Author Info for Stoel Rives - Ahead of Schedule

Patrick Abell

Subleasing: A Real Estate Strategy in a Post-Pandemic Economy

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, flexibility is paramount. The recent widespread adoption of remote work has led companies across the country to shed office space. As companies navigate changes in market dynamics, the… more

Commercial Leases, Commercial Property Owners, Commercial Real Estate Market, Commercial Tenants, Landlords

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Bethany Bacci

Understanding This Pension Rule May Help Contractors Avoid Costly Liability Assessments

If you use union employees in your projects, you may contribute to a multiemployer pension plan—perhaps a few cents or few dollars per hour worked. However, some employers are surprised to learn they could be assessed with… more

Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA), Construction Industry, Employee Benefits, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Employer Contributions

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Tamara Boeck

Efforts Expected of a Contractor When Efforts Clauses Are in Dispute

Originally published by the Daily Journal of Commerce on May 18, 2023. You will often see in construction contracts terms directing the contractor to use “best efforts” or “reasonable efforts” or “commercially reasonable… more

Arbitration, Arbitration Agreements, Arbitrators, Breach of Contract, Construction Contracts

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Evan Brown

Construction Liens in Washington: Essential Knowledge for Construction Professionals

Why Understanding Liens is Important Construction liens are a critical aspect of the construction industry, providing security for those who contribute labor, materials, or services to a project. Understanding construction… more

Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation, Contractors, Dispute Resolution

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Elizabeth Clampitt

New Limitations on Commercial Leases Within the City of Seattle

On December 12, 2023, Seattle’s former City Council passed Ordinance 126982 in an effort to increase commercial rent affordability for small businesses. The Ordinance, returned unsigned by the Mayor, became law on January 29,… more

Commercial Leases, Commercial Property Owners, Commercial Tenants, Landlords, Rent

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Benjamin Criswell

Drafting Real Estate Documents With Project Permitting in Mind

In the dynamic world of real estate development, the orchestration of real property documents (such as leases, easements, or purchase agreements that are collectively referred to here as “site control documents”) plays a pivotal… more

Conflicts of Interest, Construction Contracts, Construction Disputes, Construction Litigation, Construction Project

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Sarah Stauffer Curtiss

United States Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on Public Camping Laws in the Ninth Circuit

Policymakers have several tools for addressing the rising issue of homelessness in their communities. In City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, No. 23-175603 (June 28, 2024), the U.S. Supreme Court (“Court”) had its first… more

Constitutional Challenges, Eighth Amendment, Homeless Discrimination, Homeless Issues, Local Ordinance

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Nathan Davis

Wildfires and Property Insurance: Navigating a Shifting Landscape

As wildfires grow more frequent and severe across California, Oregon, and Washington, homeowners and businesses face mounting challenges in securing and maintaining property insurance. The Los Angeles wildfires alone have… more

Bad Faith, California, Climate Change, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

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Zachary Davis

Oregon Senate Bill 426 Would Make Owners and Prime Contractors Liable for Unpaid Wages Owed by Those They Hire

Developers, owners, and contractors would all be wise to take note of Senate Bill 426, currently under consideration in the Oregon legislature… more

Construction Industry, Employee Rights, Employer Liability Issues, Joint Employers, Labor Reform

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Sean Gay

Lesser-Known Insurance Policies for Addressing Project Risks

Construction projects involve significant risks to project owners, designers, and contractors. Many such risks are allocated in the parties’ contracts, which in turn require those parties to obtain insurance—further allocating… more

Commercial Insurance Policies, Construction Industry, Construction Project, General Contractors, Insurance Industry

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C. Andrew Gibson

Beware of ‘Standard’ Contract Terms; Nothing Is ‘Standard’

As a construction and design attorney who both negotiates contracts and litigates disputes, I’ve evaluated many a project gone wrong because of the rights, obligations, and remedies allowed by contract terms. Too often as… more

Construction Contracts, Construction Industry, Construction Litigation, Construction Project, Contract Claims

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Eric Grasberger

Oregon Senate Bill 426 Would Make Owners and Prime Contractors Liable for Unpaid Wages Owed by Those They Hire

Developers, owners, and contractors would all be wise to take note of Senate Bill 426, currently under consideration in the Oregon legislature… more

Construction Industry, Employee Rights, Employer Liability Issues, Joint Employers, Labor Reform

See all updates »

Isaiah Hardy

Subleasing: A Real Estate Strategy in a Post-Pandemic Economy

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, flexibility is paramount. The recent widespread adoption of remote work has led companies across the country to shed office space. As companies navigate changes in market dynamics, the… more

Commercial Leases, Commercial Property Owners, Commercial Real Estate Market, Commercial Tenants, Landlords

See all updates »

John Jetter

Washington Court of Appeals Upholds Assessment of Tax Liability Against Prime Contractor in Lanzce G. Douglass, Inc. v. Department of Revenue

