marriages Are Ending Now

In recent years, divorce has been quietly changing. While divorce rates among younger couples have declined, divorce later in life—often called “gray divorce”—has risen steadily, reshaping how families, finances, and futures are… more

Adult Children, Division of Assets, Divorce, Equitable Distribution, Estate Planning

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Konrad Miernowski

I Created An Estate Plan When My Spouse And I Had Kids, Why Should I Update It Now?

When you were younger, after getting married and having children, you met with a lawyer and created an estate plan. Now the kids are grown, finished with college, and are is settled in their adult lives. Of your three… more

Beneficiaries, Divorce, Estate Planning, Public Charities, Trusts

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Roxanneh Mousavi

Trademark Registration Do’s And Don’ts: Practical Guidance For Brand Owners

Securing a federal trademark registration is one of the most effective ways to protect your brand, deter copycats, and enhance the value of your business. Yet, the path from concept to registration is full of strategic choices… more

Acquired Distinctiveness, Generic Marks, International Trademark Protection, Likelihood of Confusion, Trademark Application

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Julie Pendleton

Breaches of Fiduciary Duties in Closely Held Companies

In Washington State, closely held companies are those in which the ownership is concentrated among a small number of shareholders. These companies may also be family-owned or held by a group of individuals who have a… more

Breach of Duty, Closely Held Businesses, Fiduciary Duty, Joint Ownership, Limited Liability Company (LLC)

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Will Reingold, Jr.

What Happens to Your Retirement Accounts in a Washington Divorce?

In Washington, retirement accounts are considered assets subject to division at divorce. The purpose of a retirement asset is to provide someone with income after his or her active working years, and to have accumulated such… more

401k, Defined Benefit Plans, Defined Contribution Plans, Division of Assets, Divorce

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Mina Saudagaran

Do I Need to Hire a Financial Expert for my Divorce?

It is your first meeting with a divorce attorney. Towards the end of the meeting, the attorney recommends that you hire a financial expert to conduct an analysis that could help resolve your case. You like the idea of hiring an… more

Asset Tracing, Business Assets, Business Valuations, Closely Held Businesses, Division of Assets

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Sharan Sekhon

Trust Administration vs. Will Probate: Which Process is Best for You?

When planning your estate in Washington State, one of the most common questions is whether to use a Revocable Living Trust (RLT) or a Will. Most are curious because of the horrors they hear or the experience they’ve had with… more

Asset Protection, Beneficiaries, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Non-Probate Assets

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Lisa Ann Sharpe

What’s In—and What’s Out—in Divorce Trends for 2026

If divorce law reflects the way people live, work, and plan their futures, then 2026 is shaping up to be a year of quieter strategy and longer-term thinking. The days of reactive decisions and splashy courtroom battles are… more

Artificial Intelligence, Asset Protection, Child Custody, Cryptoassets, Cryptocurrency

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Sean V. Small

What is a Receiver?

A client called me to ask how she could resolve a dispute with her business partner. After 10 years of working together circumstances had changed. They were no longer seeing eye-to-eye on business strategy and as 50-50 owners,… more

Business Disputes, Business Divorce, Business Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Dispute Resolution

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Christina Smith

What Can We Learn From Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative Divorce is a structured legal process wherein parties resolve their disputes without going to court. The process focuses on reaching mutually agreeable solutions, while using shared neutral experts, and aiming to… more

Co-Parenting, Collaborative Divorce, Dispute Resolution, Division of Assets, Divorce

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Paul Spadafora

Your AI Can Testify Against You: The AI Revolution Comes to the Court of Law

On February 2, 2023, Microsoft released a brand-new suite of features for its popular Microsoft Teams platform under the moniker “Microsoft Teams Premium.” One of the standout features of this premium service is “Intelligent… more

Artificial Intelligence, Consent, Corporate Counsel, Discovery, Hearsay

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James Stensel

Community or Separate Property? Beware The Mortgage Rule

What you don’t know about your mortgage could hurt you. In Washington State, we are not a “title state.” Accordingly, placing your spouse’s name on the title of a separate real estate does not automatically make it community… more

Community Property, Division of Assets, Divorce, Loans, Marital Assets

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Teresa Tallarita

AI-Powered Scams Are on the Rise: What You Need to Know and How to Protect Yourself

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) continues to transform society in ways beyond imagination. It is rapidly becoming clear that AI pervades every aspect of society, and criminal activity has been no exception. AI is now reshaping… more

Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Crimes, Cybersecurity, Data Security, Deep Fake

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Faye Washburn

AI and Divorce: Tips and Warnings for Utilizing AI in Your Family Law Matter

Divorce and other related family law matters can be complex, time-consuming, and stressful. In 2026, generative AI (“Artificial Intelligence”) models such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot are rapidly becoming part of… more

Artificial Intelligence, Attorney-Client Privilege, Child Custody, Confidential Information, Data Privacy

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Amanda Whitely

Estate Planning Lessons Learned from Jimmy Buffett’s Estate

Jimmy Buffett passed away last year with an estate plan that detailed his wishes as to the disposition of his assets upon his passing. All of Jimmy’s assets passed into trust for the benefit of his surviving spouse, Jane, and… more

Beneficiaries, Co-Trustees, Estate Planning, Fiduciary Duty, Removal

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Lasher

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