Business & Tax


SC&B: General counsel to emerging and growing businesses in the Pacific Northwest and beyond

Clients hire SC&B attorneys to represent them as they create, acquire, build, operate and sell their businesses. Our attorneys are well-versed and experienced in representing a variety businesses from start-ups to large organizations, both profit and nonprofit. In addition to experience, our clients tell us that they look for attorneys who understand their businesses and industries and, in some cases, are able to help them develop business plans and run their businesses. In response, we partner with our clients to help them build and grow successful business ventures. Our industry experience is varied, including construction, retail, manufacturing, high technology, real estate, food processing, distribution, boat building, automobile racing, equipment leasing, and native tribal development. Clients who have no in-house counsel select SC&B as their general counsel because of our legal expertise, our commitment to client service and the variety of legal services we offer.


Business Formation

We assist clients with the purchase and sale of businesses; formation and operations of S and C corporations, professional corporations, general and limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships and companies; applications to the Internal Revenue Service for recognition of tax exempt status for family foundations, publicly supported charitable organizations, homeowners' associations, medical and other professional societies, and title holding companies; and development of exit strategies.


Commercial Transactions

We advise on all types of commercial transactions, corporate reorganizations, and financing arrangements; represent parties in shareholder and LLC member disputes; and negotiate and draft shareholder and member buy-sell agreements, complex partnership agreements, Internet-related agreements, and joint venture agreements.


Franchises

Short Cressman & Burgess attorneys have represented franchisors with franchises nationwide, and assisted franchisees in the negotiation, purchase and start-up of local franchises. Our attorneys offer representation to franchisors in the areas of copyright, trademark, antitrust, franchise termination, control liability, franchise assignments, advertising, legal compliance programs, and purchase of franchises for company-operated stores. We prepare computer software agreements to streamline record-keeping and reporting procedures between franchisees and franchisors. We also prepare architectural services agreements for franchisors who wish to market uniformly designed and constructed franchises throughout their systems.


Intellectual Property

SC&B attorneys assist clients with a wide variety of intellectual property issues, such as trademark law, including trademark licensing; copyright law, including copyright licensing, purchase and sale of copyright works, and copyright registration; patent licensing; computer law, including software licensing, Internet-related agreements, and protection of computer software technology; and trade secret law, including nondisclosure agreements and confidentiality measures.


Mergers & Acquisitions

SC&B attorneys work with clients in the purchase and sale of assets, LLC units or stock; advise on tax-free reorganizations involving mergers, spinoffs and other combinations of business interests; buying and selling businesses in both regulated and non-regulated industries; and planning, negotiation, investigation (due diligence), drafting and closing stages of transactions.


Taxation and Executive Compensation

We help clients select the business entity appropriate for a client from a tax perspective; recommend a change of business form required by growth and development; advise businesses and their executives in matters such as buy-sell agreements, stock option plans, employment agreements, fringe benefit plans, retirement plans, succession planning, and split-dollar life insurance plans; create and advise on management of employee benefit and executive compensation plans; and advise on federal and state employment taxes, state excise and property taxes, and other federal, state, and local taxes.


Litigation

We represent clients in all types and phases of commercial and corporate litigation, including mediation and arbitration; and represent clients in tax controversies before the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Revenue and local taxing authorities at audit and appeals levels.

Useful Websites

Government Links:
Washington Secretary of State
Washington Cities' websites
Washington Counties' websites
Oregon Secretary of State
California Secretary of State
Idaho Secretary of State
Nevada Secretary of State
Arizona Secretary of State
Alaska Secretary of State
Hawaii Department of Commerce & Business Affairs
IRS
Edgar (SEC Filings & Forms)
Standard Industrial Codes (SIC)
Other Federal Government sites

On-Line Financial Calculations:
Leimberg.com Section 520 rates
Current and Historic Applicable Federal Rates
Federal Court Post-Judgment Rates

Robert S. Klein and Chris A. Pothering, Co-Chairs