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Rick Carlson

Partner

Practice Emphasis

Rick Carlson

About Rick

Rick Carlson’s practice focuses on general business law with a concentration in corporate finance, venture capital, securities, private investment funds, and executive compensation.

General Business, Transactions, and Financing Growth

Rick’s corporate practice includes advising companies in business formations, transactions (including reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, and asset sales), executive compensation matters (including stock and other incentive compensation), private fund formation, and shareholder disputes.

Transactions

Rick represents buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions ranging from the purchase or sale of small businesses to complex transitions that involve international parties.  He provides transaction structure, financing, and risk minimization advice, document preparation and negotiation, due diligence, and schedule preparation.

Venture Capital and Financing

In the venture capital and private financing arena, Rick’s focus is on helping structure private placement investment in early and follow-on financings, as well as later stage financings for mature companies seeking capital to expand.

He helps clients by preparing Regulation D and other private placement offering memoranda and corresponding investment documents, identifying applicable federal and state “blue sky” law exemptions, and preparing required securities and compliance filings.

Corporate Operations and Risk Identification and Minimization

A large part of Rick’s practice is devoted to helping businesses identify, understand, and choose a course of action on significant legal matters;  these range from compliance issues to litigation threats.  Rick’s primary focus is developing alternatives, strategies and solutions for clients that meet their business objectives and desired outcomes.

Background and Personal

Prior to entering private practice, Rick served a two year clerkship with the Honorable John L. Coffey of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Seattle University Law School teaching mergers and acquisitions.  Outside of the office, Rick spends his free time with his wife and four children.

  • Private Lending
  • Private Fund Formation
  • Ownership Transitions
  • Real Estate Finance
  • Financial Services
  • Speaker, Securities Law for the Business Attorney WSBA 2013
  • Chair, “Washington Business Law Mid-Year,” 2008
  • Co-Chair, “Look Before You License: Valuation, Negotiation and More,” 2005
  • Speaker, “Securities Updates: Regulation D Offerings,” 2005
  • Speaker, “Mergers & Acquisitions in Washington,” NBI, 2000 and 2002
  • Speaker, “Mergers & Acquisitions From Start to Finish,” NBI, 2002
  • Speaker, “Counseling the Small Business Client in Washington,” NBI, 2002
  • Author, “Securities Issues for the Small Business Issuer,” 1999-2001
  • Author, “Personal Liability of Officers and Directors Under the Law,” 1997
  • Author, “Overview of Private Placement Funding for Residential Real-Estate Developers,” 1996
  • Author, “The Interface Between Bankruptcy and Community Property: The Maginot Line”, 1995
  • Author, “The Impact of Bankruptcy on Real Property Transactions,” 1995
  • Speaker, “U.S. China Legal Systems and Trends, “Shantou University” People’s Republic of China, 1994

Our Attorneys

Retired

Our Paralegals

Our Professional Staff

Payton Baespflug Payton Baespflug Billing Specialist
Tiah N. Branson Tiah N. Branson Firm Administrator
Cloe Chin Cloe Chin Front Desk / Admin Assistant
Lia Cho Lia Cho Finance Manager