Under Washington law, prime contractors perform construction for consumers, while speculative builders construct on property they own. The differentiation between these classifications is important because prime contractors are… more

Business Taxes, Construction Contracts, Construction Industry, Construction Project, General Contractors

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Joseph McCarthy

4 New Washington Bills Affecting Common Interest Communities That Developers Should Be Aware Of

Washington’s legislators had their eye on common interest communities (CICs) during the 2023 regular session, which ended on April 23, 2023. Three bills relating to or affecting CICs become effective on July 23, 2023. One became… more

Affordable Housing, Child Care, Common-Interest Communities, Condominiums, Homeowners Association (HOA)

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Timothy McMahan

Drafting Real Estate Documents With Project Permitting in Mind

In the dynamic world of real estate development, the orchestration of real property documents (such as leases, easements, or purchase agreements that are collectively referred to here as “site control documents”) plays a pivotal… more

Conflicts of Interest, Construction Contracts, Construction Disputes, Construction Litigation, Construction Project

See all updates »

Colm Nelson

A Case in How to Delegate and Avoid Landowner Liability for Contractor Employees

In a case of first impression in Washington, the Washington State Supreme Court held that a landowner may satisfy its duty to guard an invitee “against known or obvious dangers on the premises by delegating the duty of… more

Construction Industry, Construction Project, General Contractors, Independent Contractors, Land Developers

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Mario Nicholas

Oregon Senate Bill 426 Would Make Owners and Prime Contractors Liable for Unpaid Wages Owed by Those They Hire

Developers, owners, and contractors would all be wise to take note of Senate Bill 426, currently under consideration in the Oregon legislature… more

Construction Industry, Employee Rights, Employer Liability Issues, Joint Employers, Labor Reform

See all updates »

Karl Oles

Construction Liens in Washington: Essential Knowledge for Construction Professionals

Why Understanding Liens is Important Construction liens are a critical aspect of the construction industry, providing security for those who contribute labor, materials, or services to a project. Understanding construction… more

Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation, Contractors, Dispute Resolution

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Kevin Pearson

Avoiding Development Disasters: Land Inventory and 1031 Exchanges

The ability to defer taxes through a 1031 Exchange can make or break a real estate transaction. But federal tax law does not treat all real estate owners equally. Under IRC Section 1031(a)(2), real property held “primarily for… more

Active Trade or Business Test, Capital Gains, Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Real Estate Investments, Real Estate Market

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Sarah Johnson Phillips

Contract Drafting Tips for Rooftop Solar and Carport Solar Leases

Adding solar energy facilities to a rooftop or a parking lot is an excellent way to put developed land to even more productive use. Hosting a solar array can create value for a property via a new revenue stream from rent… more

Contract Drafting, Contract Formation, Contract Terms, Energy Projects, Energy Sector

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Bart Reed

Construction Liens in Washington: Essential Knowledge for Construction Professionals

Why Understanding Liens is Important Construction liens are a critical aspect of the construction industry, providing security for those who contribute labor, materials, or services to a project. Understanding construction… more

Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation, Contractors, Dispute Resolution

See all updates »

Christopher Rifer

The Collective Cost Paid For Arbitration’s Numerous Benefits

Arbitration agreements have become commonplace in construction contracts. As a result, a significant portion of construction disputes are resolved privately through arbitration rather than in public courts. This article was… more

Arbitration, Arbitration Agreements, Construction Contracts, Construction Industry, Construction Project

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Seth Row

Wildfires and Property Insurance: Navigating a Shifting Landscape

As wildfires grow more frequent and severe across California, Oregon, and Washington, homeowners and businesses face mounting challenges in securing and maintaining property insurance. The Los Angeles wildfires alone have… more

Bad Faith, California, Climate Change, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

See all updates »

Emily Schimelpfenig

United States Supreme Court Lifts Restrictions on Public Camping Laws in the Ninth Circuit

Policymakers have several tools for addressing the rising issue of homelessness in their communities. In City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson, No. 23-175603 (June 28, 2024), the U.S. Supreme Court (“Court”) had its first… more

Constitutional Challenges, Eighth Amendment, Homeless Discrimination, Homeless Issues, Local Ordinance

See all updates »

Sabina Shapiro

New Limitations on Commercial Leases Within the City of Seattle

On December 12, 2023, Seattle’s former City Council passed Ordinance 126982 in an effort to increase commercial rent affordability for small businesses. The Ordinance, returned unsigned by the Mayor, became law on January 29,… more

Commercial Leases, Commercial Property Owners, Commercial Tenants, Landlords, Rent

See all updates »

Cameron Zangenehzadeh

Wildfires and Property Insurance: Navigating a Shifting Landscape

As wildfires grow more frequent and severe across California, Oregon, and Washington, homeowners and businesses face mounting challenges in securing and maintaining property insurance. The Los Angeles wildfires alone have… more

Bad Faith, California, Climate Change, Insurance Claims, Insurance Industry

See all updates »

Stoel Rives - Ahead of Schedule

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