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Commercial counsel specializing in business formations, acquisitions, financings, and cross-border transactions.

Paul is a member of the firm’s Business, Startups & Emerging Companies, Healthcare, Intellectual Property 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 professional practices, such as medical, dental, and accounting 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
Purchases, Sales & Other Commercial Transactions Purchases, Sales & Other Commercial Transactions
  • Represented publicly-traded food manufacturing and distribution firm with acquisition of multiple specialty businesses in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Represented Nintendo in software licensing, hardware acquisitions, and services agreements for its IT operations in the United States.
  • 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.
  • Sale of major parking lot management company in Seattle to LAZ Parking, the largest privately-owned parking operator in the United States.
  • Sale of multi-location portfolio of self-storage facilities in Utah.
  • Sale of popular tour and charter bus business in Seattle.
  • Represented Seattle brewery in connection with distribution agreement with national distributor.
  • 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.
  • Sale of Pacific Northwest phone directory publisher to Yellow Book USA.
  • Represented management team in acquisition of visual content firm.
  • Represented developer of movie trivia game 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 regional digital imaging and visual content firm in building acquisitions, leases, debt financing, and other transactions.
  • Represented leading provider of patented and on-demand data services in connection with customer agreements with major retailers and manufacturers.
Real Estate & Leasing Real Estate & Leasing
  • Regularly represent clients in purchase and sale of commercial real estate.
  • Regularly represent commercial landlords in connection with leases to major tenants. 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 lease 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.
Lending & Secured Transactions Lending & Secured Transactions
  • 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 locations in multiple states.
    • Developer of multi-family residential unit project.
    • Developer of business park located on I-5 corridor.
    • Owner of Issaquah, WA shopping center.
    • Developer of self-storage unit facility.
    • Restaurant franchise with ten store locations.
    • Manufacturer of technical outdoor apparel and accessories.
    • Automobile dealers.

CROSS-BORDER TRANSACTIONS

  • 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)
Professional & Community Activities Professional & Community Activities
  • Member, Washington Bar Association
  • Member, University of Pennsylvania Law School Alumni Society
  • Member, The University of Pennsylvania Law Review
  • Member, Ryan Swanson’s Pension Committee (Present)
  • Member, Ryan Swanson’s Executive Committee (2010-2013)
  • Chair, Ryan Swanson's Charitable Giving Committee (2008-2010)

HONORS & AWARDS

  • Recognized in Marquis Who’s Who in American Law (multiple years)
  • Named to Washington Rising Star® list (multiple years)

Credentials

Education

Admitted to Practice