The business lawyers at O’Shea Barnard Martin & Olson assist clients in transactions of all types, including the creation, sale and financing of business interests.
Services include the formation and maintenance of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and other business entities; reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial and corporate agreements; and advising clients on buy-sell agreements, employment, confidentiality, non-competition and stock option agreements, as well as on loan and sales transactions.
The firm has developed particular expertise in advising medical and other professional practice groups in the formation, maintenance and sales of such practices.
O’Shea Barnard Martin & Olson’s employment and labor practice includes counseling and advice to employers and employees in areas ranging from workplace policy to separation of employment issues.
Our highly experienced attorneys have engaged with many individual and small business clients to both plan policy and personnel changes as well as to negotiate when a particular event has occurred in a client’s work or business life.
While litigation is often best avoided, O’Shea Barnard Martin & Olson’s litigators have the expertise and experience to guide employers or employees through the adversarial process toward a good outcome whether the setting is an administrative proceeding, mediation, arbitration, or court.
Having the tools in place to ensure that your property passes as you wish upon your death provides not only peace of mind but also for efficient estate administration. Lawyers at O’Shea Barnard Martin & Olson consult with clients regarding their estates and put together the instruments – wills, trusts, community property and other marital agreements – appropriate to carry out their estate planning goals.
Your estate planning package may also include powers of attorney, giving persons of your choosing the authority to make certain decisions, including financial and health care, on your behalf should you become unable to do so. Directives to physicians (“living wills”) may also be prepared to address the use under certain circumstances of extraordinary means to prolong life.
Upon the death of a loved one, our probate attorneys can also assist the surviving spouse, personal representatives or trustee in carrying out administration of the decedent’s estate. Their goal is always to ensure that the estate is managed not only in compliance with applicable legal requirements, but also as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
The firm’s litigation lawyers are highly regarded by the bench and their peers and have a combined experience of nearly 100 years. Our litigators also serve frequently as arbitrators, and engage in frequent mediations and thus the litigation section has great expertise and insight into getting clients’ cases resolved without the expense of trial. Our goal is always to find the most effective and efficient way to resolve disputes.
Our litigation lawyers have experience primarily in the areas of general business and commercial disputes, conflicts among partnerships, employment law, real estate law, disputed probate and trust issues, construction matters, and personal injuries suffered by our clients. We have argued cases before the Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court at the state level and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and all federal courts in Washington.
In Stuart v. Coldwell Banker, 109 Wn.2d 406 (1987), we were responsible for the legislature making changes in our State’s condominium laws for the protection of buyers of condos with construction defects.
In Kalk v. Security Pacific Bank, 126 Wn.2d 346 (1995), we were responsible for nearly all banks in the State changing their rules and practices that disfavored depositors in joint tenancy bank accounts.
In ASF v. City of Seattle, 408 F. Supp. 1102 (W.D. Wash, 2005) we won for our client an important First Amendment case in Federal court and obtained a $500,000 settlement for our client.
O’Shea Barnard Martin & Olson’s personal injury attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in all types of personal injury matters including car accidents, pedestrian accidents and premises liability claims. In addition, our lawyers have obtained verdicts and settlements in several significant medical malpractice cases, with one verdict of over one million dollars.
If you are injured, it is important to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible, to enhance your chances of obtaining a fair and complete recovery for your injuries. We believe that litigation should be the last resort, reserved for the most serious cases.
However, if your case does need to go to trial, our lawyers have significant jury trial experience. Your case will be handled personally by either Randy Barnard or Kristin Olson, who will diligently represent you from the beginning negotiations with the insurance adjusters to thoroughly preparing your case for settlement or trial.
Members of the firm are experienced in handling all aspects of purchase and sales of commercial properties, including multi-family, retail, mixed-use, industrial and office projects, as well as residential real estate. Our lawyers also assist clients by analyzing and negotiating financing and related loan documentation, and in recent times especially, loan workout arrangements. Review and negotiation of construction documents are among the other services provided by our real estate attorneys.
Commercial leasing is also a major focus of the firm’s practice. Our lawyers have substantial expertise in the preparation and negotiation of leases and all manner of related agreements for office, retail, mixed-use and industrial properties. Complemented by the firm’s litigation practice, we are also well versed in handling lease disputes and enforcement issues.