I enjoy helping SCORE clients cope with most of the legal problems they encounter when forming, managing, growing, and even ending their business. During my professional career in private law practice, government, and as in-house corporate counsel, I have developed expertise in fields that can benefit new and established businesses—such as reviewing contracts, commercial leases and real estate purchase agreements; HR and employment matters (hiring, managing, and disciplining employees, drafting employee handbooks, and adhering to employment laws); litigation; risk management; insurance; and dispute resolution.
In 2005 I founded the USA Pickleball Association with a small group of players in Seattle, did the vast majority of the legal work to establish USAPA as the controlling entity for pickleball, and helped drive its business growth from little-known niche game to competitor of tennis over the following 17 years. Running a sport is much like forming and managing a business—adopting internal governance practices, meeting challenges by competitors, creating affiliates, marketing products and services, leasing property, hiring contractors and employees, sponsoring events, building goodwill, settling disputes and solving problems, making tough business decisions, and attracting customers and members. I’ve walked in the shoes of those who start businesses.
I like counseling businesspeople in dealing with the many legal requirements, regulations, and risks that they face in operating their businesses and look forward to helping you build a thriving business.