Ryan Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3400
Seattle, WA 98101-3034
206.464.4224
Ryan Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3400
Seattle, WA 98101-3034
206.464.4224

Ryan Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3400
Seattle, WA 98101-3034
206.464.4224

Paul Meier

Paul is a member of the firm’s Business, Startups & Emerging CompaniesFood & Beverage, 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 regularly serves as U.S. counsel for Canadian clients expanding into the U.S. and in cross-border transactions. Paul represents major Canadian financial institutions as well as a broad range of Canadian borrowers (or their U.S. subsidiaries) in cross-border loan transactions.

Representative Transactions
  • Sale of Pacific Northwest phone directory publisher with 62 employees to Yellow Book USA, one of the largest independent publishers of print and online yellow pages directories in the U.S.
  • Sale of regional wireless and electrical contractor firm to publicly-traded WPCS International, a provider of design-build engineering services for specialty communication systems and wireless infrastructure.
  • Represented management team in connection with the sale of transport and logistics company to The Jordan Company, a private equity firm based in New York City.
  • Sale of Boeing airplane parts manufacturer to private investor.
  • Sale of Pacific Northwest manufacturer of boats and catamarans to private investor.
  • Represented publicly traded food manufacturing and distribution firm with acquisition of multiple specialty businesses in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Represented lumber company in acquisition of Pacific Northwest storage shed manufacturer.
  • Represented management team in acquisition of visual content firm.
  • Represented leading developer of DVD based movie trivia games in multiple private placement offerings prior to sale to major film company.
  • Represented provider of state-of-the-art idea management and intellectual property management solutions in venture capital financing.
  • Represented provider of interactive video golf training lessons in private placement financings.
  • Represented online provider of bioinformatics databases and tools in private placement financings.
  • Represented developer of data protection and personal privacy solutions for smartphones in private placement financings.
  • Represented organic fertilizer company in private placement financings.
  • Represented investment firm in private placement offering of pre-IPO shares in GoPro, Inc.
  • Represented regional digital imaging and visual content firm in building acquisitions, leases, debt financing, and other transactions.
  • Represented Nintendo in software licensing, hardware acquisitions, and services agreements for its IT operations in the United States.
  • Represented leading provider of patented and on-demand data services in connection with customer agreements with major retailers and manufacturers.
  • Represented Seattle brewery in connection with distribution agreement with national distributor.
  • Regularly represent commercial landlords in connection with leases to major tenants, such as Tesla, Big Lots, Sleep Country, Title Nine Sports, and Discount Tire. Also represent broad range of tenants with ground, office, warehouse, and other leases. Representative transactions include:
    • Office leases for high-tech companies and start-ups.
    • Office and warehouse leases for facility services, asset management, and office relocation company.
    • Warehouse and showroom lease for national floor tile retailer.
    • Office and laboratory lease for analytical testing and consulting firm.
    • Office lease and clean room facility for pharmacy and medical supply services company.
    • Building and ground leases for shopping centers.
    • Building and ground leases for auto dealers.
    • Ground leases for hotels.
    • Waterfront property and dock lease for boat retailer.
    • Leases for cellular phone transmission towers.
    • Medical and dental office leases.
  • Regularly represent Pacific Northwest regional banks and private lenders in commercial loan transactions.
  • Regularly represent borrowers in loan transactions from institutional lenders, such as Bank of America, Capital One, GE Capital, PNC Bank, Prudential Capital, U.S. Bank, Freddie Mac, and Fannie Mae. Representative borrowers include:
    • Publicly-traded food manufacturing and distribution firm.
    • Leading national aerospace-related transportation firm.
    • Senior living facility with eight locations in multiple states.
    • Developer of 150 multi-family residential unit project.
    • Developer of business park located on I-5 corridor.
    • Owner of Issaquah, WA shopping center.
    • Developer of 900 self-storage unit facility.
    • Mexican restaurant franchise with ten store locations.
    • Manufacturer of technical outdoor apparel and accessories.
    • Automobile dealers.
    • International remote sensing company specializing in airborne and marine survey projects.
  • Regularly serve as U.S. counsel for Canadian clients expanding into the U.S. and in cross-border transactions. Represent major Canadian financial institutions as well as a broad range of Canadian borrowers (or their U.S. subsidiaries) in cross-border loan transactions.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
  • CEO Adviser: Preparing the Exit Strategy, Washington CEO
  • Can Franchisors Be Barred From Cyberspace? (Internet encroachment on franchise territories)
  • The Darker Side of Non-Profits: When Charities and Social Welfare Groups Become Political Slush Funds, University of Pennsylvania Law Review (147 U. Pa. L. Rev. 971)
Honors & Awards
  • Named to Washington Rising Star® list (multiple years)
  • Recognized in Marquis Who’s Who in American Law (multiple years)
Professional & Community Activities
  • Member, American Whitewater Association
  • Member, Washington Water Trails Association
  • Member, University of Pennsylvania Law School Alumni Society
  • Member, Washington and King County Bar Associations
  • Member, The University of Pennsylvania Law Review
  • Member, Ryan Swanson’s Executive Committee (2010-2013)
  • Chair, Ryan Swanson’s Charitable Giving Committee (2008-2010)

Credentials

Education
  • University of Pennsylvania Law School
    (J.D., 1999)
  • Washington State University
    (B.A., 1994)
Admitted to Practice
  • Washington (2000)
  • New York (inactive)
  • New Jersey (inactive)

Hobbies & Interests

Paul is a life-long Washington resident and lives in Kirkland, Washington. Paul joined Ryan Swanson in 2000 and in his spare time, Paul enjoys sea and whitewater kayaking, skiing, and hiking.

After college, Paul spent almost a year working on the successful campaign of a U.S. House candidate from Washington State. Paul spent a second year as the congressman’s aide in Washington, D.C. following the election before going to law school. One of Paul’s most important responsibilities was assisting constituents from Washington State when they encountered special problems with federal agencies and government red-tape. Paul continues to help clients resolve regulatory and other issues in his work as an attorney.

Paul enjoys assisting clients ranging from startup businesses to established companies achieve their goals. He says, “On a recent day, I helped an individual start her first business venture and also negotiated a licensing agreement for a multinational technology company. I enjoy working with clients with different backgrounds on a day-to-day basis. Whether the client is a single business owner or a multinational company, we provide reliable legal advice and assist each client in achieving its business objectives.”